Progress 09/15/00 to 09/14/04
Outputs
The project fully supported two Ph.D. studies and partially supported two M.S. studies. The project produced to two Internet-based applications; a GIS-based hydrologic modeling system (Miller 2004) and an economic analysis tool to assess the effects of erosion control practices on western rangelands (Duan 2005). The development of the GIS-based hydrologic modeling system in this project was closely linked to another research project developing the Automated Geospatial Watershed Assessment tool (AGWA). The AGWA effort is still ongoing. AGWA is a GIS interface jointly developed by the USDA Agricultural Research Service, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the University of Arizona, and the University of Wyoming to automate the parameterization and execution of the Soil Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) and KINEmatic Runoff and EROSion (KINEROS2) hydrologic models (see http://www.tucson.ars.ag.gov/agwa/ for more information on AGWA). Many of the features in the original
prototype Internet-based hydrologic modeling system developed through this project have been transferred into the standalone and Internet versions of AGWA (Miller et al. 2007; Cate et al. 2006). The project also supported two M.S. studies (Cate 2000; Scott 2005) that created tools to implement rangeland management practices within both versions of AGWA. The capabilities have been incorporated into AGWA to address management concerns include handling FAO soils for international application; pre- and post-fire watershed assessments; options for user defined land-cover changes (including NRCS Ecological Site State and Transition Models); implementation of stream-buffer zones, simulation of nitrogen and phosphorus movement; and installation of retention and detention structures (Goodrich et al. 2006; Scott 2005). Work is also underway to incorporate the economic analysis tools into AGWA. The next version of the Internet-based hydrologic modeling system, now called dotAGWA, will be
released Fall, 2007.
Impacts
The goal of this project was to develop an Internet-based decision support system to support rangeland watershed management. The project succeed in developing to two Internet-based applications; a prototype GIS-based hydrologic modeling system (Miller 2004) and an economic analysis tool to assess the effects of erosion control practices on western rangelands (Duan 2005). Importantly, this research effort collaborated with another project developing a similar tool, the Automated Geospatial Watershed Assessment tool (AGWA). The AGWA effort is still ongoing and many of the features and capabilities from applications developed in this research effort have been transferred into both the standalone and Internet-based version of AGWA (Miller et al. 2007). AGWA is currently included in the U.S. EPA BASINS toolkit and has been used to support watershed assessment and planning efforts in Arizona, Oregon, New York, Virginia, Montana, Wyoming, Mexico, Kenya, South Africa and
Israel. Applications include watershed-based planning for the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality, assessing the impact of energy development in Wyoming; assessing the impacts of landscape change in New York, Arizona, Oregon and Virginia; and analysis for alternative futures in the San Pedro River, Arizona. For more information on AGWA visit the AGWA website located at: http://www.tucson.ars.ag.gov/agwa/.
Publications
- Cate, A., Jr., D.C. Goodrich and D.P. Guertin. 2006. Integrating Hydrologic Models and Spatial Data in a Distributed Internet Application.In: Proceedings of the 3rd Federal Interagency Hydrologic Modeling Conference, Reno, NV, April 2-6, 2006. CD ROM
- Duan, Yanxin, 2005. A spatial decision support system for economic analysis of sediment control on rangeland watersheds. Unpublished Ph.D. Dissertation, School of Natural Resources, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona.
- Duan, Yanxin, Philip Heilman, and D. Phillip Guertin. 2006. Optimization of Grazing Management for Watershed Sediment Control. In: 3rd Biennial Meeting of the International Environmental Modelling and Software Society, Burlington, Vermont, July 9-13, 2006. (CD-ROM)
- Duan, Yanxin, Philip Heilman, and D. Phillip Guertin. 2006. A Web-Based Tool for Economic Analysis of Sediment Control on Rangeland Watersheds. In: 3rd Biennial Meeting of the International Environmental Modelling and Software Society, Burlington, Vermont, July 9-13, 2006. (CD-ROM)
- Goodrich, David, Soren Scott, Mariano Hernandez, Shea Burns, Lainie Levick, Averill Cate, William Kepner, Darius Semmens, Scott Miller, and Phil Guertin. 2006. Automated Geospatial Watershed Assessment(AGWA): A GIS-Based Hydrologic Modeling Tool for Watershed Management and Landscape Assessment. In: Proceedings of the 3rd Federal Interagency Hydrologic Modeling Conference, Reno, NV, April 2-6, 2006. CD ROM
- Miller, R.C. 2004. A rangeland watershed management spatial decision support system: Design, implementation and sensitivity analysis. Unpublished Ph.D. Dissertation, School of Natural Resources, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona.
- Miller, R.C., D.P. Guertin and P. Heilman. 2004. Information technology in watershed management decision-making. Journal of the American Water Resources Association 40(2): 347-357.
