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Title: From research to management: A suite of GIS-based watershed modeling, assessment and planning tools 1889

Author
item SEMMENS, D. - US-EPA
item KEPNER, W. - US-EPA
item Goodrich, David - Dave
item GUERTIN, D. - UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA
item HERNANDEZ, M. - UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA
item MILLER, S. - UNIVERSITY OF WYOMING

Submitted to: Environmental Modelling & Software
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/1/2006
Publication Date: 8/1/2006
Citation: Semmens, D., Kepner, W.G., Goodrich, D.C., Guertin, D.P., Hernandez, M., Miller, S.N. 2006. From research to management: A suite of GIS-based watershed modeling, assessment and planning tools. In: Voinov, A., Jakeman, A., Rizzoli, A. (eds). Proceedings of the IEMSs Third Biennial Meeting: "Summit on Environmental Modelling and Software". International Environmental Modelling and Software Society, July 2006, Burlington, VT. 2006. CD ROM.

Interpretive Summary: The Automated Geospatial Watershed Assessment (AGWA) tool is a hydrologic modeling tool that is interfaced with geographic information system (GIS) software to enable rapid description of the watershed being modeled with map type digital information. AGWA was developed jointly by the U.S. EPA Office of Research and Development, USDA Agricultural Research Service, and University of Arizona. It was initially designed as a research tool for assessing the impacts associated with landscape and land use change on watershed responses (e.g. runoff, sediment, erosion) from small to very large watersheds. As potential management applications of the tool became more readily apparent and partners with specific management objectives were identified, AGWA was transformed into a highly versatile tool for environmental management and planning. A thoughtful software design facilitates linkages between different model and data types, thus promoting collaborative, interdisciplinary development. The process through which AGWA was developed is illustrative of how basic research has been combined with stakeholder-driven model and software development to build an integrated suite of management and planning tools.

Technical Abstract: The Automated Geospatial Watershed Assessment (AGWA) tool is a GIS-based hydrologic modeling tool developed jointly by the U.S. EPA Office of Research and Development, USDA Agricultural Research Service, and University of Arizona. It was initially designed as a research tool for assessing the hydrologic impacts associated with landscape change at multiple scales, a context in which process-based models are a necessity. As potential management applications of the tool became more readily apparent and partners with specific management objectives were identified, AGWA was transformed into a highly versatile tool for environmental management and planning. A thoughtful software design facilitates linkages between different model and data types, thus promoting collaborative, interdisciplinary development. The process through which AGWA was developed is illustrative of how basic research has been combined with stakeholder-driven model and software development to build an integrated suite of management and planning tools.