Towards a Digital Watershed: Real-Time Surface Water-Groundwater Modeling in the Big Cypress Basin

Effective operational management of a watershed requires the integration of real-time information regarding current conditions in the watershed with decision support tools that can reliably forecast the expected behavior of the watershed and evaluate the impact of operational decisions such as alternative gate operation strategies ahead of time. This paper describes a new state-of the-art real-time watershed management system for the Big Cypress Basin, Florida. The location of the Big Cypress Basin, its subtropical climate and the unique hydrology make it vulnerable to floods and droughts in regular cycles. The basin consists of a strongly interconnected system of surface water and groundwater and a complex managed drainage network with many structures. The Basin includes 272 km of primary canals and 46 water control structures located throughout the area that provide limited levels of flood protection, as well as water supply and environmental quality management. In addition to this physical complexity are the conflicting needs of the ecosystem for protection and restoration, versus the substantial urban development with the accompanying water supply, water quality and flood control issues.

To address these new unique management challenges operationally, a novel a real-time decision system has been developed. This real-time system is linked to the South Florida Water Management District’s extensive real-time data monitoring and collection system for both surface water and groundwater, including both water levels in the channels, groundwater levels and structure positions. Using this on-line information, operational staff have access up-to-the minute information regarding the status of their basin. Furthermore, introducing real-time modeling makes it possible to simulate the future behavior of the basin based on current conditions and use this for operational decision making. This system is a major step towards the operational management, in real-time, of all aspects of water resources and water quality within a hydrological basin.