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Risk Based Urban Watershed Management-Integration of Water Quality and Flood Control Objectives

EPA Grant Number: R825759
Title: Risk Based Urban Watershed Management-Integration of Water Quality and Flood Control Objectives
Investigators: Novotny, Vladimir , Cloark, David , Griffin, Robert
Current Investigators: Novotny, Vladimir , Clark, David , Griffin, Robert
Institution: Marquette University
EPA Project Officer: Perovich, Gina
Project Period: October 1, 1997 through September 30, 2000 (Extended to September 30, 2001)
Project Amount: $880,355
RFA: Water and Watersheds (1997)
Research Category: Water and Watersheds

Description:

The project will develop and test methodology for watershed management in urban and urbanizing watersheds. Management is based on quantitative risk assessment of urbanization to the watershed ecosystem, including people residing in the watershed and affected by the receiving water body, and biota residing in receiving water bodies.

Objectives/Hypotheses:

The specific research objectives are: (1) Develop statistical flow, loading and water quality models applicable to risk assessment; (2) Develop objective and quantitative risk assessment procedures for estimating ecological risks of stormwater and subsurface discharges from urban and suburban watersheds; (3) Develop methodology for assessment of flood control and water quality benefits and resolve conflicts between flood control and ecological preservation-restoration objectives; (4) Develop benefits/cost models for urban watershed management to optimize both flood control and receiving water integrity; (5) Research innovative financing of urban watershed management, identify key players, and assess the willingness to pay for different types of benefits; and (6)Examine homeowners' risk/benefit perceptions, values, affective responses to the risk, subjective norms, socio-cultural backgrounds, and use of communication in the willingness to pay for these different types of benefits. The methodology will be developed and tested on two pilot watersheds in Milwaukee(WI) county.

Approach:

Research activities in this three-year project are divided into eight tasks: (1) Watershed - Water Body Assessment (chemical and physical integrity); (2) Development of stochastic (statistical) loading and water quality models; (3) Development of a methodology for qualitative and quantitative assessment of flood control and water quality benefits; (4) Development of objective and quantitative risk assessment procedures for estimating ecological risks of stormwater and subsurface discharges from urban and suburban (including urbanizing) land uses; (5) Urban stream restoration; (6) Development of benefits/cost models for urban watershed management; (7) Survey homeowners and citizens on benefit/risk perceptions; and (8) Synthesis.

Expected Results:

Presently, no ecological standards are available for urban drainage and water body restoration projects and most projects are driven by flood protection objectives, leading to conveyance oriented modification of the urban (suburban) water bodies. Conveyance solutions (such as channel lining and straightening) have adverse ecological consequence and, commonly, are economically inefficient. Today, such projects and solutions may not be acceptable. Incorporating ecological integrity objectives may lead to storage oriented approaches and restoration of ecological integrity of urban receiving water bodies.

Publications and Presentations:

Publications have been submitted on this project: View all 22 publications for this project

Journal Articles:

Journal Articles have been submitted on this project: View all 1 journal articles for this project

Supplemental Keywords:

sensitive populations, ecosystem indicators, ecosystem restoration, integrated assessment, public policy, flood protection, flood risks, urban stormwater, modeling, Great Lakes , Economic, Social, & Behavioral Science Research Program, Water, Ecosystem Protection, Geographic Area, Scientific Discipline, RFA, Water & Watershed, Ecological Risk Assessment, Aquatic Ecosystem, Economics & Decision Making, Wet Weather Flows, Environmental Engineering, Hydrology, Watersheds, Environmental Monitoring, State, runoff, water quality, ecosystem valuation, socioeconomics, watershed management, aquatic biota, community-based research, ecological research, ecology assessment models, flood control objectives, wateshed management, flood hazard initiatives, groundwater, land use, Milwaukee, WI, quantitative risk assessment, citizen perceptions, community values, human values, suburban watersheds, anthropogenic processes, aquatic ecosystems, climate variability, erosion, urbanization, flood control, water management options, Wisconsin , ecosystem evaluation, wet weather modeling, urban watershed rehabilitation method
Relevant Websites:

http://www.marquette.edu/environment/Research.htm

Progress and Final Reports:
1999 Progress Report
2000 Progress Report
Final Report

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The perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Conclusions drawn by the principal investigators have not been reviewed by the Agency.

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