Nitrate Reduction Approaches

Resource /Energy Economics and Policy, Q25,

Hydrologic Simulations of the Maquoketa River Watershed Using SWAT

This paper describes the application of the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) model to the Maquoketa River watershed, located in northeast Iowa. The inputs to the model were obtained from the Environmental Protection Agency\u27s geographic information/database system called Better Assessment Science Integrating Point and Nonpoint Sources (BASINS). Climatic data from six weather stations located in and around the watershed, and measured streamflow data from a U.S. Geological Survey gage station at the watershed outlet were used in the sensitivity analysis of SWAT model parameters as well as its calibration and validation for watershed hydrology and streamflow. A sensitivity analysis was performed using an influence coefficient method to evaluate surface runoff and baseflow variations in response to changes in model input hydrologic parameters. The curve number, evaporation compensation factor, and soil available water capacity were found to be the most sensitive parameters among eight selected parameters when applying SWAT to the Maquoketa River watershed. Model calibration, facilitated by the sensitivity analysis, was performed for the period 1988 through 1993, and validation was performed for 1982 through 1987. The model performance was evaluated by well-established statistical methods and was found to explain at least 86% and 69% of the variability in the measured streamflow data for the calibration and validation periods, respectively. This initial hydrologic modeling analysis will facilitate future applications of SWAT to the Maquoketa River watershed for various watershed analyses, including water quality

Allocating Nutrient Load Reduction across a Watershed: Implications of Different Principles

A watershed based model, the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT), along with transfer coefficients is used to assess alternative principles of allocating nutrient load reduction in the Raccoon River watershed in central Iowa. Four principles are examined for their cost-effectiveness and impacts on water quality: absolute equity, equity based on ability, critical area targeting, and geographic proximity. Based on SWAT simulation results, transfer coefficients are calculated for the effects of nitrogen application reduction. We find both critical area targeting and downstream focus (an example of geographic proximity) can be more expensive than equal allocation, a manifestation of absolute equity. Unless abatement costs are quite heterogeneous across the subwatersheds, the least-cost allocation (an application of the principle of equity based on ability) have a potential of cost savings of about 10% compared to equal allocation. We also find that the gap between nitrogen loading estimated from transfer coefficients and nitrogen loading predicted by SWAT simulation is small (in general less than 5%). This suggests that transfer coefficients can be a useful tool for watershed nutrient planning. Sensitivity analyses suggest that these results are robust with respect to different degrees of nitrogen reduction and how much other conservation practices are used.Environmental Economics and Policy,

Maximizing Resource Effectiveness of Highway Infrastructure Maintenance Inspection and Scheduling for Efficient City Logistics Operations

AbstractThe safe and efficient movement of people and cargo on roadways is dependent on a well functioning highway system which requires effective maintenance policies focused on the maximum use of invested resources. For efficient city logistics operations various components of highway infrastructure, such as pavements, guardrails, and roadside signs must be maintained and kept in acceptable operating condition as elements of an integrated highway network. Due to the shrinking budget for undertaking infrastructure inspection and maintenance activities Resource Effectiveness (RE) becomes paramount. Theoretically, Resource Effectiveness (RE) is intended to get the optimum performance out of a project or investment. Instead of adding more resources (like labor, equipment, etc.), it will concentrate on the prudent utilization of resources or investment. Thus, RE in a broader sense, is concerned with the prudent use of labor, equipment, and material. In this paper we develop an optimization approach for maximizing resource effectiveness of highway infrastructure maintenance investments, subject to budget constraints, based on the concept of the well-known Cobb-Douglas production function. Several examples are presented

Privatizing Ecosystem Services: Water Quality Effects from a Carbon Market

Resource /Energy Economics and Policy, Q25,