- Miller, S.N., D.J. Semmens, D.C. Goodrich, M. Hernandez, R.C. Miller, W.G. Kepner and D.P. Guertin. 2007. The Automated Geospatial Watershed Assessment tool. Environmental Modeling and Software 22: 365-377.
- Scott, S.N. 2005. Developing rangeland and watershed management tools into the automated geospatial watershed assessment (AGWA) tool. Unpublished M.S. Thesis, School of Natural Resources, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona.
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Progress 01/01/03 to 12/31/03
Outputs
The prototype of the Internet-based SDSS is completed (Miller et al. 2003). Work is currently underway incorporating the vegetation management component that will use NRCS ecological sites guides (ESG) to model rangeland management impacts. Using the ESG information (herbaceous canopy cover, herbaceous basal cover, shrub basal cover, rock cover, etc.) for different states the Internet-based SDSS can change the hydrologic parameters for KINEROS. The user can delineate an area for improvement, such as shrub removal, and indicate the future transition state. Work is also continuing on the economic module of the of the application (Heilman et al. 2003).
Impacts
The Internet-based SDSS for rangeland watershed management is currently being validated. As with other applications deployed via the web, the Internet based SDSS provides advantages over traditional desktop applications. First, the application is centrally located, simplifying distribution and maintenance. The application also uses predefined spatial data layers allowing the uncertainty in data inputs to be tested and quantified a priori using a Monte Carlo simulation approach. In addition, the Internet based approach increases the user base by reducing costs of access to users. The current version of the Internet-based SDSS was targeted for rangeland watershed management. In future versions the Internet-based SDSS the functionality will be expanded to address Integrated Watershed Management and Planning for semiarid watersheds. This will include the ability to address water supply and flooding issues as well as water quality and address the affect of other land uses
including urbanization.
Publications
- Heilman,P., Yanxin Duan, Ryan Miller, and D. Phillip Guertin. 2003. Calculating the Cost of Reducing Erosion from a Small Rangeland Watershed. In: Renard, Kenneth G., McElroy, Stephen A., Gburek, William J., Canfield,H. Evan and Scott, Russell L., eds. 2003. First Interagency Conference on Research in the Watersheds, October 27-30, 2003. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service.
- Miller, R., D. Phillip Guertin, and Philip Heilman. 2003. An Internet-based Spatial Decision Support System for Rangeland Watershed Management. In: Renard, Kenneth G., McElroy, Stephen A., Gburek, William J., Canfield,H. Evan and Scott, Russell L., eds. 2003. First Interagency Conference on Research in the Watersheds, October 27-30, 2003. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service.
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Progress 01/01/01 to 12/31/01
Outputs
The impact of livestock grazing on water quality, especially erosion and sedimentation, is an important concern in the southwestern United States. In response to Federal and State regulations, Best Management Practices (BMPs) for rangeland management are being developed and implemented in many western states, although the efficacy and economic impact of many practices have not been examined. To assess the potential effectiveness of BMPs, an Internet-based Spatial Decision Support System (SDSS) has been designed to integrate water quality, livestock management and economic concerns. The SDSS was developed through the integration of hydrologic, erosion, livestock management and economic simulation models linked with a geographic information system and database management system. The SDSS can help managers select the type and location of BMPs based on site-specific data and is deployed via the Internet providing access through a web browser. The Internet-based SDSS
provides core functionality required for rangeland watershed management planning and decision-making. Users have the capability to dynamically delineate watersheds by clicking on a map to locate a watershed outlet. Using this boundary, users can perform simulations using hydrologic models with parameter sets derived from soils and land cover GIS data layers and spatially visualize results. In essence, the Internet application performs the same operations as the current standalone Automated Geospatial Watershed Assessment tool using ESRI ArcView 3.2 (Miller et al. 2002). The application provides a thicker client to delineate rangeland management systems that consist of pasture boundaries, water points, and sediment detention structures. Each management practice contains user-defined attributes that are incorporated into the modeling process. Currently, the Internet-based SDSS can assess the impacts of fence locations, water source locations, stock ponds and changing vegetation cover
and type. Vegetation management is modeled using the NRCS ecological sites guides. Using the vegetation information (herbaceous canopy cover, herbaceous basal cover, shrub basal cover, rock cover, etc.) on an ecological site's states, the Internet-based SDSS can change the hydrologic parameters for KINEROS. The user can delineate an area for improvement, such as shrub removal, and indicate the future transition state. The location of fences and water is used to model the level of forage utilization across a pasture. Hydrologic and economic simulations are performed on user delineated management systems and results are presented in a spatial, graphical, and tabular format. Users can create management scenarios such as locating water sources at different locations within a pasture or change the location of pasture boundaries and compare the runoff, sediment yield, and cost of different scenarios. Miller, S.N., W.G. Kepner, M. Hernandez, R.C. Miller, D.C. Goodrich, W.G. Kepner, D.L.
