International Watershed Technology: Solving Spatial and Temporal Water Quality and Quantity Problems

Abstract

<abstract> Abstract. This article introduces a collection of papers from the third biennial ASABE 21st Century Watershed Technology Conference and Workshop: Improving Water Quality and the Environment, held in Bari, Italy, on 26-31 May 2012. This Special Collection consists of seven articles (plus one published previously) selected from the 59 meeting papers. The technical presentations at the conference focused on solving spatial and temporal water quality and quantity problems and addressed topics such as watershed management in developing countries, water quality standards, agricultural best management practice (BMP) effectiveness, emerging problems, impact of extreme weather conditions, biological monitoring, increasing stakeholder involvement, political and economic implications, watershed implementation planning, forest and rangeland water quality issues, and water resources education. At first glance, these topics seem quite diverse. However, a growing trend in cutting-edge hydrological science research, and a thread that emerged from these papers, is that of “data mining.” In this article, we make an editorial statement that briefly introduces the basic principles of data mining and uses this concept as an organizing theme to feature eight articles of this Special Collection.