In 2021, PCCA engaged LRE Water to develop an EFDC+ hydrodynamic model of the Corpus Christi Bay System for use in modeling the fate and transport of brine discharge from potential desalination facilities. The EFDC platform is effective for simulating high salinity, high temperature, and/or low dissolved oxygen plume movements and is recommended by TX Water Development Board staff and endorsed by US EPA, which distributes the model from its website.
While this “far field” modeling is not required as part of the regulatory permitting process for proposed desalination facilities, PCCA undertook this work to evaluate the potential for cumulative impacts to baseline salinity in the Bay system from its proposed desalination plant at La Quinta.
PCCA has made its EFDC+ Model of the Corpus Christi Bay System publicly available for download (link) to inform decisions in our community.
EFDC + model of Corpus Christi Bay