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the midwest spatial decision support system (MSDSS) partnership
Local watershed management is an important process for economic development and environmental improvement. One group working to advance and support watershed management in the region is the Midwest Spatial Decision Support System (MSDSS) Partnership. The Partnership is composed of professionals from universities, public agencies, and private organizations with an interest in improving the management of watersheds through development, promotion and use of web-based, user-friendly, geo-spatial watershed management data and decision support systems. A decision support system consists of a host of computer programs that integrate databases, simulation models, decision models, and user interfaces. These systems then can assist a user in evaluating the economic and environmental impacts of competing watershed management alternatives.
Two of the decision support systems now on-line are Digital Watershed (http://www.iwr.msu.edu/dw/) and Long-Term Hydrologic Impact Assessment Model (L-THIA). Digital Watershed is a centralized information system and online computing site for use in watershed analyses throughout the United States. Digital Watershed also contains linkages that seamlessly transfer users to other decision support tools and interfaces such as Google Earth and L-THIA. L-THIA (http://cobweb.ecn.purdue.edu/~sprawl/LTHIA7) is a web-based, GIS tool that assists decision makers in understanding before and after water quantity and water quality impacts of proposed land use changes.
In addition to the support systems previously mentioned, the Partnership has eleven other web based systems throughout the region. These can be accessed through the MSDSS website (http://www.epa.gov/waterspace).
Contacts:
Jon Bartholic
Michigan State University
Phone: (517) 353-9785
Email: bartholi@msu.edu
developing social indicators for nonpoint source (nps) management
Historically, water quality projects operating within short time frames have not been able to sufficiently demonstrate direct impacts on water quality. This perception was reinforced by a recent assessment of the Environmental Protection Agency’s (USEPA) NPS program administered through Section 319 of the Clean Water Act (the 319 Program). The assessment found that the 319 Program was not demonstrating results, primarily because it lacked clear efficiency measures, targets and baselines for measures, and regular, independent program reviews.
In an effort to improve evaluation of its 319 Program, USEPA Region 5 and the Region 5 state water quality agencies are working together to develop and implement an evaluation framework for NPS intended to more clearly link program activities to water quality outcomes. In addition to capturing traditional administrative measures (e.g., funds awarded and spent, workshops held, projects implemented) and environmental indicators (e.g., physical and biological measures of stream health), the NPS evaluation framework for Region 5 includes social indicators of progress toward water quality goals. For assistance in developing this social component of the NPS Evaluation Framework, the regional 319 Program staff and state agency NPS program coordinators have initiated a joint project in cooperation with land grant universities in the region. The project involves a variety of stakeholders and is led by a team with representation from USEPA, state water quality agencies, and land grant universities in the CSREES Great Lakes Region. The initiative has developed a suite of indicators that are being piloted in several Midwestern watersheds. To view the Social Indicators Handbook, or for more information about this initiative, visit the project website:
http://www.uwex.edu/ces/regionalwaterquality/Flagships/Indicators.htm
Contacts:
Ken Genskow
University of Wisconsin-Madison
Phone: 608-262-8756
Email: kgenskow@wisc.edu
Linda Prokopy
Purdue University
Phone: (765) 496-2221
Email: lprokopy@purdue.edu
improving stormwater management in the great lakes region
This initiative is responsible for the development and implementation of a system of web-based tools that will increase the capacity of local communities, regulatory agencies, and others to collect, store, view, query, manipulate, analyze, and mine spatially referenced data on stormwater best management practices.
http://www.uwex.edu/ces/regionalwaterquality/flagships/stormwater
The submitted information is stored in a database and displayed on a project webpage when queried by a user of the system. The web based mapping system that the database will eventually be integrated into is available at http://www.iwr.msu.edu/dw/ and will be made available via a Google Maps application. As the database grows and the number of projects increases it will become more difficult for users to effectively navigate the site to find the desired information. To address this issue a database search tool is being developed that will allow the user to specify the stormwater management practices that they are interested in and to define a geographic boundary within which to limit the search. The tools are being designed to help local communities create comprehensive, spatially referenced inventories of stormwater best management practices. This effort involves The Great Lakes Regional Water Program Stormwater Initiative, University of Minnesota Extension & Water Resources Center, and Ohio NEMO programs.
Contacts:
Jon Witter
The Ohio State University
Phone: (614) 247-7876
Email: witter.7@osu.edu
For more information:
Stormwater database fact sheet
Stormwater database website
watershed management - on the web
The purpose of this project is to: 1) Increase watershed group awareness and access to on-line watershed tools; 2) improve integration and coordination of on-line watershed tools among land grant institutions and USEPA; and 3) provide feedback to tool developers and managers. Three web meetings were held during the summer of 2007 for Extension educators to learn about the on-line tools in each of the states and discuss the potential for improving access, integration, and use of on-line watershed tools. An on-line forum with participation from Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois was held in October of 2007 to identify potential for collaboration among the Great Lakes states. Outcomes for this project include increased awareness among Extension educators across the region about existing tools from the Great Lakes Land Grant institutions and USEPA, identification of priority tools, and the design of an education plan to increase awareness and use of priority tools. Information about the watershed tools will be hosted on the USEPA watershed webpage. USEPA Region 5 staff will also participate in future meetings and educational programs.
