Watershed Scale Trash Trap Location Prioritization Modeling

In-stream trash removal via the installation of trash traps is a growing trend in stormwater management. Through their in-stream trash removal program, the Chattahoochee Riverkeepers (CRK) found that the efficacy of trash traps is highly dependent on their location in the watershed. The range of environmental, social, and economic factors in the Chattahoochee River Basin (CRB) posed a challenge to determining the optimal location for trash traps. Building on an existing local model developed by CRK, Arcadis designed a series of ArcGIS ModelBuilder tools (the model) that prioritize trash trap location by hydrologic unit code 12 (HUC12) watershed and flowline based on available indicator data. These tools are replicable and can be applied to watersheds across the country, allowing in-stream litter removal program managers to visualize their watershed and optimize the installation of trash traps. This paper describes the methodology used to develop these open-source tools and recommends future improvements.