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The DSSAM Model was primarily designed to assess the impact of agricultural practices on water quality within the Truckee River Basin.
Answer: False
Explanation: The DSSAM Model was primarily designed to assess the impact of agricultural practices on water quality within the Truckee River Basin, not specifically groundwater quality.
The DSSAM Model was developed exclusively for the Truckee River system, not the Colorado River system.
Answer: True
Explanation: The DSSAM Model was specifically developed for the Truckee River system and not for the Colorado River system.
The DSSAM Model's scope includes the major urban centers of Las Vegas and Henderson, Nevada.
Answer: False
Explanation: The DSSAM Model's scope includes the major urban centers of Reno and Sparks, Nevada, and the Lake Tahoe Basin, not Las Vegas and Henderson.
The DSSAM Model monitors only the main stem of the Truckee River and does not include any points within Pyramid Lake.
Answer: False
Explanation: The DSSAM Model monitors points along the main stem of the Truckee River and includes numerous monitoring points within Pyramid Lake.
What is the primary purpose of the DSSAM Model?
Answer: To simulate the effects of land use and wastewater management on Truckee River water quality.
Explanation: The primary purpose of the DSSAM Model is to simulate the effects of land use practices and wastewater management decisions on the water quality of the Truckee River system.
Which specific river system was the focus of the DSSAM Model's development?
Answer: The Truckee River system.
Explanation: The DSSAM Model was developed with a specific focus on the Truckee River system.
Identify the major urban areas within the Truckee River Basin addressed by the DSSAM Model.
Answer: Reno, Sparks, and the Lake Tahoe Basin.
Explanation: The geographical scope of the DSSAM Model within the Truckee River Basin encompasses the urban centers of Reno and Sparks, Nevada, and extends to the Lake Tahoe Basin.
Besides the main river, which other significant water body is monitored by the DSSAM Model?
Answer: Pyramid Lake
Explanation: The DSSAM Model incorporates monitoring points along the entirety of the Truckee River and extends to numerous locations within Pyramid Lake.
An earlier name for the DSSAM Model was the 'Truckee Water Quality Simulator.'
Answer: False
Explanation: An earlier name for the DSSAM Model was the 'Earth Metrics Truckee River Model,' not the 'Truckee Water Quality Simulator.'
The initial funding for the DSSAM Model's development came from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS).
Answer: False
Explanation: The initial funding for the DSSAM Model's development was provided by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), not the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS).
The first phase of the DSSAM Model's development occurred between 1990 and 1992.
Answer: False
Explanation: The initial development phase of the DSSAM Model occurred between 1984 and 1986, not between 1990 and 1992.
DSSAM IV and DSSAM V are the names of the subsequent versions of the model developed after the original.
Answer: False
Explanation: Subsequent versions of the model developed after the original were named DSSAM II and DSSAM III, not DSSAM IV and DSSAM V.
The development of a quantitative prediction model for the Truckee River was driven by concerns over increasing river flow rates and tribal water rights.
Answer: False
Explanation: The development of a quantitative prediction model for the Truckee River was driven by concerns over historically decreasing river flow rates, water rights conflicts, and the health of aquatic life.
The expansion of the Reno-Sparks Wastewater Treatment Plant was the specific event that led the EPA to fund large-scale research for the DSSAM Model.
Answer: True
Explanation: The proposal to expand the Reno-Sparks Wastewater Treatment Plant was the specific event that prompted the EPA to fund large-scale research for the DSSAM Model.
The first generation of the DSSAM computer model was developed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency itself.
Answer: False
Explanation: The first generation of the DSSAM computer model was developed by Earth Metrics, not directly by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
Later refinements of the DSSAM Model aimed to simplify the simulation by removing the analysis of nutrient dynamics.
Answer: False
Explanation: Later refinements of the DSSAM Model aimed to enhance its flexibility, particularly in modeling the diel cycle and analyzing particulate nutrient forms, not to remove nutrient dynamics.
What was the alternative historical name for the DSSAM Model?
Answer: Earth Metrics Truckee River Model
Explanation: Historically, the DSSAM Model has also been referred to as the Earth Metrics Truckee River Model.
Which U.S. government agency provided the initial funding for the DSSAM Model?
Answer: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Explanation: Initial funding for the development of the DSSAM Model was provided by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
During what time period was the initial development phase of the DSSAM Model conducted?
