Spatially-Explicit, Exposure-Based Assessment of Surface Water Vulnerability from Land Use Threats for Time-Efficient and Cost-Effective Watershed Development Planning

Robert L France,Gary Pardy

doi:10.4236/gep.2018.66003

Robert L France, Gary Pardy

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.4236/gep.2018.66003

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Abstract

The utility of a spatially-explicit, exposure-based model was examined for its suitability as a tool for rapidly assessing surface water vulnerability in watershed planning. This simple GIS-model uses three types of easily obtainable spatial information: (1) sources of land use-induced change; (2) intensity of watershed drainage; and (3) sensitivity of drainage basins to change. This model was applied to the Thomas Brook watershed in Nova Scotia, Canada, which has been the site of previous studies, conducted over multiple years, using detailed, effects-based, hydrologic models. Doing so allowed us the opportunity to compare the two approaches. Results showed a good concordance in the derived mapped outputs between the two models. Given the rapid ease and inexpensive cost of using the GIS, exposure-based model, we believe it to offer great promise in terms of prioritizing locations for further study or for intervention of best management practices, as well as for planning where to best direct future water-sensitive development through build-out analyses.

Highlights

Deterministic models have been used to simulate complex processes in the movement of water, sediment and contaminants in the scientific study of watersheds [1]
The utility of a spatially-explicit, exposure-based model was examined for its suitability as a tool for rapidly assessing surface water vulnerability in watershed planning
This simple geographic information system (GIS)-model uses three types of obtainable spatial information: (1) sources of land use-induced change; (2) intensity of watershed drainage; and (3) sensitivity of drainage basins to change. This model was applied to the Thomas Brook watershed in Nova Scotia, Canada, which has been the site of previous studies, conducted over multiple years, using detailed, effects-based, hydrologic models

Summary

Introduction

Deterministic models have been used to simulate complex processes in the movement of water, sediment and contaminants in the scientific study of watersheds [1]. Limitations in the widespread adoption of this approach, especially among environmental planners, concern issues related to the availability of the specialized, sometimes site-specific, data and the degree of expertise both needed to run the models. The labor-intensive nature of developing these models in terms of educating operators is such that the models are often generated as part of multi-year graduate theses

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