Spatially-Explicit, Exposure-Based Assessment of Surface Water Vulnerability from Land Use Threats for Time-Efficient and Cost-Effective Watershed Development Planning
The utility of a spatially-explicit, exposure-based model was examined for its
suitability as a tool for rapidly assessing surface water vulnerability in watershed
planning. This simple GIS-model uses three types of easily obtainable
spatial information: (1) sources of land use-induced change; (2) intensity of
watershed drainage; and (3) sensitivity of drainage basins to change. This
model was applied to the Thomas Brook watershed in Nova Scotia, Canada,
which has been the site of previous studies, conducted over multiple years,
using detailed, effects-based, hydrologic models. Doing so allowed us the opportunity
to compare the two approaches. Results showed a good concordance
in the derived mapped outputs between the two models. Given the rapid
ease and inexpensive cost of using the GIS, exposure-based model, we believe
it to offer great promise in terms of prioritizing locations for further
study or for intervention of best management practices, as well as for planning
where to best direct future water-sensitive development through build-out
analyses.
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