Contact:
Anne Baird
The Ohio State University
Phone: (614) 292-8603
Email:
baird.41@osu.edu
extraordinary people making an extraordinary difference
This project uses multi-state video conferences with local facilitated meetings, a website, and watershed leadership trainings to share the stories of decision makers who have improved their communities and watershed by linking land use and watershed planning. Evaluation information was collected from video conference participants who responded through a self reported retrospective questionnaire three months following video conference. Evaluation data was also collected via small discussion groups immediately following the video conference. Major findings from the questionnaire showed that 56% of respondents stated that the video conference increased their knowledge about linking land and water management; 28% of respondents reported that they had already applied or used in their work a part of the video conference; and 46% of respondents reported that they were “likely” to apply or use in their work part of the video conference. Specific changes participants planned to make included increasing the diversity of stakeholder involvement in watershed planning, increasing collaboration with municipal planners, and increasing farmer involvement in watershed planning.
Website: http://ohiowatersheds.osu.edu/ep
Contacts:
Anne Baird
The Ohio State University
Phone: (614) 292-8603
Email: baird.41@osu.edu
Tracy DeHoop
Purdue University
Phone: (765) 496-6331
Email: tdehoop@purdue.edu
measuring social outcomes of nonpoint source management programs
USEPA Region 5, state water quality agencies, university researchers and educators, and local water managers have produced pilot methods and guidance for measuring social information and outcomes from nonpoint source (NPS) programs in the Great Lakes Region. As part of this project, over 100 people attended eight region-wide workshops in the fall of 2005. Attendees overwhelmingly reported an increased understanding of social factors in NPS management and how those factors can support NPS management. This project will increase the ability of EPA Region 5 and state agencies to measure meaningful outcomes (such as increases in knowledge, or behavior change) that may precede water quality improvement. A regional approach has allowed states to develop a single shared evaluation system for less cost than individual systems. As a result, states will be able to share data to increase their understanding of the social dynamics of NPS management in the Region. All partners have shown strong and innovative leadership to accomplish project goals. CSREES has awarded additional funding to this group to test the validity of the indicators developed through this project.
Contacts:
Ken Genskow
University of Wisconsin-Madison
Phone: 608-262-8756
Email: kgenskow@wisc.edu
Linda Prokopy
Purdue University
Phone: (765) 496-2221
Email: lprokopy@purdue.edu
behind the scenes: watershed management theme team
helps professionals keep current
The Watershed Management Theme Team devotes many hours to staying up-to-date on the best information and approaches available to water resource professionals. The purpose of the Team is to share research and outreach resources and foster multi-state collaborations. The Team holds regular conference calls where Team members can present and discuss existing or needed watershed–related resources. The Team has produced an inventory of watershed management programs and resources with region-wide applicability.
Examples of program improvement directly resulting from Team communications include:
- the Indian Watershed Leadership Academy has incorporated elements of the Ohio Watershed Academy included modules and format;
- Ohio Certified Volunteer Naturalists manual has incorporated research and outreach and resources from Wisconsin’s Best Education Practices web site; and
- the University of Illinois Extension is using University of Minnesota Extension Shore line website and resources as a foundation for their own.
Contacts:
Joe Bonnell
Ohio State University
Phone: (614) 292-9383
Email: bonnell.8@osu.edu
Anne Baird
Ohio State University
Phone: (614) 292-8603
Email: baird.41@osu.edu
video conference highlights
Three featured "extraordinary people" from each state presented their stories at thhis conference.
Participants from each state then asked questions of the story tellers and shared their own stories. Following the conference local groups further discussed effectively linking land use and watershed management. The conference was held at 10 locations or sites in three states with a total of 19 participants.
Highlights from Columbus, Ohio Discussion:
Knowledge gains reported on BMPs effectiveness, and usefulness of one-on-one stakeholder contacts when working with farmers. These gains stemmed from Adam Birr, Minnesota Department of Agriculture and David Mulla University of Minnesota descriptions of kitchen table planning discussions with farmers in the Huelskamp Creek Watershed.
Other participants gained inspiration to work with municipal planners after Marta Moody, Executive Director Delaware County Muncie Metro Planning Commission, described how watershed coordinators can work effectively link municipal master plans to watershed planning efforts.
Participants reported being inspired by Sue Skufca's and the Friends of Conneaut Creek's (North East Ohio) triumphant efforts to help protect many miles of stream along the Conneaut Creek through conservation easements and to obtaining multiple state and federal grants.
Participants concluded that finding the nexus between planning efforts, interests, and priorities, as well as identifying a common rallying point were critical to promote effective linkages between land use and watershed management efforts.
For more information:
Extraordinary People Poster. Featured at the 2006 joint Farm Science Review
(Ohio State University and Purdue University) (View poster)
Extraordinary People website: http://www.usawaterquality.org/themes/policy/default.html
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