Grantee Research Project Results
A Watershed Classification System for Improved Monitoring and Restoration: Landscape Indicators of Watershed Impairment
EPA Grant Number: R831369Title: A Watershed Classification System for Improved Monitoring and Restoration: Landscape Indicators of Watershed Impairment
Investigators: Prince, Stephen D. , Weller, Donald E. , Jordan, Thomas E. , Goetz, Scott J.
Institution: University of Maryland - College Park , Woods Hole Research Center , Smithsonian Environmental Research Center
Current Institution: University of Maryland - College Park , Smithsonian Environmental Research Center , Woods Hole Research Center
EPA Project Officer: Packard, Benjamin H
Project Period: February 1, 2004 through January 31, 2007
Project Amount: $896,497
RFA: Development of Watershed Classification Systems for Diagnosis of Biological Impairment in Watersheds and Their Receiving Water Bodies (2003) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: Watersheds , Water
Objective:
To develop a watershed classification scheme based on recent, much improved, comprehensive watershed data sets to diagnose aquatic ecosystem impairment and to target resource management. To use hydrologic metrics, nutrient budgets incorporating point and non-point source/sinks, and landscape function metrics to provide indicators of aquatic ecosystem condition (hydrology, plant, fish, macroinvertebrates, water quality) in reference watersheds. To identify the watershed variables most relevant to prediction of impairment of the receiving water bodies by developing a set of empirical classification models for multiple scales. To develop classifications for mid-Atlantic training watersheds, test them in the mid-Atlantic, apply the entire methodology in southern New England (MA, RI, CT), and to generalize the methods for future national application.
Approach:
We will quantify aquatic health using flow metrics, water quality metrics (such as sediment and nutrient concentrations), and biological indicators. We have developed land use, land cover, other geospatial variables related to watershed function, anthropogenic influences, and landscape metrics from multitemporal Landsat ETM+ data. The relationships between watershed attributes, flow and water quality, and biological indicators will be formalized as statistical models with associated significance and confidence metrics for each scale. The sensitivity of ecological response variables to natural and anthropogenic variations in watershed properties will be assessed. The models will be used to develop hierarchical decision trees that specify a set of binary splits leading to a finite set of impairment categories. The rules will be tested and errors in the independent variables (e.g., land cover misclassification) will be quantified to measure classification accuracy. The definition of impairment categories, derivation of decision rules, and assessment will be undertaken with the help of representative managers.
Expected Results:
As a result of the much-improved landscape data inputs and the use of metrics of watershed function, we expect to be able to predict watershed impairment and trends toward impairment. The hierarchical structure of the classification, with explicit decision rules, will be accessible to managers. The classifications will diagnose impairment of watersheds, assess ecosystem vulnerability, and provide for monitoring and prioritization for restoration activities, all at multiple scales. The methods will be tested with resource managers in two EPA regions (1 and 3), providing an assessment in a wide variety of physical, biological and anthropogenic conditions.
Publications and Presentations:
Publications have been submitted on this project: View all 70 publications for this projectJournal Articles:
Journal Articles have been submitted on this project: View all 15 journal articles for this projectSupplemental Keywords:
USGS MRLC NLCD, integrated assessment, remote sensing, geospatial technology, Chesapeake Bay., RFA, Scientific Discipline, Water, Ecosystem Protection/Environmental Exposure & Risk, Water & Watershed, Hydrology, Monitoring/Modeling, Environmental Monitoring, Ecological Risk Assessment, Ecology and Ecosystems, Watersheds, ecosystem modeling, aquatic ecosystem, watershed classification, continuous monitoring, aquatic ecosystems, water quality, ecosystem restoration, environmental stress, hydrologic modeling, land use, land managementProgress and Final Reports:
The perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Conclusions drawn by the principal investigators have not been reviewed by the Agency.