Validation of a vegetated filter strip model (VFSMOD)

Vegetated filter strips (VFS) are designed to reduce sediment load and othe r 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 simul ate sediment transport and capping in VFS, but there is a general lack of c onfidence in VFS models owing to limited validation studies and model limit ations that prevent correct application of these models under field conditi ons. The objective of this study is to test and validate a process-based mo del (VFSMOD) that simulates sediment trapping in VFS. This model links thre e submodels: modified Green-Ampt's infiltration, Quadratic overland flow su bmode] based on kinematic wave approximation and University of Kentucky sed iment filtration model. A total of 20 VFS, 2, 5, 10 and 15 m long and with various vegetation covers, were tested under simulated sediment and runoff conditions. The results of these field experiments were used to validate th e VFS model. The model requires 25 input parameters distributed over five i nput files. All input parameters were either measured or calculated using e xperimental data. The observed sediment trapping efficiencies varied from 6 5% in the 2-m long VFS to 92% in the 10-m long filters. No increase in sedi ment removal efficiency was observed at higher VFS length. Application of t he VFS model to experimental data was satisfactory under the condition that actual Row widths are used in the model instead of the total filter width. Predicted and observed sediment trapping efficiencies and infiltration vol ume fitted very well, with a coefficient of determination (R-2) of 0.9 and 0.95, respectively. Regression analyses revealed that the slope and interce pt of the regression lines between predicted versus observed infiltration v olume and trapping efficiency were not significantly different than the lin e of perfect agreement with a slope of 1.0 and intercept of 0.0. Copyright (C) 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.