Heggem, M.L. Mehaffey, F. Kim Devonald, P. Miller, 2002. Integrating landscape assessment and hydrologic modeling in land cover change analysis. Journal of American Water Resources Association. Vol. 38(4) pp 915-929.
Impacts
The Internet-based SDSS for rangeland watershed management is currently being validated. As with other applications deployed via the web, the Internet based SDSS provides advantages over traditional desktop applications. First, the application is centrally located, simplifying distribution and maintenance. The application also uses predefined spatial data layers allowing the uncertainty in data inputs to be tested and quantified a priori using a Monte Carlo simulation approach. In addition, the Internet based approach increases the user base by reducing costs of access to users. The current version of the Internet-based SDSS was targeted for rangeland watershed management. In future versions the Internet-based SDSS the functionality will be expanded to address Intergraded Watershed Management and Planning for semiarid watersheds. This will include the ability to address water supply and flooding issues as well as water quality and address the affect of other land uses
including urbanization. Additional information can be found at http://www.tucson.ars.ag.gov/sdss.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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Progress 01/01/00 to 12/31/00
Outputs
The goal of this research project is to develop tools to support integrated watershed management. Accomplishments over the last year include: (1) development of a GIS-based tool to assist in integrated livestock allotment and watershed management; (2) the use of fuzzy logic methods for watershed assessments; (3) use of GIS to investigate the contribution of old mines to non-point source pollution problems in southern Arizona; and (4) examining the role of Arbuscule mycorrhizae in linking of plant, soil and surface hydrologic processes in a southwest grassland.
Impacts
Effective water management is of utmost importance in the arid and semiarid southwest. This project addresses the development of tools for integrating information, at the watershed scale, to assist in the decision-making process.
Publications
- Brady, L.M. 2000. GIS analysis of spatial variability of contaminated watershed components in a historically mined region, basin and range province, southeast Arizona.Unpublished M.S. Thesis, School of Renewable Natural Resources, The University of Arizona.
- Brady, L.M. F. Gray, C. Wissler and D.P. Guertin. 2000. GIS analysis of spatial variability of contaminated watershed components in a historically mined region, Arizona. In: Proceedings of the ESRI 2000 User Conference, San Diego, CA, June 26-30, 2000. (URL: www.ersi.com)
- Cate, A. 2000. Development of a geographic information system application to support rangeland management. Unpublished M.S. Thesis, School of Renewable Natural Resources, The University of Arizona.
- Guertin, D.P., R. Fielder, S.N. Miller and D.C. Goodrich. 2000. Fuzzy Logic for Watershed Assessment. In: Watershed Management 2000: Science and Engineering Technology for the New Millennium, Marshall Flug and Donald Frevert (editors). American Society of Civil Engineers, Reston, Virginia (CD-ROM)
- Guertin, D.P., S.N. Miller, and D.P. Goodrich. 2000. (Invited) Emerging tools and technologies in watershed management. In: Ffolliott, P.F, M.B. Baker Jr., C.B. Edminster, M.C. Dillon, and K.L. Mora, Technical Coordinators. 2000. Land stewardship in the 21st century: The contributions of watershed management; 2000 March 13-16; Tucson, AZ. Proceedings RMRS-P-13.pp. 194-204.
- O'Dea, M.E. 2000. Arbuscule mycorrhizae: A linkage of plant, soil and surface hydrologic processes in a southwest grassland. Unpublished Ph.D. Dissertation, School of Renewable Natural Resources, The University of Arizona.
- O'Dea, M.E., D.P. Guertin and C.P.P. Reid. 2000. Arbuscule mycorrhizae: A linkage between erosion and plant processes in a southwest grassland. . In: Ffolliott, P.F, M.B. Baker Jr., C.B. Edminster, M.C. Dillon, and K.L. Mora, Technical Coordinators. 2000. Land stewardship in the 21st century: The contributions of watershed management; 2000 March 13-16; Tucson, AZ. Proceedings RMRS-P-13. pp. 257-260.
- Paige, V.B. 2000. Measurement and modeling of the spatial variability of infiltration on rangeland watersheds. Unpublished Ph.D. Dissertation, School of Renewable Natural Resources, The University of Arizona.
- Paige, G.B., J.J. Stone, L.J. Lane, and D.P. Guertin. 2000. Infiltration and Runoff Response from a Complex Soil Plot. In: Watershed Management 2000: Science and Engineering Technology for the New Millennium, Marshall Flug and Donald Frevert (editors). American Society of Civil Engineers, Reston, Virginia (CD-ROM)
- Valdez-Zamudio, D. and D.P Guertin. 2000. Soil erosion studies in buffelgrass pastures. In: Ffolliott, P.F, M.B. Baker Jr., C.B. Edminster, M.C. Dillon, and K.L. Mora, Technical Coordinators. 2000. Land stewardship in the 21st century: The contributions of watershed management; 2000 March 13-16; Tucson, AZ. Proceedings RMRS-P-13. pp. 282-286.
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