Using watershed function as the leading indicator for water quality
Using watershed function as the leading indicator for water quality
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DOI：
10.2166/wp.2013.111
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发表时间：
2013-01-01
期刊：
影响因子：
1.6
通讯作者：
Schafer, Robin J.
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Aron, Joan L.;Hall, Robert K.;Schafer, Robin J.
扩散性非点源污染物，如沉积物、氮、磷和病原体，已成为美国水质损害的主要原因。美国的资源管理机构正在扩大使用的工具，在水质规划，以控制水污染，以满足美国清洁水法的目标，生态系统功能的评估。评估高地和河岸地区的生态系统功能为监测数据提供了背景，这些数据可以更好地针对水污染的最佳管理做法，并成为更及时地就水生生境和水质作出决定的主要（早期）指标。对流域功能的评估可用于确定资源的优先次序、制定指标、监测水生生境和水质，以及实施适应性管理计划，以恢复正在产生可持续污染的退化生态系统。本文介绍了三个例子，这种方法的制度化的进展，可持续和健康的流域，影响联邦，州，部落和私人土地所有者的水质计划。未来的工作应通过评估在水质规划中使用流域功能的效益、成本和有效性来改进这种方法。
Diffuse nonpoint source (NPS) pollutants, such as sediment, nitrogen, phosphorus, and pathogens, have become the primary cause of water quality impairments in the United States of America. Resource management agencies in the USA are expanding the use of tools for the assessment of ecosystem function in water quality programs to control NPS pollution to meet US Clean Water Act objectives. Assessing the ecosystem function of upland and riparian areas provides the context for monitoring data that can improve the targeting of best management practices for NPS pollution, and be a leading (early) indicator for more timely decisions about aquatic habitat and water quality. Assessment of watershed function can be applied to prioritizing resources, developing indicators, monitoring aquatic habitat and water quality, and implementing adaptive management plans to restore degraded ecosystems that are producing NPS pollution. This paper presents three examples of progress in the institutionalization of this approach to water quality programs for sustainable and healthy watersheds that affect federal, state, tribal, and private landowners. Future work should refine the approach by evaluating the benefits, costs, and effectiveness of the use of watershed function in water quality programs.