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An Overview of the U.S. EPA’s Watershed Management Optimization Support Tool (WMOST): A case study in Taunton, Massachusetts
Citation:
Stagnitta, T., N. Detenbeck, AND A. Piscopo. An Overview of the U.S. EPA’s Watershed Management Optimization Support Tool (WMOST): A case study in Taunton, Massachusetts. 9th International Congress on Environmental Modelling and Software (iEMSs), Fort Collins, Colorado, June 24 - 28, 2018.
Impact/Purpose:
The 9th international congress on Environmental Modeling and Software, is meeting of distinguished scientists and engineers to discuss the current state of environmental models. This presentation will highlight how the Watershed Management Optimization Support Tool (WMOST) can be used to help water resources planners make decisions. We want to share the use of this tool with other scientist and engineers to promote decision support tools for integrated water resources management.
Description:
Integrated water resources management (IWRM) is a planning framework to balance tradeoffs between competing water uses within a watershed. Water resources planning with IWRM is a complex process, one tool available to aid planners is the Watershed Management Optimization Support Tool (WMOST), an Excel-based decision tool to find cost effective solutions that meet water quantity and quality regulations. In this case study, WMOST is used to assess multiple management options for the nutrient-impaired Taunton River basin in Massachusetts. Nitrogen water quality targets are determined from regional Total Maximum Daily Loads, which suggest that a 20% reduction in non-point sources is necessary to protect the downstream estuary of Mt. Hope Bay. Similarly, EPA’s Eco-Regional guidelines for nutrient criteria, were used to calculate phosphorus targets. To meet these goals WMOST is used to model the implementation of stormwater best management practices and riparian restoration. Preliminary results show implementing a combination of infiltration basins and restoration of riparian areas that receive high nutrient loads is the most cost-effective solution for reducing nitrogen and phosphorus loadings in the upper Taunton river basin. This presentation will outline required input data, highlight the capabilities of WMOST, and provide analysis and solutions to a real-world problem.