Federal Government Grant for Technical Support and Watershed Management at Fort Leonard Wood, MO

The government seeks research and technical support for watershed management modeling and analyses for water quantity and quality, impacts to aquatic species, and effects of extreme rainfall events to take place at the Fort Leonard Wood, MO area. Details of primary tasks are as follows:

Task 1: Watershed modeling

SWAT+ modeling will be completed for the Big Piney River (a HUC 12 watershed) and Roubidoux Creek (part of the Upper Gasconade HUC 12 watershed). The area around FLW is a karst landscape. Models will be calibrated using USGS stream gages and TSS sampling data supplied by FLW and ERDC-CERL. Task 1 consists of 2 (two) subtasks. a) Model(s) will incorporate existing climate and watershed/management conditions, b) model(s) will incorporate the recommended areal coverage of BMP types and management practices into the SWAT+ models to estimate change to water quality and discharge under existing climate conditions, Note: ERDC-CERL will assist with creating recommended BMPs and management practices.

Task 2: Assess model output and determine management prioritization

Interpretation and evaluation of model results to prioritize watersheds to target with proposed BMPs and management. Analyses will include statistical methods to justify periodization. The cost of BMP implementation and ongoing operations and management cost and the potential water quality and quantity impacts will also be included. Standard maintenance plans for all recommended BMPs will be required.

Task 3: Develop a Watershed Management Plan

Develop a Watershed Management Plan with recommended preliminary designs and locations for future development of LID features and BMPs to protect imperiled aquatic species, reduce infrastructure maintenance costs, and support current and future land usages. The final Watershed Management Plan will be included in the FLW Integrated Natural Resources Management Plan (INRMP) and used by land management groups on FLW including the Directorate of Public Works (DPW), Training, Mobilization & Security (DPTMS), and Integrated Training Area Management (ITAM) as well as the adjacent Mark Twain State Forest.