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Modeling the Impacts of Hydromodification (Conference paper)
Citation:
MOHAMOUD, Y. M. Modeling the Impacts of Hydromodification (Conference paper). In Proceedings, Watershed Management Conference 2010, Madison, WI, August 23 - 27, 2010. American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), Reston, VA, 1316-1327, (2010).
Impact/Purpose:
The objective of this study is to explore the applicability of the BASINS modeling framework as the basis of an integrative modeling approach that forecasts anthropogenic stressor levels and their impacts on aquatic ecosystems. The paper does not present application examples that demonstrate the capabilities of the BASINS modeling framework.
Description:
Hydromodification is caused by anthropogenic activities driven by human population growth and resource consumption that alter watershed hydrologic responses. These activities include urbanization, channel modification, flow regulation by water impoundments, water withdrawal, and climate change. Hydromodification is a major source of integrated stressors that disrupt ecosystem functions and consequently the ecosystem services that watersheds provide. Stressors associated with hydromodification include flow alteration, water quality degradation, habitat degradation, and loss of aquatic life and biodiversity. Hydromodification is one of the leading sources of water quality impairment. Under the Clean Water Act, it is a regulatory requirement to develop total daily maximum loads (TMDLs) for streams and rivers affected by hydromodification. However, modeling approaches that address the complexities of hydromodification are not well established. Specifically, quantifying stressor levels associated with different hydromodification activities and assessing their impacts on aquatic ecosystems is a major challenge. In this paper, we propose Better Assessment Science Integrating Point and Nonpoint Sources (BASINS) as a modeling framework suitable for forecasting anthropogenic-induced stressors and their effects on aquatic ecosystems.