The Challenge

The U.S. Geological Survey, Watercourse Engineering, Inc., and Bureau Reclamation are cooperating on a study that provides modeling tools and a better understanding of water quality processes in the upper Klamath and Lost River Basins. Stakeholders in the basins need to know how management of Klamath Straits Drain affects water quality in Klamath Straits Drain and the upper Klamath River.

Our Solution

In support of the Klamath Straits Drain project, IHDS Hydrologists

• Constructed and ran model scenarios to provide insight into how management of Klamath Straits Drain affects water quality in Klamath Straits Drain and the upper Klamath River.
• Analyzed the effects of management on loads and concentrations of phosphorus, nitrogen, and biochemical oxygen demand in the Drain, relative to those specified in the TMDL.
• Calculated loads and concentrations relevant to the TMDL for the combined models at various inflows and outflows along the Link-Keno and Klamath Straits Drain reaches for both the base case and for various scenarios.