Non-point Evaluation Studies

• Project Areas
  • Overview
  • Current Projects
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  • Publications
  • Past Projects
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• Project Team
  • William R. Selbig, Research Hydrologist (Nonpoint Studies Lead)
  • Steve R. Corsi, Research Hydrologist, Chemistry
  • Rob Waschbusch, Hydrologist
  • David W. Owens, Hydrologist
  • Todd D. Stuntebeck, Physical Scientist
  • Judy A. Horwatich, Hydraulic Engineer
  • Mari E. Danz, Hydrologist
  • Austin Baldwin, Hydrologist
  • Matthew J. Komiskey, Physical Scientist
  • Troy D. Rutter, Hydrologic Technician

USGS IN YOUR STATE

USGS Water Science Centers are located in each state.

Description of Wisconsin SLAMM parameter files

This is a description of WinSLAMM files in the order that they appear when creating a new .dat file or listed under current data files. The coefficients match conditions experienced in Wisconsin instead of the default values created for other areas.

Please note: The calibration files may change in a year from now when new sampling data becomes available. Please check back.

Files:

• Rain Files: .ran
• Pollutant Probability Distribution File: .ppd
• Runoff Coefficient File: .rsv
• Particulate Solids Concentration File: .psc
• Particulate Residue Reduction File: .ppr
• Street Delivery Parameter File: .std
• Particle size distribution file: .cpz
• Study Reference

Rain files: .ran

(User choose the closest to your area of interest)

The rainfall files created by the USGS are a result of data analysis of historical rainfall records from 1949 to 1992 from the National Weather Service. The periods selected were based on long-term average conditions that represent the average annual rainfall and average five year rainfall. The average five year period may not include the average annual rainfall if an extreme rainfall year occurred before or after that year.

POST CONSTRUCTION

For post-construction stormwater management, s. NR 151.12, Wis. Adm. Code requires that the performance standards be met on an average annual basis.  Five locations in the state have been selected and their representative rainfall year has been identified in s.  NR 151.12(1)(b).  When running a model to assess the stormwater control program effectiveness in meeting the post-construction performance standards, the following files must be used.  Select the rainfall file for the location closest to the construction site. 

Five areas for average annual rainfall and dates used in WDNR NR151 Non-Agricultural Performance Standards are:

Area	File	Winter Season Date Range1
Duluth	WisReg - Duluth MN 1975.RAN	November 19 - March 24
Green Bay	WisReg - Green Bay WI 1969.RAN	November 25 - March 29
Madison	WisReg - Madison WI 1981.RAN	December 2 - March 12
Milwaukee	WisReg - Milwaukee WI 1969.RAN	December 6 - March 28
Minneapolis	WisReg - Minneapolis MN 1959.RAN	November 4 - March 13
1 These dates are to be used for winter season range under current file data.

DEVELOPED AREAS

For developed urban areas under s. NR 151.13, permitted municipalities must reduce the TSS load by 20% in 2008 and 40% in 2013.   Again, this should be reported on an average annual basis.  However, there are no identified rainfall years for the developed urban area performance standards in NR 151.13.  Since a single year did not fairly represent the impact of street cleaning, a series of rainfall files (5 consecutive years) must be used. Again, use the file for the location closest to the municipality.

Area	File	Winter Season Date Range1
Duluth	WisReg - Duluth Five Year Rainfall.ran	November 19 - March 24
Green Bay	WisReg - Green Bay Five Year Rainfall.ran	November 25 - March 29
Madison	WisReg - Madison Five Year Rainfall.ran	December 2 - March 12
Milwaukee	WisReg - Milwaukee Five Year Rainfall.ran	December 6 - March 28
Minnepolis	WisReg - Minneapolis Five Year Rainfall.ran	November 4 - March 13
1 These dates are to be used for winter season range under current file data.

Winter Season Range

The USGS measured street dirt load from several types of streets to determined an Initial Street dirt loading at the end of winter season.

