Researchers publish continent-wide, multi-factor analysis of watershed management

Sept. 18, 2015
Researchers at the University of Massachusetts Amherst have officially published the first continent-wide, multi-factor analysis of climate and land cover effects on watersheds in the United States. 

AMHERST, MA, Sept. 18, 2015 -- Researchers at the University of Massachusetts Amherst (UMA) have officially published the first continent-wide, multi-factor analysis of climate and land cover effects on watersheds in the United States. The study provides a broad new assessment of runoff, flooding and stormwater management options for use by such professionals as land use and town planners and water quality managers.

Watershed scientist Timothy Randhir and his doctoral student Paul Ekness in the department of environmental conservation at UMA hope their new multivariate simulation and statistical models at the watershed system level will give managers some practical ideas on new incentives to get developers to include water quality, green infrastructure and conservation plans in their projects. They also want to encourage a new awareness of the need for cities and towns to cooperate when considering new development.

The study quantifies the connections between land use and climate -- that is temperature and precipitation -- to the runoff process and flooding in a watershed system at a larger scale than was available before. Randhir explained that this assessment of data from satellite imagery, field stations, water flow observations, and temperature and stream gauges across the nation will generate new information about mechanisms and processes and will lead to a better understanding of the runoff process in large systems.

"We also want to highlight the importance of natural systems such as forest cover and open space when a town is considering new parking lots or shopping centers, for example," said Randhir. "You can't just take away such ecosystem services and expect everything to be okay. All towns now have a big problem dealing with stormwater, and with climate change, it's going to get worse. In the past, the problems just flowed away to become some other town's problem, but that isn't going to work anymore."

The watershed researcher says he hopes a new approach to water resource management will emerge so that towns and managers shift from dealing with storm and runoff problems after the fact, to looking at preventive, source-level solutions. "There seems to be a better understanding now that water flowing away from you doesn't just disappear, it affects someone else, and a problem in the system above you will affect you," he said. "This kind of systems thinking has to take over, and cooperation has to be used more often."

His paper makes very specific recommendations on how to use such tools as urban forestry or increasing infiltration to mitigate flooding. The researchers ran models to quantify relationships between different land uses and conditions including urban forestry, agriculture, stream networks, soil types, temperature, precipitation, and human interventions such as dams and parking lots.

"We propose the increased use of green infrastructure and best management practices to enhance the resilience of the watershed system," Randhir said. For example, cities and towns should now offer incentives for their own and private developments to change practices when building facilities that increase impervious cover, for example, a parking lot. Plans should include practices like pervious pavement that lets rainwater seep through and not run off, plus rain gardens or retention basins that capture hot, dirty runoff from asphalt to capture sediments, oil, grease, and heavy metals.

Other incentives could reward private landowners and farmers for mitigating runoff at the source and not just ignoring it, Randhir added. "Right now, this is not built into anyone's thinking, but we also suggest that cities and towns move away from using only site-specific approaches that fix a local problem and a shift toward a system-wide approach. We hope towns and cities can use this information to change their land use practices."

###

Sponsored Recommendations

WIN-911 Alarm Notification Software Enables Faster Response

March 15, 2024
Alarm notification software enables faster response for customers, keeping production on track

Automated Fresh Water Treatment

March 15, 2024
SCADA, Automation and Control for Efficient and Compliant Operations

Digital Transformation Enables Smart Water

March 15, 2024
During this webinar we will discuss factors driving the transformation to digital water, water industry trends, followed by a summary of solutions (products & services) available...

Smart Water Solutions: Transforming the Water Universe

March 15, 2024
Water is our most valuable resource, and efficient and effective water and wastewater handling is crucial for municipalities. As industry experts, you face a number of challenges...