Answer: 1984-1986
Explanation: The initial development phase of the DSSAM Model was conducted during the period of 1984 to 1986.
What prompted the development of a quantitative prediction model for the Truckee River?
Answer: Historically decreasing river flow, water rights conflicts, and concerns for aquatic life.
Explanation: The impetus for developing a quantitative prediction model for the Truckee River stemmed from a confluence of factors: historically declining flow rates, complex water rights conflicts (including jurisdictional and tribal issues), and concerns regarding the health of the river's aquatic biota.
Which company was responsible for the software development of the first generation DSSAM computer model?
Answer: Earth Metrics
Explanation: Earth Metrics was the entity responsible for the software development of the first generation DSSAM computer model.
What was a key objective of the augmentations made to the DSSAM Model in later refinements?
Answer: To increase flexibility in modeling the diel cycle and analyzing particulate nutrients.
Explanation: Subsequent refinements to the DSSAM Model were directed towards enhancing its flexibility in simulating the diel cycle (daily fluctuations) and facilitating the analysis of particulate nitrogen and phosphorus.
The Truckee River extends approximately 185 miles and its watershed, excluding the Lake Tahoe sub-basin, encompasses an area of roughly 3,120 square miles.
Answer: True
Explanation: The Truckee River extends approximately 185 miles and its watershed, excluding the Lake Tahoe sub-basin, encompasses an area of roughly 3,120 square miles.
The Truckee River region's importance is primarily due to its significant mineral resources, despite sparse population.
Answer: False
Explanation: The Truckee River region's importance stems from its significant annual tourism at Lake Tahoe and its impact on endangered species, rather than mineral resources.
The introductory figure in the source material depicts Pyramid Lake as the headwater of the Truckee River watershed.
Answer: False
Explanation: The introductory figure in the source material depicts Lake Tahoe as the headwater sub-basin of the Truckee River watershed, not Pyramid Lake.
The satellite image shown in the 'Development History' section depicts the Truckee River itself in 1994.
Answer: False
Explanation: The satellite image presented in the 'Development History' section depicts Pyramid Lake, Nevada, captured in September 1994, not the Truckee River itself.
What is the approximate length of the Truckee River?
Answer: Over 115 miles
Explanation: The Truckee River extends over 115 miles (185 km) in length.
What are the two main reasons cited for the Truckee River region's importance, despite its sparse population?
Answer: High annual tourism at Lake Tahoe and impact on endangered species.
Explanation: The Truckee River region's significance, despite sparse population, is attributed to the substantial annual tourism at Lake Tahoe (approximately 20 million visitors) and the critical impact of river water quality on two endangered species: the Cui-ui sucker fish and the Lahontan cutthroat trout.
The satellite image shown in the 'Development History' section depicts which location?
Answer: Pyramid Lake, Nevada
Explanation: The satellite image featured in the 'Development History' section depicts Pyramid Lake, Nevada, captured in September 1994.
What does the phrase 'closed hydrological system' imply about the Truckee River Basin?
Answer: Water entering the basin does not typically flow out to the ocean and may accumulate in lakes.
Explanation: A closed hydrological system implies that water entering the basin typically does not egress to the ocean but rather accumulates within the basin, frequently in terminal lakes such as Pyramid Lake.
The DSSAM Model's hydrological transport calculations are fundamentally based on the concept of Total Dissolved Solids (TDS).
Answer: False
Explanation: The DSSAM Model's hydrological transport calculations are fundamentally based on the Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) metric, not Total Dissolved Solids (TDS).
Field data collection for DSSAM involved measuring water quality only at the surface zone of the river and in shallow areas of Pyramid Lake.
Answer: False
Explanation: Field data collection for DSSAM involved measuring water quality in both the benthic and surface zones of the river, and in Pyramid Lake at various depths.
The DSSAM Model simulates the consumption of pollutants like nitrogen and phosphorus by assuming they are permanently removed from the system.
Answer: False
Explanation: The DSSAM Model simulates the consumption of pollutants, such as nitrogen and phosphorus, by modeling their dynamic decay, for instance, through consumption by benthic algae.
Algal communities in the DSSAM Model are treated as static elements with no simulated population dynamics.