Check the winter season range box if you want to exclude a range of dates - typically the winter season - from a model run.  These dates are listed next to the rainfalls for each version of the model and must be use for the location closest to the municipality. The model run will then exclude all rainfall dates between the start of winter and the end of winter for the model run.  The dates need to be entered using the format "mm/dd".  If you select this option, initial street dirt loading at the end of the winter season will be entered for the user.

Pollutant Probability Distribution File: WI_GEO01.ppd

Data from a pollutant value file determine, when multiplied by either a source area runoff volume or source area particulate loading, the pollutant loading from a source area.  This editor creates, views, and edits pollutant probability distribution files (files with the extension .ppd) that describe pollutant concentrations or loadings that are from source areas and land uses used in WinSLAMM.  This data is generally based upon pollutant loading and concentration source area and land use data collected from the study area or region.  For example, particulate COD source data, in units of milligrams of COD per kilogram of suspended solids loading in the runoff, must be entered for each source area and land use of concern.

Geomeans were computed from several source areas studies monitored by the USGS. Data were collected from the following source areas: residential, commercial, and industrial rooftops; residential lawns; residential driveways; residential, commercial and industrial streets; commercial and industrial parking lots; freeways; and undeveloped area. Concentrations included dissolved and total phosphorus, copper, zinc, lead, and cadmium. None of the geomeans were altered in the calibration process (Bannerman 1983, 1992, and 1993; Corsi 1993; Steuer 1996 and 1997; USEPA 1983; Waschbusch 1995 and 1999).

These studies were located in Madison and Milwaukee WI, and Marquette MI. For publications of these studies please contact Judy Horwatich at jahorwat@usgs.gov.

Runoff Coefficient File: .rsv

Runoff coefficients, when multiplied by rain depths, land use source areas, and a conversion factor, determine the runoff volumes needed by WinSLAMM. Types of source area in the runoff coefficient file include connected flat roofs, connected pitched roofs, directly connected impervious areas, directly connected unpaved areas, pervious area - sandy (A) soils,  pervious area - silty (B) soils Pervious area - clayey (C/D) soils, smooth textured streets, intermediate textured streets, rough textured streets

Flows measured by the USGS in Wisconsin were used to calibrate the runoff coefficient files (Bannerman 1983, 1992 and 1993; Horwatich, 2004; Steuer 1996 and 1997; USEPA 1993; Walker 1994; Waschbusch 1999.

Particulate Solids Concentration File: .psc

Particulate solids concentration values, when multiplied by source area runoff volumes and a conversion factor, calculate particulate solids loadings (lbs) in WinSLAMM.

Total suspended solids concentrations were measured by the USGS in runoff from many different source areas. The source areas data collected from were: residential, commercial, and industrial rooftops; residential lawns; residential driveways; residential, commercial and industrial streets; commercial and industrial parking lots; freeways; and undeveloped areas (Bannerman 1983, 1992 and 1993; Corsi, 1999; Horwatich, 2004; House 1993; Steuer 1996 and 1997; USEPA 1993; Waschbusch 1995 and 1999).  The averages of the TSS values for each source area were used to create the particulate residue file.

Particulate Residue Reduction File: .ppr

WinSLAMM uses the particulate residue reduction subprogram to create parameter files that describe the fraction of total particulates that remains in the drainage system (curbs and gutters, grass swales, and storm drainage) after rain events end due to deposition.  This fraction of the total particulates does not reach the outfall, so the outfall values are reduced by the fraction indicated in the .PRR file.  The reduction of particulate residue at the outfall due to the delivery system is a function of the type of drainage system and rainfall depth.  WinSLAMM calculates this deposition effect for three different drainage systems, based on the condition of the curb and gutter.

This file has been zeroed out for the Wisconsin calibration.

Street Delivery Parameter File: .std

The delivery subprogram contains the user-defined fractions of the total particulates that do not reach the outfall during a rain event, for different rain depths and street textures.

