Vincent T. DePaul 20250326 surface-water quality model Denver, CO U.S. Geological Survey https://doi.org/10.5066/P1QXANWS Vincent T. DePaul 2025 Publication Marine Pollution Bulletin vol. 214 May 2025 Amsterdam, Netherlands Elsevier https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2025.117748 The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) developed and calibrated a Water Quality Analysis Simulation Program (WASP) model (version 8.4) for the Barnegat Bay-Little Egg Harbor Estuary (hereafter referred to as 'the Estuary'), New Jersey. This model was externally coupled with a previously developed hydrodynamic model (Defne and Ganju, 2015 and 2018) to simulate dissolved oxygen, nutrient cycling, and phytoplankton dynamics. Boundaries and loads developed for the model were based on hydrologic and water-quality data collected by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) and the USGS. The model was simulated and calibrated using data collected from March 7 through September 30, 2012. The calibrated model was used to evaluate three compliance scenarios to quantify the magnitude of watershed nitrogen reductions required to achieve measurable improvements in water quality. This modeling study was part of a larger, multiyear effort by the NJDEP to assess the ecological health of the Estuary. This USGS data release contains all input and output files for the simulations described in the associated journal article (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2025.117748). References: - Defne, Z., and Ganju, N.K., 2015, Quantifying the residence time and flushing characteristics of a shallow, back-barrier estuary—Application of hydrodynamic and particle tracking models: Estuaries and Coasts, v. 38, no. 5, p. 1719-1734, accessed June 13, 2024, at https://doi.org/10.1007/s12237-014-9885-3. - Defne, Z., and Ganju, N.K., 2018, USGS Barnegat Bay hydrodynamic model for March to September 2012: U.S. Geological Survey data release, accessed June 13, 2024, at https://doi.org/10.5066/F7SB44QS. The WASP model was developed to improve understanding of nutrient cycling and to assess the Estuary’s response to potential management strategies targeting nutrient load reduction. The development of the model input and output files included in this data release are documented in an associated journal article published in Marine Pollution Bulletin (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2025.117748). Support is provided for correcting errors in the data release and clarification of the modeling conducted by the U.S. Geological Survey. Users are encouraged to review the associated journal article (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2025.117748) to understand the purpose, construction, and limitations of this model. The model will run successfully only if the original directory structure is correctly restored. The model archive is broken into several pieces to reduce the likelihood of download timeouts. Instructions for reconstructing the original directory structure and running the model included in this data release and described in the journal article can be found in the readme.txt ASCII file which can be downloaded as part of this data release. Files in this data release include: -readme.txt: ASCII text file that describes the model archive data release. This file also includes instructions on how to run the models contained in this data release. -modelgeoref.txt: ASCII text file that defines the four corners of the model domain in decimal degrees. -ancillary.zip: ZIP file containing a shapefile of the model grid linked to simulated output (mean constituent concentrations and exceedance frequencies of defined thresholds), a directory of WRDB (Water Resources Database) files for processing large input and output datasets, and a modified database for the WASP with an Excel program that highlights the modifications that were made. The directory also contains additional information in the form of maps, tables, and text. -bin.zip: ZIP file containing the installation file for the WASP code used to run the calibration and scenario simulations is included in this data release and the installation file for the Water Resources DataBase which was used as a postprocessor in this study. The postprocessor is used for graphically visualizing WASP binary output (.BMD file). -georef.zip: ZIP file containing a shapefile which defines the extent of the active portion of the model. -model.zip: ZIP file containing the WASP input files for the baseline and scenario simulations documented in this data release. Input files are binary WASP input file format (.wif). -hydrodynamic_linkage.zip: ZIP file containing the model output from the hydrodynamic model used as input for the WASP model. This directory should be unzipped and placed within the model subdirectory. -output.S1_Base.zip: ZIP file containing the output files for the baseline simulation documented in this data release. Output files are binary format (.BMD2). This directory should be unzipped and placed within the output subdirectory. -output.S2_NatCond.zip: ZIP file containing the output files for the natural conditions simulation documented in this data release. Output files are binary format (.BMD2). This directory should be unzipped and placed within the output subdirectory. -output.S3_60_20.zip: ZIP file containing the output files for the simulation where nitrogen is reduced 60 percent in the Northern watershed and reduced 20 percent in the Central/South watershed as documented in this data release. Output files are binary format (.BMD2). This directory should be unzipped and placed within the output subdirectory. -output.S4_80_20.zip: ZIP file containing the output files for the simulation where nitrogen is reduced 80 percent in the Northern watershed and reduced 20 percent in the Central/South watershed as documented in this data release. Output files are binary format (.BMD2). This directory should be unzipped and placed within the output subdirectory. -source.zip: ZIP file containing a readme file that explains the WASP source code. 20120307 20120930 publication date Complete Not planned -74.3515 -74.0365 40.0676 39.5160 USGS Thesaurus phytoplankton nutrient cycling nitrogen phosphorus oxygen content (water) eutrophication surface water quality none hydrodynamic model surface water water-quality model nutrients estuary back-barrier lagoon system nutrient enrichment WASP surface-water-quality model dissolved oxygen total maximum daily load nutrient loading chlorophyll ISO 19115 Topic Category biota inlandWaters environment oceans USGS Metadata Identifier USGS:66675c4cd34e9bcc607b233a Geographic Names Information System New Jersey Barnegat Bay Manahawkin Bay Little Egg Harbor Toms River Metedeconk River Intracoastal Waterway Barnegat Inlet Atlantic Ocean Little Egg Inlet Point Pleasant Canal Manasquan River Bay Head Harbor Manasquan Inlet Cedar Creek Forked River Oyster Creek Mill Creek Westecunk Creek Tuckerton Creek none Mid-Atlantic Barnegat Bay-Little Egg Harbor estuary Barnegat Bay estuary None. Acknowledgement of the U.S. Geological Survey would be appreciated in products derived from this data release. The model input and output files included with this data releases are provided to support the analyses documented in the associated journal article (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2025.117748). Although the information contained in the model files may be useful for other purposes, it is incumbent on the user to understand the purpose, construction, and limitations of this model. Data have been checked to ensure consistency with the accompanying report. If any errors are detected, please notify the originating office. Vincent T. DePaul U.S. Geological Survey mailing and physical

