Watershed Management: Better Coordination of Data Collection Efforts Needed to Support Key Decisions

A chapter report issued by the General Accounting Office with an abstract that begins "Reliable and complete data are needed to assess watersheds--areas that drain into a common body of water--and allocate limited cleanup resources. Historically, water officials have expressed concern about a lack of water data. At the same time, numerous organizations collect a variety of water data. To address a number of issues concerning the water data that various organization collect, the Chairman of the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment, House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, asked GAO to determine (1) the key entities that collect water data, the types of data they collect, how they store the data, and how entities can access the data; and (2) the extent that water quality and water quantity data collection efforts are coordinated.

HYDROSEEK: an ontology-aided data discovery system for hydrologic sciences

Search engines have made considerable contributions to the overall web experience. However locating scientific data remains a problem since databases are not readily accessible by search engine bots. Considering different temporal, spatial and thematic coverage of different scientific data repositories, especially for interdisciplinary research it is typically necessary to work with multiple data sources. Today integration of hydrologic data sources are mostly at the level of content aggregation by providing links to several data providers on a web page. However being able to query multiple databases simultaneously is a feature that has been sought after since the first data repositories; USGS’ National Water Information System (NWIS) and EPA’s Storage and Retrieval System (EPA STORET) came online. This study examines the current state of hydrologic data availability and dissemination in the US. It identifies the data accessibility problem and suggests a data discovery mechanism named Hydroseek as a solution. Hydroseek enables querying multiple hydrologic data repositories through a single interface and effectively combines spatial, temporal and thematic aspects of search in order to make it possible to discover more of the desired data in less time. It provides a unified view despite heterogeneity issues within and among data repositories, allows data discovery using keywords which eliminates the need to know source specific parameter codes, improves data browsing capabilities by incorporating data classification based on conceptual hierarchy and has an interface design capable of providing access to a large data inventory without overwhelming the user. System’s performance was evaluated based on statistical analysis of a user study in which users were asked to perform a certain data retrieval task using currently available systems and Hydroseek.Ph.D., Civil Engineering -- Drexel University, 200

Water quality data management

July 1992.Includes bibliographical references

Data access and visualization benefits from implementation of a hydrologic information system

In 2010, the National Science Foundation (NSF) implemented new guidelines for all scientists applying for grants. A Data Management Plan (DMP) is now required for all proposals in which data are created or gathered while working under the grant. Several organizations have produced templates and applications to assist with the construction of DMPs. The data plans provide a good overview of data processing and storage but do not provide any guidance for managing data during the research process. Large temporal hydrologic data sets can provide a rich insight to complex hydrologic and ecological systems. Complications arise when attempting to query and present the data in ways that are useful for exploring and validating research hypotheses. Common tools, such as Excel or Matlab, may be helpful if you know the exact sequence of data you want to analyze. Frequently, this is not the case. Looking at long term trends, adding and removing additional variables, or comparing local results to external national datasets are difficult or impossible with these tools. To overcome the limitations of current data management methods, a Consortium of Universities for the Advancement of Hydrologic Science Inc. - Hydrologic Information System (CUAHSI-HIS) server was deployed in collaboration with Earth Data Analysis Center (EDAC) and the New Mexico Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (NMEPSCoR). Data products on the server are stored in a relational database using WaterML, an XML based language introducing standardization to the hydrologic community and facilitating distribution and aggregation of hydrologic data. Four project types from different agencies have been selected to explore the process of obtaining and ingesting data into an HIS. Three of the projects are university based with different stakeholders and the fourth is a state funded project carried out by a contractor. Tools developed by CUAHSI for ingesting measurements into the database made processing the raw data straightforward. After the data were formatted properly, automated processes allowed millions of measurements to migrate from Excel files into the HIS. Aggregating the data and metadata without support from the principal investigator proved difficult. Deciphering the provenance of derived data proved exceptionally difficult from a data manager perspective with little experience in specialized disciplines. Datasets that previously required hours to download, aggregate, and visualize are can now be processed in minutes. Repetitive analysis tasks can be automated within the HIS, integrating local regional, and national datasets by spatial and temporal extent and delivered to the research team in a variety of formats. The CUAHSI-HIS components make data discovery and analysis streamlined in addition to satisfying the NSF DMP requirements

Fox River watershed investigation: Stratton Dam to the Illinois River: water quality issues and data report to the Fox River Study Group, Inc.