Answer: False
Explanation: Within the DSSAM Model, algal communities are not static elements; they possess their own simulated population dynamics influenced by environmental factors.
The primary pollutant sources accounted for in the Truckee River watershed model are industrial discharges and atmospheric deposition.
Answer: False
Explanation: The primary pollutant sources accounted for in the Truckee River watershed model include non-point agricultural runoff, urban stormwater runoff, and treated municipal wastewater effluent, not primarily industrial discharges and atmospheric deposition.
What metric forms the fundamental basis for the DSSAM Model's hydrological transport calculations?
Answer: Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL)
Explanation: The DSSAM Model's hydrological transport calculations are fundamentally based on the Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) metric, which quantifies the maximum daily pollutant load a water body can sustain while adhering to water quality standards.
How does the DSSAM Model simulate the consumption of pollutants like nitrogen and phosphorus?
Answer: By modeling their dynamic decay, such as consumption by benthic algae.
Explanation: The DSSAM Model simulates the dynamic decay of pollutants, such as nitrogen and phosphorus, by modeling their consumption by benthic algae within each computational time step.
Within the DSSAM Model, how are algal communities represented?
Answer: As having separate population dynamics influenced by factors like river temperature.
Explanation: Within the DSSAM Model, algal communities are represented with distinct population dynamics for each simulated river reach, with metabolic rates influenced by local river temperature.
Which of the following is NOT listed as a primary source of pollutants accounted for in the Truckee River watershed model?
Answer: Industrial manufacturing discharges
Explanation: The model accounts for non-point agricultural runoff, urban stormwater runoff, and treated municipal wastewater effluent as primary pollutant sources, but not industrial manufacturing discharges.
How does the DSSAM Model conceptualize pollutant input from surface runoff?
Answer: As a continuous line source entering the waterway.
Explanation: When analyzing surface runoff impacting a stream, the DSSAM Model conceptualizes this pollutant input as a line source, treating it as a continuous linear entry point into the waterway.
What does the term 'diel cycle' refer to in the context of DSSAM Model refinements?
Answer: The daily fluctuations in water quality parameters.
Explanation: The term 'diel cycle' denotes the daily fluctuations (e.g., in temperature, dissolved oxygen) observed in a water body; DSSAM refinements concentrated on enhancing the model's capacity to simulate these diurnal variations.
The success of the DSSAM Model led the EPA to decrease its focus on the TMDL protocol for national water quality management.
Answer: False
Explanation: The success of the DSSAM Model encouraged the EPA to increase its commitment to utilizing the TMDL protocol for national water quality management.
Calibrated DSSAM model runs were used to assess the potential impacts of increased recreational boating activities on the river.
Answer: False
Explanation: Calibrated DSSAM model runs were used to evaluate the impacts of alternative land use controls and different discharge parameters for treated effluent, not recreational boating activities.
The DSSAM Model has been used to analyze the effectiveness of xeriscape ordinances for managing stormwater runoff in Washoe County.
Answer: True
Explanation: The DSSAM Model has been employed to analyze the effectiveness of specific components within a xeriscape ordinance for managing stormwater runoff in Washoe County, Nevada.
The DSSAM Model has been instrumental in assessing the survival conditions for the endangered Delta Smelt.
Answer: False
Explanation: The DSSAM Model has been instrumental in assessing the survival conditions for endangered species within the Truckee River system, specifically the Cui-ui sucker fish and the Lahontan cutthroat trout, not the Delta Smelt.
How did the success of the DSSAM Model impact the EPA's national water quality policies?
Answer: It prompted the EPA to increase its commitment to using the TMDL protocol nationally.
Explanation: The successful implementation of the DSSAM Model served as a significant factor in reinforcing the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's commitment to the Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) protocol for national water quality management across various river systems.
What types of analyses were performed using the calibrated DSSAM model?
Answer: Evaluating the effects of alternative land use controls and effluent discharge parameters.
Explanation: Following model calibration, simulations were executed to evaluate the potential impacts of alternative land use controls and varying discharge parameters for treated effluent.
How was the DSSAM Model used in relation to a xeriscape ordinance in Washoe County?
Answer: To analyze the ordinance's effectiveness on stormwater runoff.
Explanation: In the context of stormwater runoff in Washoe County, Nevada, the DSSAM Model was employed to analyze the efficacy of specific components of a xeriscape ordinance.