Canal and Wetland Flow/Transport Interaction

Significant canal and wetland flow exchanges can potentially occur along the southwest overbank area of canal C-111 between hydraulic control structures S-18C and S-197. This coupled flow system is of particular concern to restoration efforts in that it provides a pathway for fresh water to nearshore embayments in Florida Bay. New construction modifications and operational strategies proposed for C-111 under the Central and Southern Florida "Restudy" Project are intended to enhance sheet flow to these subtidal embayments. The objectives of the canal and wetland flow/transport interaction project were to (1) develop numerical techniques and algorithms to facilitate the coupling of existing generic models for improved simulation of canal and wetland interactions, (2) translate recent findings of ongoing process studies within the South Florida Ecosystem Program (SFEP) into new mathematical formulations, empirical expressions, and numerical approximations to enhance generic simulation model capabilities for the south Florida ecosystem, (3) investigate new instrument capabilities and field deployment approaches to collect the refined data needed to identify and quantify the important flow-controlling forces and landscape features for model implementation, (4) integrate process-study findings and the results of physiographic mapping and remote sensing efforts specific to the C-111 basin into a numerical simulation model of the interconnected canal and wetland flow system, and (5) use the resultant model and data to study, evaluate, and demonstrate the significance of driving forces relative to controlling flow exchanges between canal C-111 and its bordering wetlands.

Discharge data for Tamiami Canal are also available for water years 1986-1999, 2000, and 2001.