Hugh R Whiteley

University of Guelph | UOGuelph · School of Engineering

Urbanization, if not properly managed, can lead to stream channel degradation termed Urban Stream Syndrome (USS). However, the effects of different levels of urbanization and thresholds for degradation are not well understood. The USS is characterized by increased frequency and magnitude of flood flows, increased rates of channel erosion, and degra...

Unmitigated urbanization frequently alters the flow frequency distribution and changes the source and transport rates of sediments in previously “in regime” channels. These changes may result in increased stream erosion, changes in alluvial materials and degradation of water quality and habitat, conditions called “urban stream syndrome”. Early iden...

Stream-habitat assessment for evaluation of restoration projects requires the examination of many parameters, both watershed-scale and reach-scale, to incorporate the complex non-linear effects of geomorphic, riparian, watershed and hydrologic factors on aquatic ecosystems. Rapid geomorphic assessment tools used by many jurisdictions to assess natu...

The monograph Floods in a changing climate: inundation modelling provides important guidance on the available analytic tools and modelling techniques available to practitioners of inundation modelling,managers of flood-management studies, and decision makers choosing flood mitigation policies.

In this study we investigated the nitrate (NO3−–N) attenuating capabilities of two headwater stream riparian zones in southern Ontario. Peak concentrations of groundwater NO3−–N at sites adjacent the Speed River and Carroll Creek occurred in spring. Both study areas showed a capacity to deplete essentially 100% of NO3−–N from subsurface waters. Att...

The applicability of the Qualitative Habitat Evaluation Index (QHEI) as a planning and design tool for stream assessments in southern Ontario was evaluated. QHEI assessments were made at 50 Ontario sites where benthic data were available or collected. QHEI was correlated to % Ephemeroptera-Plecoptera-Trichoptera (%EPT), Hilsenhoff Biotic Index (HBI...

The effects of surface and subsurface agricultural drainage on streamflow in the Middle Thames River have been studied through the analysis of changes in the volumetric response, changes in the seasonal distribution of streamflow volumes, and changes in the time distribution of runoff response of the Middle Thames in the period 1949–1980.The result...

A new method is developed to integrate empirical data and watershed properties with geographic information systems (GIS) tools to prioritize the sensitivities of streams to deterioration arising from adverse stormwater effects. A risk-based decision-making process based on fuzzy logic methodology is employed, using a broad spectrum of parameters to...

Since 1970, the design focus of urban stormwater systems has expanded from quick removal of stormwater to include control of peak flows (1970s) and removal of pollutants (1980s). The addition of stormwater ponds as control elements satisfied these two concerns to some extent, but further concerns arose in the 1990s related to changes in flow patter...

The importance of evaporation in hydrologic modeling has been investigated by analysis of water budget at various scales and application of a water management model at plot scale. The data at all scales indicate that evaporation constitutes a major hydrological output. Accurate determination of watershed evapotranspiration depends upon appropriate...

Maintaining the natural hydrologic variability of streamflows is critical for conserving stream ecosystems. The consequences for streamflow of gradual urbanization were investigated for a small Ontario watershed. A hydrologic model (GAWSER), calibrated for current conditions, was used to generate a 41-year daily streamflow time series at eight poin...

The impact of vegetated filter strips (VFS) on sediment removal from runoff has been studied extensively in recent years. Vegetation is believed to increase water infiltration and decrease water turbulence thus enhancing sediment deposition within filter media. In the study reported here, field experiments have been conducted to examine the efficie...

Vegetated filter strips (VFS) are used recently for removal, at or near the source, of sediment and sediment-bound chemicals from cropland runoff. Vegetation within the flowpath increases water infiltration and decreases water turbulence, thus enhancing pollutant removal by sedimentation within filter media and infiltration through the filter surfa...

Calibrating a comprehensive, multi-parameter conceptual hydrological model, such as the Hydrological Simulation Program Fortran model, is a major challenge. This paper describes calibration procedures for water-quantity parameters of the HSPF version 10·11 using the automatic-calibration parameter estimator model coupled with a geographical informa...

Interpreting microwave-frequency data acquired from the Special Sensor Microwave Imager (SSM/I) for snow–water equivalent is difficult because of the large number of factors that affect the microwave signal. So far, there has been limited success in the interpretation of the SSM/I data for the forested northern areas of Ontario. In this study, the...

Field experiments on vegetative filter strips (VFS) showed average sediment-removal efficiency varied from 50 to 98% as flowpath length (i.e. width of the VFS) increased from 2.44 to 19.52 m. Almost all of the easily removable aggregates (i.e. aggregates larger that 40 μm in diameter) can be captured within the first five meters of the filter strip...

Vegetated filter strips (VFS) are designed to reduce sediment load and other pollutants into water bodies. However, adaptation of VFS in the field has been limited owing to lack of data about their efficiency and performance under natural field conditions. A number of models are available that simulate sediment transport and trapping in VFS, but th...

Vegetated filter strips (VFS) are designed to reduce sediment load and other pollutants into water bodies. However, adaptation of VFS in the field has been limited owing to lack of data about their efficiency and performance under natural field conditions. A number of models are available that simulate sediment transport and capping in VFS, but the...

Microwave-frequency data acquired from the Special Sensor Microwave Imager (SSM/I) has been interpreted as snow-water equivalent (SWE) for the snowpack on the upper Mattagami river watershed for the winter of 1998-1999. The Mattagami watershed is in a forested region of Ontario, Canada. Less than 10% of the area is lake or unforested wetland. The a...

Abstract Field experiments,on vegetative,filter strips (VFS) showed,average sediment-removal efficiency varied from 50 to 98% as flowpath,length increased from 2.44 to 19.52 m. Almost,all of the,easily-removable aggregates (i.e. aggregates larger that 40 mm in diameter) can be captured within the first five meters of the filter strip. However, the...

Excess nitrate (NO3-) in lakes and streams has deleterious effects for environmental and human health. Nitrate concentrations have become problematic in agricultural watersheds due to increased use of fertilizers and improper management of livestock wastes. Research has indicated that the planting and/or preservation of riparian buffer zones can be...

Mathematical models used to predict the transport of eroded soil to streams must consider processes both during rain events and between events. Event processes are important because they control the timing and amount of suspended sediment in streamflow. Between-event processes control initial conditions at the start of the rain event. For many low...

Rapid movement of bacteria through the soil has been observed after applications of manure to agricultural fields. Preferential flow through macropores has been suggested as the main reasons for these observations. Experiments with repacked soil columns were used to study the effect of artificially created macropores, soil type, soil water content,...

Application of liquid manure to fields is a common practise to efficiently utilize and dispose of manure in many North American farm operations. Guidelines given to farm operators frequently focus on the amounts of manure required to provide certain nutrient requirements given the source of the manure and plant requirements. Under proper conditions...

This chapter introduces a tentative procedure for estimating the minimwn level of complexity of a computational model for designing a cost-effective combined sewer overflow (CSO) system. In this approach, model complexity is related to a measure of model uncertainty, and to the design costs. Ultimately the goal is to determine the optimal (least co...

There is an increasing concern about dangerous levels of bacterial contamination of rural ground water resources in Ontario and throughout the world. Recent studies in rural parts of Canada have identified leaching bed systems as one of the major sources of this contamination. Field studies were undertaken to evaluate bacterial contamination from t...

Water balance models can be very useful when establishing the long-term water budget components of an area prior to urban development and the changes in the hydrologic cycle after development. In this case, the water budget components considered include: precipitation; snowmelt and rainfall runoff; evapotranspiration; and surficial and deeper groun...

Microorganisms migrating into and through soil from sources on the land surface may cause a serious threat to both ground and surface waters. It has been estimated that microorganisms can migrate significant distances in the field. Results from various studies suggested that preferential flow through macropores, worm holes, cracks, and fractures is...

In this paper we describe a linked cascade of modelling procedures assembled specifically to assess changes created by urbanization in the quantity and quality of streamflow. This assessment is a key to successful integrated watershed management. The modelling approach that is summarized here has been created as part of the Laurel Creek Watershed S...

The research reported here was undertaken to help establish whether low density residential areas and/or commerical development in residential areas warrant stormwater treatment beyond that which currently exists. Specifically, the objectives of this research were to: characterize the quality of stormwater from two residential catchments and from a...

Many hydraulic structures are designed using calculation procedures that assume an equivalence between the return period of a rainfall event and the return period of the streamflow peak calculated using that rainfall. In this study, we have examined both observed peaks of streamflow and the meteorological sequence creating the peak to check the val...

The area snow accumulation-ablation model (ASAAM) estimates the spatial distribution of snow cover amounts (snow depth and equivalent water content) for individual cover types on a daily basis for the complete winter. The calculated distributions provide an improved basis for streamflow modelling during conditions of partial snow cover which occur...

In this paper, we present the results of a statistical comparison of the areal distribution of snow cover for similar landscape units in 12 different locations in southwestern Ontario. The pattern of upper-limit capacity of snow-depth versus area covered appears to be stable, for a given landscape unit, from one year to the next and for units locat...

The evaluation of wetlands in southern Ontario has been started by the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources. This has heightened interest in the hydrological behaviour of wetlands. We present results of hydrological studies in Ontario of riverine, palustrine (upland), and isolated wetlands. Field results are sparse but tend to confirm the assumpti...

We reviewed papers dealing with the effects of land drainage on streamflow, conclusions on effects are difficult to establish because response varies with different types of drainage work and differing physiographic and climate situations. Coincident changes in land use, and the high variability of inputs, add complications.For the range of events...

The GAWSER (Guelph Agricultural Watershed Storm-Event Runoff) model assessed the areal variability in storm runoff generation on watershed surfaces from rain and snowmelt events. The model can be used to assess the effect of land use changes or channel geometry changes on flood peaks and volume at a watershed outlet.-from Authors

Water in a stream and time are alike, both keep moving. It has been aptly remarked, though in a different context, that today is yesterday’s tomorrow (Vallentyne, 1978). Just as yesterday’s events interact with today’s conditions and these together with tomorrow’s, similarly a given stretch of a stream, because of water flow, is a reflection of its...

A computer model (Guelph Agricultural Watershed Storm-Event Runoff Model of GAWSER) has been used to simulate storm-event streamflow on three small agricultural watersheds. Canagagigue Creek, East Canagagigue Creek and Holiday Creek, in South Ontario. The model includes spatial differentiation of infiltration capacities. Results are presented for a...

Attention is focused on potentially important questions related to unintentional hydrologic implications of land drainage in Ontario. These include effects on peak flowrates, dry weather flowrates, reliability of wells, adjacent wetland areas, and water quality. Ce rapport est surtout centré sur les questions importantes relatives aux répercussions...

Swifts Brook, a small headwater stream within the Grand River Watershed in Southern Ontario, originates, during baseflow periods, in a spring with a high nitrate concentration. The spring, which is the principle source of summer streamflow for the brook, has peak flow rates of up to 5.5 l sec 1 in March and April and minimum flowrates as low as 2.8...

Laboratory experiments were conducted on samples of sediment collected from a stream having an appreciable input of nitrate at its source. Earlier work had shown that the water lost much of the nitrate as it moved downstream, presumably by denitrification. Columns of sediment were reconstituted in plexiglass tubes, overlain with water containing ni...

With a view to determining nitrogen sink processes, if any, in streams and the factors that govern these processes, nitrogen transport was studied in a 2 km-long, perennial, spring-fed stream during the summer months of 1973 and 1974. Concentrations of ammonium, nitrite and Kjeldahl nitrogen were small but those of nitrate nitrogen were unusually h...

A hydrological sampling scheme should satisfy the purpose for which the samples are being collected, allowing for the variability of the samples in time and space. Snow measurements are commonly taken to provide estimates of the mean water equivalent over an area. A criterion for selecting a snow sampling scheme for shallow snowpacks is expressed i...

Canadian Climate Normals 1971–2000 include, for some locations, the monthly total water equivalent of daily snowfalls measured with a Nipher-shielded gauge, as well as the monthly total of ruler-measured daily snowfall depths. For these stations it is possible to calculate density of daily snowfall on a monthly-mean basis. In this study monthly Cli...

This paper focuses on lessons learned in the use of models on plot, field and watershed scales. Application of models has become a very common practice for the management of soil and water resources. Models have been used for investigation of research problems, for the identification of sources of soil erosion, for the evaluation of best management...

This study examined hydraulic behaviour of Rolled Erosion Control Products (RECPs) as a channel lining system. RECPs are permeable, buoyant and flexible. In channels with low flow velocity, buoyancy can cause RECPs to form a wavy geometry; fluid passes through the upstream face of the wave, flows underneath the liner, and exits through the downstre...

Outflow rates from the 2 Km SUP 2 Speedvale watershed on the northwest corner of Guelph, Canada, changed significantly when the land use on the watershed changed from rural to urban. Data from eight years prior to urbanization and four years after construction of commercial/ industrial buildings were analyzed. The frequency of flow peaks, especiall...