BHP BILLITON IRON ORE PTY LTD
Stormwater run-off models for Nelson Point & Finucane Island Irion Ore handling & port facilities, Pilbara Coast, Western Australia

A stormwater run-off model was developed for the Nelson Point iron ore handling & port facilities, to model sediment and potential contaminant loadings from the site into the Port Hedland harbour area.

Drainage catchments identified by BHPB were overlain by site geology and cut/fill plans to allow run-off coefficients to be allocated, using Geographical Information System (GIS) software.   

Evaporative loss was modelled based on published pan Et figures occuring during the storm duration.

Intensity-frequency-duration (IFD) run-off events were also modelled.

The model was calibrated against observed flow data recorded during historic storm events.

A similar run-off model was also developed for the Finucane Island ore handling facility.
Run-off catchments were defined from high-resolution aerial photography and a 0.5m digital elevation model.  Catchments & discharge points were verified by ground-truthing.

Sediment and contaminant loadings from individual catchments flowing to specific discharge points can be estimated from current and historic rainfall/ intensity events.

Stuart Jeffries
Hydrosolutions Pty Ltd

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