D.L. Osmond, D.E. Line, R.W. Gannon, J.A. Gale, J. Spooner, S.W. Coffey, K.A. Bartenhagen, J.C. Walker, M.A. Foster, P.D. Robillard, and D.W. Lehning
In order to adequately minimize or mitigate agricultural nonpoint source (NPS) pollution, it is necessary to accurately choose the most appropriate best management practices (BMPs) or landscape features and strategically position them on the landscape. The North Carolina State University Water Quality Group is constructing a decision support system, WATER, Soil, and Hydro-Environmental Decision Support System (WATERSHEDSS), that will aid in NPS pollution control decisions at the watershed level. WATERSHEDSS will allow users to evaluate appropriate land management based on a water quality perspective. The NPS pollution evaluation will characterize a water resource and identify the water quality problem, categorizing the pollutant and its source. Based on this information, alternative land treatment practices will be suggested and users will be able to choose those BMPs or landscape features that they believe will be most beneficial for reducing pollutant delivery to water resources. Wetlands and riparian area BMPs or features that mitigate pollutants will be suggested, as well as standard agricultural BMPs that reduce the generation, application, or transport of pollutants. Best management practice efficiency ranges will be available to help users make these decisions. If digital watershed data are available, decisions about the selection and placement of the land treatment practices or landscape features that reduce or mitigate pollutants will be made with the aid of a water quality model linked to a geographic information system (GIS). Maps generated by the GIS will allow users to evaluate the impact on water quality of changing land use in the watershed.
Developed under the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Grant, Cooperative Agreement #CR822270, Understanding the Role of Agricultural Landscape Feature Function and Position in Achieving Environmental Endpoints.
D.L. Osmond, Water Quality Extension Specialist, D. E. Line, Water Quality Extension Specialist, R.W. Gannon, Nonpoint Source Associate, J.A. Gale, Water Quality Extension Specialist, J. Spooner, Visiting Professor, S.W. Coffey, Water Quality Extension Specialist, K.A. Bartenhagen, Nonpoint Source Assistant, J.C. Walker, Research Associate, NCSU Water Quality Group, Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC. M.A. Foster, Research Associate, Department of Entomology and Center for AI Applications in Water Quality; P.D. Robillard, Associate Professor, Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, D.W. Lehning, Senior Research Technologist, Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA.