"Prepared for the: Fox River Study Group, Inc.""March 2004.""Prepared by: Illinois State Water Survey, Watershed Science Section."CD-ROM includes corresponding database and GIS datasets.Includes bibliographical references

A Framework for Incorporating the Impact of Water Quality on Water Supply Stress: An Example from Louisiana

Water of poor quality can directly impact the budget of water available for key user groups. Despite this importance, methods for quantifying the impact of water quality on water availability remain elusive. Here, we develop a new framework for incorporating the impact of water quality on water supply by modifying the Water Supply Stress Index (WaSSI). We demonstrate the usefulness of the framework by investigating the impact of high salinity waters on the availability of irrigation water for agriculture in Louisiana. The WaSSI was deconstructed into sectoral components such that the total available water supply could be reduced for a particular demand sector (agricultural irrigation in this example) based on available water quality information. The results for Louisiana highlight substantial impacts on water supply stress for farmers attributable to the landward encroachment of saline surface water and groundwater near the coast. Areas of high salinity near the coast also increased the competition for freshwater resources among the industrial, municipal, and agricultural demand sectors in the vicinities of the municipal areas of Lake Charles, Lafayette, and Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The framework developed here is easily adaptable for other water quality concerns and for other demand sectors, and as such can serve as a useful tool for water managers

Basin-scale modeling of nutrient impacts in the Eel River Watershed, Plymouth, Massachusetts

Thesis (M.Eng.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering, 2002.Includes bibliographical references (p. 74-77).by Jurt D. Herman.M.Eng

Assessment of Climate Variability Impact on Water Resources within the Alabama River Basin

ABSTRACT Assessment of Climate Variability Impacts on Water Resources within the Alabama River Basin By Adalumo Oluwatomiwa Olubamidele Global climate change and variability alters hydrologic cycles and regimes within watersheds, adversely impacting ecosystems, water resources, agriculture and environmental sustainability. Understanding and predicting the interactions between the water systems, climate change and land use are priority science need and challenge areas. Such assessment through the integration of various climate and hydrologic models will allow for the development of appropriate climate change impact adaptation solutions. This study aims at assessing historical climate variability impacts on water resources within the Alabama River Basin. Specific research objectives include (i) assessing the likely hydrologic responses and environmental impacts of climate variability at the watershed scale; and (ii) quantifying impacts of land use and climate variability on water quantity and quality (iii) identification of the most impacted counties within the Alabama Black Belt Counties and the Environmental variable of concern. The research methodology utilized historical climate data analysis, and the assimilation of geospatial, hydrologic, landuse, soils, elevation, historical climate data variables into the Soil and Water Assessment Tool, which was then calibrated and validated. Model calibration and validation was within acceptable levels for streamflow, sediment and total nitrogen. Model simulation was then analyzed for climate change impacts based on xviii established baseline (1953-1972) and comparison period (1991-2010) environmental conditions. Research findings showed a slight increase in precipitation and no significant increase in temperature within the watershed over the last six decades. While streamflow showed general increase for most subbasins, there was a considerable decrease in the eastern and northern subbasins. There was general a decrease in sediment load in the research basin over the period. Total nitrogen load increases occurred in some central subbasins. Subbasins with high total nitrogen loads also had predominantly agricultural land uses with corn, soybean, cotton and pasture as major crops, for which nutrient management could impact nitrogen nonpoint source pollution. Evapotranspiration trends were sporadic, but highest with subbasins which had decreased streamflow. Incidences of drought as well as the research findings support the argument that climate variability could have an impact on water quality and quantity within the Alabama Black Belt Counties. The study identified critical subbasins for appropriate conservation and adaptation solutions, as well as education to help mitigate climate variability impact, maintain sustainable agriculture, environment and water use