Example: Assessing the Sustainability of a Watershed
In order to make the idea of sustainability more real, an example has been provided that will allow the user to develop his own estimates of an actual watershed. Duck Creek Watershed is a small area in western Michigan, draining into Lake Michigan. Basic data for the area has been developed, and can be accessed at the web site:
https://docs.google.com/open?id=0B8FZ9WSEG7a2UTQ1Qk9VdUtKVW8
A methodology has been developed that was published by the Water Environment Federation, which is cited in the Duck Creek text. Using the information base provided, and your own professional judgment, you will be able to make an estimate of the sustainability of water resources in the Duck Creek Watershed. It is not necessary to run a model or to carry out complex mathematical calculations to do your own estimate. Substantial use is made of maps that allow the user to apply his own opinions about the impacts on water resources.
This approach makes it possible to gradually tabulate the results of opinion of many users. You are asked to send your conclusions (in the format at the end of the Duck Creek document) to etsmithsiri@aol.com. Periodically, these results will be tabulated statistically and added to the end of this page, so that you can see what the combined opinions of all respondents are. Individual replies will be kept confidential, and only the statistical summary will be provided here.
Users are urged to try their hand at this assessment. Only by seeking input from many people will it be possible to improve our approaches to making such estimates. Any questions should be sent to etsmithsiri@aol.com. Good luck.
NOTE:
The USGS periodically makes changes in the National Water Information System (NWIS) that is used to create the map of monitored water sites. As of 11/7/2012 the following link leads to the map of Mukegon Co., Michigan, showing all the stations there.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Sood, Aditya and William F. Ritter, Developing a Framework to Measure Watershed Sustainability by Using Hydrological/Water Quality Model, J. of Water Resource and Protection, 2011,3,788-804.
http://www.scirp.org/journal/PaperInformation.aspx?paperID=8679