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Lawrenceville NJ 08648 USA 609-771-3812 vdepaul@usgs.gov N.J. Department of Environmental Protection None Unclassified None Ronald J. Baker Christine M. Wieben Richard G. Lathrop Robert S. Nicholson 2014 Publication Scientific Investigations Report 2014-5072 Reston, VA U.S. Geological Survey https://doi.org/10.3133/sir20145072 Zafer Defne Neil K. Ganju 2015 Publication Estuaries and Coasts v. 38, p. 1719-1734 London, U.K. Springer Nature https://doi.org/10.1007/s12237-014-9885-3 Zafer Defne Frederick J. Spitz Vincent T. DePaul Timothy A. Wool 2017 Publication Journal of Coastal Research Special Issue 78, p. 34–45 Charlotte, NC The Coastal Education and Research Foundation https://doi.org/10.2112/SI78-004.1 Hui (Helen) Pang Patricia Ingelido Barbara Hirst Jack Pflaumer Anne Witt Aynan Zaman Joseph Aiello 2017 Publication Journal of Coastal Research Special Issue 78, p. 7–21 Charlotte, NC The Coastal Education and Research Foundation https://doi.org/10.2112/SI78-002.1 Timothy A. Wool Robert B. Ambrose James. L. Martin 2015 Publication Washington, D.C. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development https://www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/2018-05/documents/mpm-user-guide.pdf Calibration of the Estuary eutrophication model was performed for the period of March 7 through September 30, 2012. The model was calibrated using a trial-and-error approach by adjusting critical parameters until a reasonable match between simulated and observed values was achieved, with a focus on matching spatial and temporal trends at twelve in-bay monitoring sites representing a range of water-quality conditions in the Estuary. No formal logical accuracy tests were conducted Dataset is considered complete for the information presented, as described in the abstract. Users are advised to read the rest of the metadata record and the associated journal article (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2025.117748) for additional details. No formal positional accuracy tests were conducted No formal positional accuracy tests were conducted The process used to develop, calibrate, and apply the model is described in the associated journal article (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2025.117748). 2025 Raster Pixel WGS 1984 UTM Zone 18N 0.9996 -75.0 0.0 500000.0 0.0 coordinate pairs 140 282 meters North American Vertical Datum of 1988 1.0 feet Attribute values BarnegatBay_WASP_Domain.shp ESRI Polygon shapefile U.S. Geological Survey Area Text string indicating if polygon area is active in the model. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2025.117748 usgswaterqualitymodel Delineation of active and inactive areas in the model. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2025.117748 This model application data release contains all the model input and output files needed to replicate the simulations described in the associated journal article (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2025.117748). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2025.117748 Detailed descriptions of the model input and output files can be found in the WASP technical documents at the USEPA modeling support website online at: https://www.epa.gov/hydrowq/wasp-model-documentation accessed June 6, 2024. https://www.epa.gov/hydrowq/wasp-model-documentation Detailed descriptions of the WRDB used to view and evaluate model output from WASP can be obtained from the 'help' tab in the WRDB GUI or from http://www.wrdb.com/. http://www.wrdb.com/ USGS ScienceBase U.S. Geological Survey mailing and physical

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Denver CO 80225 United States 1-888-275-8747 sciencebase@usgs.gov Unless otherwise stated, all data, metadata and related materials are considered to satisfy the quality standards relative to the purpose for which the data were collected. Although the data, software, and related material have been processed successfully on a computer system at the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), reviewed for accuracy and completeness, and approved for release by the USGS, no warranty expressed or implied is made regarding the display or utility of the data for other purposes, nor on all computer systems, nor shall the act of distribution constitute any such warranty. Although the data have been subjected to rigorous review and are substantially complete, the USGS reserves the right to revise the data pursuant to further analysis and review. Furthermore, the data are released on the condition that neither the USGS nor the U.S. Government shall be held liable for any damages resulting from authorized or unauthorized use. The USGS or the U.S. Government shall not be held liable for improper or incorrect use of the data described and/or contained herein. Any use of trade, firm, or product names is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government. Digital datasets None 31,887 https://doi.org/10.5066/P1QXANWS None. No fees are applicable for obtaining the dataset. 20250326 GS-W-NJ DataRelease New Jersey Water Science Center Data Release Manager Mailing and physical

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Lawrenceville NJ 08648 609-771-3900 609-771-3915 gs-w-nj_datarelease@usgs.gov FGDC Content Standards for Digital Geospatial Metadata FGDC-STD-001-1998