SWAT is a process model that integrates field-scale BMPs within a watershed and evaluates the water quality benefits that can be expected from their implementation at sub-watershed- and watershed-scale over a long period of time. It is a continuous, daily time-step model that realistically simulates the water, nutrient, chemical and sediment movement in a watershed resulting from the interaction of weather, soil properties, stream channel characteristics, land management practice and crop growth. We will build the SWAT model using the local soil, water, topographic and weather conditions in the watershed and calibrate the model with the information of stormwater management measures and agricultural BMPs collected in earlier tasks and the long-term monitoring data on stream flow and water quality collected . By using the database of conservation practices collected in Tasks 5 and 6, we will work with an established watershed restoration planning committee to define the baseline condition and expected changes in land use in the watershed for SWAT modeling. The model calibration will be based on the existing stream flow data, water quality monitoring data and county crop yields and follow the calibration procedure recommended by the SWAT developer. SWAT measures both water quality and quantity impacts of different management measures. A well-calibrated SWAT model will then be used to identify the causes and sources of the pollutants and to assess the effectiveness of the implemented and proposed stormwater management measures and agricultural BMPs evaluated in reducing fecal coliform, total phosphorus, and TSS in the watershed. The model will also be used to evaluate the causes of low/no base flow and assess the possibility of increasing the base flow in the Neshanic River through different management strategies.

NJIT will be responsible for this task. New Jersey Water Supply Authority will validate the modeling results.

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