Keywords

Watershed Resources Management, Decision Support Tools, Water Quality, Best Managment Practices, Riparian Buffers

Start Date

26-6-2018 9:00 AM

End Date

26-6-2018 10:20 AM

Abstract

Integrated water resources management (IWRM) is a planning framework to balance tradeoffs between competing water uses within a watershed. One tool available to aid planners with IWRM is the Watershed Management Optimization Support Tool (WMOST), an Excel-based tool that supports decision-making by optimizing for cost effective solutions that meet water quantity and quality regulations. In this case study, WMOST was used to assess multiple management options for the nutrient-impaired Taunton River basin in Massachusetts, United States. Nitrogen water quality targets were determined from regional Total Maximum Daily Loads, which suggest that a 20% reduction in non-point sources (NPS) is necessary to protect the downstream estuary of Mt. Hope Bay. To meet these goals WMOST was 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 loadings in the upper Taunton River basin. This paper outlines required input data, highlights the capabilities of WMOST, and provides preliminary analyses and solutions to a real-world problem.

Stream and Session

Stream C: Integrated Social, Economic, Ecological, and Infrastructural Modeling

C2: Application of Decision Support Tools for Integrated Water Resources Management

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Jun 26th, 9:00 AM Jun 26th, 10:20 AM

An Overview of the U.S. EPA’s Watershed Management Optimization Support Tool (WMOST): A case study in Taunton, Massachusetts

Integrated water resources management (IWRM) is a planning framework to balance tradeoffs between competing water uses within a watershed. One tool available to aid planners with IWRM is the Watershed Management Optimization Support Tool (WMOST), an Excel-based tool that supports decision-making by optimizing for cost effective solutions that meet water quantity and quality regulations. In this case study, WMOST was used to assess multiple management options for the nutrient-impaired Taunton River basin in Massachusetts, United States. Nitrogen water quality targets were determined from regional Total Maximum Daily Loads, which suggest that a 20% reduction in non-point sources (NPS) is necessary to protect the downstream estuary of Mt. Hope Bay. To meet these goals WMOST was 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 loadings in the upper Taunton River basin. This paper outlines required input data, highlights the capabilities of WMOST, and provides preliminary analyses and solutions to a real-world problem.