Simulating dynamic load of naturally occurring TOC from watershed into a river

Abstract

Naturally occurring total organic carbon (TOC) is an important feature of stream water quality. This study investigates the dynamic load of TOC from the deep creek watershed into the lower St. Johns River (LSJR), FL, USA, using numerical simulations and field measurements. An existing St. Johns River watershed assessment model for simultaneous loading of nutrients from watersheds into rivers is modified to include the TOC component for the purpose of this study. Three simulation scenarios (i.e., daily, monthly, and annually) are performed to estimate the dynamic load of TOC in response to rainfall events. Simulations show that rainfall events have decisive effects on TOC loads from the Deep Creek watershed into the LSJR. In general, the highly frequent the rainfall events occur, the higher the TOC loads into the river. Simulations also illustrate that effects of rainfall events on daily changes of TOC are minimal in winter, but are profound in late summer. Results suggest that TOC load into the river is not only a rainfall-driven but also a temperature-driven biological process.