DHI Continues Integrated Surface Water - Ground Water Modeling in Florida

The hydrological conditions in Florida are complex and largely governed by direct interaction between surface and groundwater. The community in Florida (i.e. regulators, stakeholders and consultants) have in recent years realized the need for an integrated approach to water resources assessments . South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD, www.sfwmd.gov) is the responsible water manager in South Florida and has through a continued cooperation with DHI developed and applied MIKE SHE in a number of projects. The model applications are diverse with different objectives, but common for all are the requirement of describing flow in both surface water (e.g. canals and wetlands), in the soil, in the ground water aquifers and not least the interaction.

South Florida is facing serious challenges due to the rapidly increasing population and the increasing awareness of the unique ecosystems in the area (e.g. Everglades).

Water resources management in an area characterized by strongly coupled surface water and ground water resources, is by far a trivial task. To successfully achieve the goals set out for restoration of the Everglades SFWMD realized that an integrated water management tool was needed. SFWMD has selected the MIKE SHE modeling system which through close collaboration between SFWMD and DHI has been enhanced, transferred and jointly applied in a number of projects.

MIKE SHE has proved a useful tool and DHI has in 2000 been awarded a number of integrated water resources projects in South Florida, which further emphasizes DHIs position as a world leader in development and application of integrated modeling systems.

Recent independent reviews on integrated modeling systems indicate that MIKE SHE is a most suitable tool compared to other integrated model codes (mainly based on MODFLOW extensions). When addressing conjunctive water use and surface water - ground water interaction the full dynamic coupling between the hydrological processes provides the most comprehensive description available.

South Florida.

DHI was contracted by SFWMD in 1995 to further develop MIKE SHE, to transfer the model and to conduct a number of training courses directed to the SFWMD members of staff. To further test the performance of the integrated hydrological model MIKE SHE has been applied in a series of projects with quite different scopes. The range of applications include impacts from lake water level drawdown (Lake Alligator), effects of groundwater pumping on protected wetlands (Isolated Wetlands in Lee County), hydraulic modeling of Everglades Nutrient Removal site, integrated water resources management (Caloosahatche basin ISGM) and flooding management (Estero Bay Watershed).

In competition among different models and consultants SFMWD selected MIKE SHE and DHI to develop applications for integrated water resources studies for Big Cypress Basin, the lower tidal part of the Caloosahatchee Basin, Broward County (urban hydrology and environmental impact assessment) and a surface water - ground water model of Lake Tohopekaliga. All projects will be initiated by the end of 2000 or early 2001. DHI and SFMWD are responsible for model development and application, either exclusively or in cooperation with local consultants.

The projects indicate a more widespread acceptance in Florida for the need of an integrated approach to sustainable water resources management. The MIKE SHE / MIKE11 modeling systems are becoming widely used in Florida and USA in general as they are elsewhere in the world.

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