Detailed Project Description

Funding Agency:Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service (CSREES) of the USDA

Project Title: Water Quality Protection in Agroecosystems: Integrating Science, Technology, and Policy at the Watershed Scale

A $394,000, three-year, competitive research grant was awarded in October 2001 to a proposal prepared by R. Rajagopal, David Bennett, Ed Brands, and David Osterberg of the Department of Geography at The University of Iowa.

The purpose of this project is to integrate scientific concepts and technological ideas, especially geographic information systems (GIS) and visualization tools, so as to enable the public and its elected representatives to initiate policy actions for the protection of water quality. It will improve the understanding of spatial, temporal, and exposure variability, uncertainty, and precision associated with water quality measurements. From beginning to end, the project has engaged stakeholders with numerous educational and extension opportunities via focus groups, conferences, and meetings. We drew on the vast resources of many collaborating institutions, citizen leaders, and elected representatives.

Several graduate and undergraduate students worked with us on this project and obtained invaluable research experience as part of their education at the UI.

A. Objectives and Accomplishments

As consumers, citizens, and professionals, Iowans are faced with questions such as: What contaminants are found in Iowa's water environment? Where in the state are these different contaminants found, at what concentrations, and are there patterns to such occurrences? How many people are exposed to these contaminants at different concentration ranges? What are some appropriate geographical and computational tools that might enable visualization of such patterns in space and time? How do we integrate and communicate such knowledge and patterns, so as to enable the public and its elected representatives to initiate policy actions for the protection of Iowa's water quality. To address these questions, we conducted research and outreach in the five areas of science, technology (visualization), policy, integration and education (extension) within the context of water quality protection in Iowa watersheds.

A1. Science

In the area of science, we have tested a variety of differential hypotheses: i.e. that there exist distinct differences in water quality within and between Iowa watersheds and sub-watersheds, specifically in the context of nutrients and herbicides. For these analyses, we utilized the vast resources of data made available via two major federal laws, the Clean Water Act (1972) and the Safe Drinking Water Act (1974).

We also conducted two water monitoring studies of our own, dealing with:

• Contribution of sewage treatment facilities to nutrient concentrations and bacteria levels in several Eastern Iowa streams



• Quality of drinking water choices available in selected Eastern Iowa communities

A2. Technology

We are in the process of equipping the public and their policy makers with the capability to rapidly access, visualize, process, analyze, and use data from multiple sources for the protection of water quality. In particular, we developed a variety of GIS (geographic information systems) and visualization tools that enable representation and analysis of geo-spatial data in 2-D and 3-D environments.

A3. Policy

We analyzed, compared, and evaluated place and time-based water quality monitoring (regulatory) strategies. Such a capability will enable local and state-level decision-makers to develop innovative solutions to water quality problems and evaluate them in comparison to current “one size fits all” policy and regulatory prescriptions. We are also in the process of conducting economic analyses of drinking water options, monitoring alternatives, and state revolving fund allocations.

A4. Integration

Our project is an integrated effort to link scientific concepts (testing of hypotheses), technological ideas (GIS and visualization tools), and regulatory strategies and policy alternatives. Our goal is to enable the public and its elected representatives to compare, evaluate, and initiate policy actions for the effective protection and enhancement of water quality in Iowa's agroecosystems.

A5. Education

With the assistance of stakeholders (concerned citizens, interest group leaders, elected officials, and others) we have participated in numerous educational and extension opportunities dealing with many aspects of our project. In concert with the stakeholders, we are in the process of communicating science-based knowledge, technological ideas, and policy issues so as to enable them to make practical decisions.

B. Approach

The objective of this project is to research and develop the five areas of science, technology (visualization), policy, integration and education (extension) within the context of water quality protection in Iowa watersheds.  The approach taken within each of the five components is described below:

B1. Science

Several research hypotheses dealing with spatial and temporal differences in water quality (nitrates and herbicides), total maximum daily load (TMDL), maximum contaminant level (MCL) requirements, and population exposures were tested using data from two major Eastern Iowa watersheds (Des Moines and Iowa River). Linkage between observed water quality and land use, hydrology, geology, seasons, and demography were also explored.

B2. Technology

We are developing a spatial decision support system (SDSS) that will allow users to visualize and explore selected water quality issues within the Des Moines and Iowa River watersheds, understand the nature of error and uncertainty in data, and evaluate the performance of place-based monitoring strategies (PBMS). This system, based on standard GIS functions, including feature extraction, proximity analysis, attribute queries, and overlay analysis is in the process of being tested.

B3. Policy

To assist in the formulation of regulatory and legislative policy for protecting water quality in the Des Moines and Iowa River watersheds, our approach links data collection, monitoring programs and policy planning through interactively coupled GIS and decision support systems. Such a feedback approach links science and technology components to policy alternatives and thus enables comparison of current "one size fits all" compliance strategies to a variety of user-defined place-based monitoring strategies.

B4. Integration

The approach to integration is through stakeholder involvement. A steering committee, periodic focus group meetings, and participation in state, regional, and national conferences will solidify and strengthen stakeholder involvement. To successfully integrate the various components, we articulated and discussed materials with, and elicited responses from stakeholders on the concepts of scale, variability, uncertainty, visualization, justice and equity within the context of water quality protection, monitoring, and regulatory strategies. We believe our approach will lead to progressively more focused discussions and policy actions.

B5. Education

With the assistance of the Steering Committee, we have developed several educational and extension opportunities for stakeholders (concerned citizens, interest group leaders, elected officials, and others). We have involved, learned from, and provided stakeholders with numerous educational and extension opportunities via focus groups and conferences. We have also drawn upon the vast resources of many collaborating institutions, citizen leaders, and elected representatives.

C. Situation and Problem Statement

This project has focused on two major Iowa watersheds (Des Moines and Iowa River), but has also examined surface water quality in most other parts of Iowa. Degradation of Iowa’s water quality is due in large part to non-point source runoff of agrichemicals. It is difficult to manage such problems because nutrients and herbicides from farm fields enter the hydrological system from thousands of Iowa farms covering vast areas. Various monitoring programs designed and operated to pinpoint problem areas have been unsuccessful in addressing non-point source pollution because such programs are not appropriately constructed and clearly linked to answer the many questions posed by decision-makers. These programs often sample streams on a spatially or temporally limited basis and therefore do not provide enough information (by themselves) to allow decision-makers to identify the most problematic areas of their planning region. In addition, monitoring results are often not effectively portrayed in a visual context so that the public and elected representatives can comprehend the spatial scope and extent of the issues.

D. Purpose

This purposes of this project are: