Pollution Susceptibility of Well‐Mixed Tidal Basins

Abstract

This paper describes the development and application of a methodology for screening nonpoint‐source‐pollutant impacts on small (i.e., well‐mixed) tidal basins. This methodology is based upon a simplified, filtering‐response model for inlet/basin systems. This model relates the pollution susceptibility of well‐mixed tidal basins to the forcing effects of tides, freshwater inflows, and basic system parameters. When coupled with an analogous nonpoint pollutant‐loading model, the simplified receiving‐water model provides first‐order estimates of the embayment water‐quality response to nonpoint‐source loadings. This approach is applied to several small tidal embayments bordering the Hudson River Estuary. The model provides a ranking of the pollution susceptibility of these embayments, and a comparative assessment of their response to long‐term nonpoint pollutant inputs. Thus, those embayments most influenced by nonpoint‐source loadings can be identified by an assessment of basic embayment and watershed parameters.