Grantee Research Project Results
2015 Progress Report: Sustainable Community Oriented Stormwater Management (S-COSM): A Sensible Strategy for the Chesapeake Bay
EPA Grant Number: R835284Title: Sustainable Community Oriented Stormwater Management (S-COSM): A Sensible Strategy for the Chesapeake Bay
Investigators: Leisnham, Paul , Wilson, Sacoby M. , Shirmohammadi, Adel , Davis, Allen , Rockler, Amanda , Lipton, Douglas , Montas, Hubert , Foster, James , McCoy, John , Chanse, Victoria
Current Investigators: Leisnham, Paul , Wilson, Sacoby M. , Davis, Allen , Montas, Hubert , Chanse, Victoria , McCoy, John , Foster, James , Rockler, Amanda , Shirmohammadi, Adel , Lipton, Douglas
Institution: University of Maryland - College Park , Columbia Association , Anacostia Watershed Society
Current Institution: University of Maryland - College Park , Anacostia Watershed Society , Columbia Association , Maryland Sea Grant
EPA Project Officer: Packard, Benjamin H
Project Period: July 1, 2012 through June 30, 2017
Project Period Covered by this Report: July 1, 2014 through June 30,2015
Project Amount: $691,674
RFA: Sustainable Chesapeake: A Community-Based Approach to Stormwater Management Using Green Infrastructure (2012) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: Watersheds , Pollution Prevention/Sustainable Development , Sustainable and Healthy Communities , Water
Objective:
The goal of this project is to efficiently improve urban stormwater conditions by increasing Best Management Practice (BMP) adoption, specifically on targeted hot spots, via a Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR) process. Objectives are to: (1) identify barriers to BMP adoption, (2) spatially target stormwater hot spots with appropriate BMPs, filtered by adoption likelihood, and (3) lower BMP adoption thresholds.
Progress Summary:
A survey was deployed in the study watersheds to quantify resident knowledge and behaviors related to stormwater Best Management Practices (BMPs). Data from this survey is being analyzed. Biodynamic hydrologic models have been built and calibrated for the two study watersheds using environmental data. The framework of a Diagnostic Decision Support System (DDSS) that will help watershed managers prescribe the appropriate BMP for given environmental and social conditions has been developed and applied to the two study watersheds. The degree to which the prescribed BMPs produce reductions in excessive surface runoff (Q), sediment yield (Sed), nitrogen yield (N), and phosphorus yield (P) was evaluated under different climate change scenarios. Watershed Stewardship Academies (WSA) have continued in each study watershed as key CBPR interventions aimed at improving resident knowledge and attitudes of water resources and storm water management and lower BMP adoption thresholds. In Year 4, analyses of survey data will be completed and used to develop a model of BMP adoption likelihood in the DDSS. The Community Watershed Advisory Committee (CWAC), comprised of community leaders and outside experts, is scheduled to meet for a third time in fall 2015 for bidirectional information sharing with the project investigators. A focus of this meeting will be to ensure investigators will most appropriately share the findings of this study to all stakeholders. In summary, DDSS development is progressing well to satisfy the objectives of the proposed study and help to achieve the mission of the US EPA regarding stormwater management in urban/suburban watersheds. The results will help communities to develop educational material and to implement proper BMPs in order to prevent negative consequences of storms in their communities.
Future Activities:
Objective 1
Analyses of KAP survey data are ongoing and the results of overall relationships between knowledge and behaviors is being written up as a journal article, with an expected submission in spring 2016. Upcoming analyses will focus on KAP relationships involving specific BMPs that have been identified under Objective 2 to achieve the largest reductions of excessive surface runoff (Q), sediment yield (Sed), nitrogen yield (N), and phosphorus yield (P). Quantitative information on these relationships will form the basis of the BMP adoption model of the DDSS. Focus group data has been compiled (see Objective 3) that will help deepen our understanding of survey findings as well as shed light on the effectiveness of passive and active social marketing. In spring 2016, a follow-up smaller KAP survey will be deployed to households that were administered print education material during the baseline survey to detect any changes in knowledge and behaviors, and assess responses to education materials in a field situation.
Objective 2
Future work will be focused mainly on the finalization of the BMP adoption model based on resident knowledge, attitudes, and practices. Survey results obtained in Objective 1 of this project will be incorporated into a BMP adoption model. Survey results also will be used for assigning proper incentives that the government offers to residents who are willing to use BMPs. The model of BMP adoption will be integrated in the DDSS and is expected to be coded in MATLAB like the DES and PES. Model outputs will be imported into ArcGIS for spatial visualization of the likelihood of adoption of the BMPs selected by the PES for watershed hotspots. Model outputs will be further applied to quantify expected constituent reductions at the study watershed outlets when social factors are considered in comparison to the ideal case of 100% adoption.
Objective 3
Both WSA programs will launch another class in fall of 2015. Stewards from the Fall 2014 WSA classes in each study watershed will install their Capstone projects spring 2016, and Stewards from the fall class will install their capstone projects in the spring of 2016.
Journal Articles on this Report : 1 Displayed | Download in RIS Format
Other project views: | All 33 publications | 3 publications in selected types | All 3 journal articles |
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Type | Citation | ||
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Wang Y, Montas HJ, Brubaker KL, Leisnham PT, Shirmohammadi A, Chanse V, Rockler AK. Impact of spatial discretization of hydrologic models on spatial distribution of nonpoint source pollution hotspots. Journal of Hydrologic Engineering 2016;21(12):04016047. (12 pp). |
R835284 (2014) R835284 (2015) R835284 (2016) R835284 (Final) |
Exit Exit Exit |
Supplemental Keywords:
Pollution prevention, socio-economic, integrated assessment, stormwater management, Chesapeake Bay;Relevant Websites:
Improved Diagnostics for Watershed Health | Watershed Health & Sustainability | University of Maryland ExitProgress and Final Reports:
Original AbstractThe 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.