Water Currents in the St. Clair and Detroit Rivers

A 2-D hydrodynamic finite element model (RMA-2V) with mesh generation tools (Fast-TABS) is used to simulate the current velocities in the St. Clair and Detroit rivers. The required shorelines and spot depths were digitized from the bathymetric charts and the NOS (National Ocean Service) hydrographic database using Geographic Information Systems technology. The field data obtained from the tracking of drogues via aerial time-lapse photography were used to calibrate the model. A statistical comparison between field and simulated data revealed a very good agreement between the simulated and observed currents.