Grantee Research Project Results

Risk Based Urban Watershed Management-Integration of Water Quality and Flood Control Objectives

EPA Grant Number: R825759
Title: Risk Based Urban Watershed Management-Integration of Water Quality and Flood Control Objectives
Investigators: Novotny, Vladimir , Cloark, David , Griffin, Robert J
Current Investigators: Novotny, Vladimir , Griffin, Robert J , Clark, David
Institution: Marquette University
EPA Project Officer: Packard, Benjamin H
Project Period: October 1, 1997 through September 30, 2000 (Extended to September 30, 2001)
Project Amount: $880,355
RFA: Water and Watersheds Research (1997) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: Watersheds , Water

Description:

The project will develop and test methodology for watershed management in urban and urbanizing watersheds. Management is based on quantitative risk assessment of urbanization to the watershed ecosystem, including people residing in the watershed and affected by the receiving water body, and biota residing in receiving water bodies.

Objectives/Hypotheses:

The specific research objectives are: (1) Develop statistical flow, loading and water quality models applicable to risk assessment; (2) Develop objective and quantitative risk assessment procedures for estimating ecological risks of stormwater and subsurface discharges from urban and suburban watersheds; (3) Develop methodology for assessment of flood control and water quality benefits and resolve conflicts between flood control and ecological preservation-restoration objectives; (4) Develop benefits/cost models for urban watershed management to optimize both flood control and receiving water integrity; (5) Research innovative financing of urban watershed management, identify key players, and assess the willingness to pay for different types of benefits; and (6)Examine homeowners' risk/benefit perceptions, values, affective responses to the risk, subjective norms, socio-cultural backgrounds, and use of communication in the willingness to pay for these different types of benefits. The methodology will be developed and tested on two pilot watersheds in Milwaukee(WI) county.

Approach:

Research activities in this three-year project are divided into eight tasks: (1) Watershed - Water Body Assessment (chemical and physical integrity); (2) Development of stochastic (statistical) loading and water quality models; (3) Development of a methodology for qualitative and quantitative assessment of flood control and water quality benefits; (4) Development of objective and quantitative risk assessment procedures for estimating ecological risks of stormwater and subsurface discharges from urban and suburban (including urbanizing) land uses; (5) Urban stream restoration; (6) Development of benefits/cost models for urban watershed management; (7) Survey homeowners and citizens on benefit/risk perceptions; and (8) Synthesis.

Expected Results:

Presently, no ecological standards are available for urban drainage and water body restoration projects and most projects are driven by flood protection objectives, leading to conveyance oriented modification of the urban (suburban) water bodies. Conveyance solutions (such as channel lining and straightening) have adverse ecological consequence and, commonly, are economically inefficient. Today, such projects and solutions may not be acceptable. Incorporating ecological integrity objectives may lead to storage oriented approaches and restoration of ecological integrity of urban receiving water bodies.

Publications and Presentations:

Publications have been submitted on this project: View all 21 publications for this project

Journal Articles:

Journal Articles have been submitted on this project: View all 4 journal articles for this project

Supplemental Keywords:

sensitive populations, ecosystem indicators, ecosystem restoration, integrated assessment, public policy, flood protection, flood risks, urban stormwater, modeling, Great Lakes, Ecosystem Protection, RFA, Scientific Discipline, Geographic Area, Water, Economic, Social, & Behavioral Science Research Program, Aquatic Ecosystem, Economics & Decision Making, Ecological Risk Assessment, State, Watersheds, Hydrology, Wet Weather Flows, Water & Watershed, Environmental Engineering, Environmental Monitoring, urban watershed rehabilitation method, quantitative risk assessment, watershed management, Wisconsin , Milwaukee, community based, flood control, socioeconomics, urbanization, water management options, Milwaukee, WI, flood control objectives, ecosystem evaluation, wateshed management, water quality, ecosystem valuation, community values, climate variability, aquatic biota, groundwater, human values, suburban watersheds, citizen perceptions, ecological research, ecology assessment models, flood hazard initiatives, land use, aquatic ecosystems, community-based research, anthropogenic processes, erosion, runoff

Relevant Websites:

http://www.marquette.edu/environment/Research.htm

Progress 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.