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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Tucson, Arizona » SWRC » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #151320
Title: AN INTERNET-BASED SPATIAL DECISION SUPPORT SYSTEM FOR RANGELAND WATERSHED MANAGEMENT 1523

Author
item MILLER, RYAN - UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA
item GUERTIN, D. - UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA
item Heilman, Philip - Phil

Submitted to: First Interagency Conference on Research in the Watersheds
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/20/2003
Publication Date: 9/15/2003
Citation: Miller, R., Guertin, D.P., Heilman, P. 2003. An internet-based spatial decision support system for rangeland watershed management. Proceedings First Interagency Conference on Research in the Watersheds. Oct. 27-30, 2003, Benson, AZ., pp. 725-730.

Interpretive Summary: A Spatial Decision Support System (SDSS) has been designed to integrate water quality, livestock management and economic concerns for water quality planning on rangelands. The SDSS provides land managers with a means to identify critical areas causing water quality degradation, and design and implement watershed management practices to improve water quality. The SDSS can used to help decide where on a small rangeland watershed a Best Management Practice (BMP) should be placed to reduce sediment impacts on water quality. The SDSS integrates hydrologic, erosion, livestock management and economic simulation models together with a geographic information system and database management system. The tool is deployed over the Internet and requires only a web browser. Users can interact with the system by entering fencelines, water points and sediment detention structures on top of an orthophoto. Currently, the only area where all of the required spatial data for the SDSS is available is the Walnut Gulch Experimental Watershed near Tombstone, Arizona.

Technical Abstract: The impact of livestock grazing on water quality, especially erosion and sedimentation, is an important concern in the southwestern United States. In response to Federal and State regulations, Best Management Practices (BMPs) for rangeland management are being developed and implemented in many western states, although the efficacy and economic impact of many practices have not been examined. To assess the potential effectiveness of BMPs, a Spatial Decision Support System (SDSS) has been designed to integrate water quality, livestock management and economic concerns. The SDSS was developed through the integration of hydrologic, erosion, livestock management and economic simulation models linked with a geographic information system and database management system. The SDSS can help managers select the type and location of BMPs based on site-specific data and is deployed via the Internet providing access through a web browser. The SDSS provides land managers with a means to identify critical areas causing water quality degradation, and design and implement watershed management practices to improve water quality. The poster will describe the SDSS and provide case study examples of its application.