Classic Optimization Techniques Applied to Stormwater and Nonpoint Source Pollution Management at the Watershed Scale

Limbrunner, James F.; Vogel, Richard M.; Chapra, Steven C.; Kirshen, Paul

doi:10.1061/(asce)wr.1943-5452.0000361

Cited by 29 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 11 publications

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“…Many causes of impairments for which TMDLs have been developed in the US are typically sediment related. The methods for reducing sediment loading in agricultural landscapes have been studied extensively (Secchi et al 2007;Nigel and Rughooputh 2010;Zhang et al 2010;Limbrunner et al 2013a).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Prioritizing Watersheds for Conservation Actions in the Southeastern Coastal Plain Ecoregion

Jang

Vellidis

Kurkalova

et al. 2014

Environmental Management

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The aim of this study was to apply and evaluate a recently developed prioritization model which uses the synoptic approach to geographically prioritize watersheds in which Best Management Practices (BMPs) can be implemented to reduce water quality problems resulting from erosion and sedimentation. The model uses a benefit-cost framework to rank candidate watersheds within an ecoregion or river basin so that BMP implementation within the highest ranked watersheds will result in the most water quality improvement per conservation dollar invested. The model was developed to prioritize BMP implementation efforts in ecoregions containing watersheds associated with the USDA-NRCS Conservation Effects Assessment Project (CEAP). We applied the model to HUC-8 watersheds within the southeastern Coastal Plain ecoregion (USA) because not only is it an important agricultural area but also because it contains a well-studied medium-sized CEAP watershed which is thought to be representative of the ecoregion. The results showed that the three HUC-8 watersheds with the highest rankings (most water quality improvement expected per conservation dollar invested) were located in the southern Alabama, northern Florida, and eastern Virginia. Within these watersheds, measures of community attitudes toward conservation practices were highly ranked, and these indicators seemed to push the watersheds to the top of the rankings above other similar watersheds. The results, visualized as maps, can be used to screen and reduce the number of watersheds that need further assessment by managers and decision-makers within the study area. We anticipate that this model will allow agencies like USDA-NRCS to geographically prioritize BMP implementation efforts.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Prioritizing Watersheds for Conservation Actions in the Southeastern Coastal Plain Ecoregion

Jang

Vellidis

Kurkalova

et al. 2014

Environmental Management

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“…Limbrunner et al . () applied classic optimization techniques applied to stormwater and nonpoint source pollution management at the watershed scale. McGarity () employed system analysis to meet total maximum daily loads (TMDLs) in urban watersheds.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Lee et al (2012) developed a watershed-scale design optimization model for stormwater best management practices. Limbrunner et al (2013) applied classic optimization techniques applied to stormwater and nonpoint source pollution management at the watershed scale. McGarity (2013) employed system analysis to meet total maximum daily loads (TMDLs) in urban watersheds.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Stormwater Control Measures for Runoff and Water Quality Management in Urban Landscapes

Sadeghi¹,

Loáiciga

Kharaghani³

2017

J American Water Resour Assoc

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This study develops and tests a novel optimization method for optimally selecting and sizing stormwater control measures (SCMs) in urban landscapes for selected design storms. The developed methodology yields SCMs that capture and retain stormwater via onsite percolation, remove stormwater pollutants, and minimize stormwater control expenditures. The resulting environmental optimization problem involves integer and real variables imbedded in an objective function that is subjected to multiple constraints. This study's methodology aims at practicality and ease of implementation in the solution of the SCM sizing and selection optimization problem while taking into account the main factors that govern stormwater management in urban landscapes. The near-optimal global solution of the SCM selection and design problem is obtained with nonlinear programming and verified with the average of multiple solutions calculated with multiple runs of an optimization evolutionary algorithm. The developed methodology is illustrated with one stormwater project in the City of Los Angeles, California.

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“…Previous studies have shown that an integrated simulation‐optimization model that mimics physical processes can be more effective in obtaining optimal decisions for watershed‐scale load reduction [ Ines et al ., ; Luo and You , ; Zou et al ., ; Kaini et al ., ]. For those types of simulation‐optimization framework applications, a watershed‐simulation model provides the baseline numerical representation of spatially variable NPS loads, from which a BMP optimization model can identify optimal BMP types and placements [ Ayvaz and Karahan , ; Limbrunner et al ., ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Enhanced nonlinearity interval mapping scheme for high‐performance simulation‐optimization of watershed‐scale BMP placement

Zou

Riverson²,

Liu

et al. 2015

Water Resources Research

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Integrated continuous simulation-optimization models can be effective predictors of a processbased responses for cost-benefit optimization of best management practices (BMPs) selection and placement. However, practical application of simulation-optimization model is computationally prohibitive for large-scale systems. This study proposes an enhanced Nonlinearity Interval Mapping Scheme (NIMS) to solve large-scale watershed simulation-optimization problems several orders of magnitude faster than other commonly used algorithms. An efficient interval response coefficient (IRC) derivation method was incorporated into the NIMS framework to overcome a computational bottleneck. The proposed algorithm was evaluated using a case study watershed in the Los Angeles County Flood Control District. Using a continuous simulation watershed/ stream-transport model, Loading Simulation Program in C11 (LSPC), three nested in-stream compliance points (CP)-each with multiple Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDL) targets-were selected to derive optimal treatment levels for each of the 28 subwatersheds, so that the TMDL targets at all the CP were met with the lowest possible BMP implementation cost. Genetic Algorithm (GA) and NIMS were both applied and compared. The results showed that the NIMS took 11 iterations (about 11 min) to complete with the resulting optimal solution having a total cost of $67.2 million, while each of the multiple GA executions took 21-38 days to reach near optimal solutions. The best solution obtained among all the GA executions compared had a minimized cost of $67.7 million-marginally higher, but approximately equal to that of the NIMS solution. The results highlight the utility for decision making in large-scale watershed simulation-optimization formulations.

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Classic Optimization Techniques Applied to Stormwater and Nonpoint Source Pollution Management at the Watershed Scale

Cited by 29 publications

References 11 publications

Prioritizing Watersheds for Conservation Actions in the Southeastern Coastal Plain Ecoregion

Prioritizing Watersheds for Conservation Actions in the Southeastern Coastal Plain Ecoregion

Stormwater Control Measures for Runoff and Water Quality Management in Urban Landscapes

Enhanced nonlinearity interval mapping scheme for high‐performance simulation‐optimization of watershed‐scale BMP placement

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