WinSLAMM uses street dirt delivery files under the current file data. This file type was introduced in version 8.1 and the user only had to enter in one file for all landuses. Changes in the model may require the user to enter more than one street delivery file depending on the landuse. The table below describes street dirt delivery files for each version update.

The files created for the Wisconsin area is model-version dependent listed below:

Particle size size distribution file: .cpz

The NURP.cpz file is required for the wet detention pond and catch-basin practices. The NURP.cpz is an average of the available outfall particle size distribution data for all of the NURP projects (Pitt, 2003).

Study Reference:

For Model Reference: http://www.winslamm.com/services.htm

Bannerman, R.T., Baun, K., Bohn, M., Hughes, P.E., and Graczyk, D.J., 1983, Evaluation of urban nonpoint source pollution management in Milwaukee County, Wisconsin--Volume 1 for U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region V: Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Publication PB 84-114164 [variously paged].

Bannerman, R.T. ., Dodds, R.B., Owens, D.W, Hughes, P.E., 1992, Source of pollutants in Wisconsin Stormwater: 1 for U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region V: Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Grant number C9995007-01 [variously paged].

Bannerman, R.T., Owens, D.W., Dodds, R.B., and Hornewer, N.J., 1993, Sources of pollutants in Wisconsin stormwater: Water Science Technology, v. 28, no. 3-5, p. 241-259.

Corsi, S.R., Greb, S.R., Bannerman, R.T., and Pitt, R.E., 1999, Evaluation of the multi-chambered treatment train, a retrofit water-quality management practice: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 99-270, 24 p.

Horwatich, J.A., Corsi, R.S., Bannerman, R.T., Effectiveness of a pressurized stormwater filtration system in Green Bay, Wisconsin: A study for the environmental technology verification program of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency: Scientific Investigations Report 2004-5222, p 19.

House, L.B., Waschbusch, R.J., Hughes, P.E., Water quality of an urban wet detention pond in Madison Wisconsin, 1987-88: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 93-172, 57 p.

Steuer, J.J., Selbig, W.R., Hornewer, N.J., and Prey, J., 1997, Sources of contamination in an urban basin in Marquette, Michigan, and an analysis of concentrations, loads, and data quality: U.S. Geological Survey Water-Resources Investigations Report 97-4242, 25 p.

Steuer, J.J., Selbig, W.R., and Hornewer, N.J., Contaminant concentration in stormwater from eight Lake Superior basin cities, 1993-94: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 96-122, 16 p.

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 1983, Results of the Nationwide Urban Runoff Program, Volume 1–final report, Water Planning Division: Washington, D.C., National Technical Information Service PB84-185552 [variously paged].

Walker, J.F., Graczyk, D.J., Corsi, S.R., Owens, D.W., and Wierl, J.A., Evaluation of nonpoint-source contamination, Wisconsin; land-use and best-management-practices inventory, selected streamwater-quality data, urban-watershed quality assurance and quality control, constituent loads in rural streams, and snowmelt-runoff analysis, water year 1994:  U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 95-320, 21 p.

Waschbusch, R.J., 1995, Stormwater-runoff data in Madison, Wisconsin, 1993-94: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 95-733, 33 p.

Waschbusch, R.J., Selbig, W.R, and Bannerman, R.T., 1999, Sources of phosphorus in stormwater and street dirt from two urban residential basins in Madison, Wisconsin, 1994-95: U.S. Geological Survey Water-Resources Investigations Report 99-4021, 25 p.

Waschbusch, R.J., 1999, Evaluation of the effectiveness of urban stormwater treatment unit in Madison, Wisconsin, 1996-97: U.S. Geological Survey Water-Resources Investigations Report 99-4195, 25 p.

Waschbusch, R.J., 2003, Data and Methods of a 1999-2000 street sweeping study on an urban freeway in Milwaukee County, Wisconsin: : U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 03-93, 41 p.