Web-Based Decision Tools for Watershed Management

Web-Based Decision Tools for Watershed Management

• http://www.epa.gov/ waterspace/• http://www.epa.gov/ waterspace/

Jon Bartholic, Michigan State University Jon Bartholic, Michigan State University Richard Zdanowicz, US EPA Region 5Richard Zdanowicz, US EPA Region 5

Jon Bartholic, Michigan State University Jon Bartholic, Michigan State University Richard Zdanowicz, US EPA Region 5Richard Zdanowicz, US EPA Region 5

Locally Led Watershed Management

Locally Led Watershed Management

• Bringing together scientific information

• Screening alternatives

• Writing, evaluating, and adjusting plans

• Bringing together scientific information

• Screening alternatives

• Writing, evaluating, and adjusting plans

Making Local Land Use Decisions

Making Local Land Use Decisions

• “What you do on the land, affects the quality of the water in the waterways.”

• “What you do on the land, affects the quality of the water in the waterways.”

1. 85% of the Land Is Owned by Private Parties

2. Local Governments (1,800+ Units in Wisconsin) Have Primary Responsibility for Regulating Land Uses

1. 85% of the Land Is Owned by Private Parties

2. Local Governments (1,800+ Units in Wisconsin) Have Primary Responsibility for Regulating Land Uses

In WisconsinIn Wisconsin

• Private Landowners Make Land Use Decisions That Affect the Environment

• Citizens Forming PartnershipsCitizens Forming Partnerships

• Neither Have the Necessary Neither Have the Necessary Information About Decision ImpactsInformation About Decision Impacts

• Private Landowners Make Land Use Decisions That Affect the Environment

• Citizens Forming PartnershipsCitizens Forming Partnerships

• Neither Have the Necessary Neither Have the Necessary Information About Decision ImpactsInformation About Decision Impacts

In WisconsinIn Wisconsin

• Offers state and local decision-makers thirteen regional decision support tools

• Includes bundled data• Means of clear impact

analysis

• Offers state and local decision-makers thirteen regional decision support tools

• Includes bundled data• Means of clear impact

analysis

Origin: April 2002

Midwest Web-based Spatial Workshop in Chicago

Origin: April 2002

Midwest Web-based Spatial Workshop in Chicago

Midwest Partnership for Watershed Management Decision Support Systems

Midwest Partnership for Watershed Management Decision Support Systems

Co-hosts: US EPA Region 5, Michigan State University, and Purdue University

Purpose: Demonstration of various Decision Support and GIS Systems

Participants: State, Federal, and Tribal water resource managers Land Grant University Extension community, Watershed managers, and local government representatives

Co-hosts: US EPA Region 5, Michigan State University, and Purdue University

Purpose: Demonstration of various Decision Support and GIS Systems

Participants: State, Federal, and Tribal water resource managers Land Grant University Extension community, Watershed managers, and local government representatives

Midwest Partnership for Watershed Management Decision Support Systems

Midwest Partnership for Watershed Management Decision Support Systems

Members:Members:

1.1. Indiana Department of Environmental Indiana Department of Environmental Management Management

2.2. International City/County Management International City/County Management Association Association

3.3. Michigan State University, Michigan State University, Institute of Water ResearchInstitute of Water Research

4.4. Purdue University - Purdue University - Agricultural and Biological Agricultural and Biological

Engineering, Forestry and Natural ResourcesEngineering, Forestry and Natural Resources

1.1. Indiana Department of Environmental Indiana Department of Environmental Management Management

2.2. International City/County Management International City/County Management Association Association

3.3. Michigan State University, Michigan State University, Institute of Water ResearchInstitute of Water Research

4.4. Purdue University - Purdue University - Agricultural and Biological Agricultural and Biological

Engineering, Forestry and Natural ResourcesEngineering, Forestry and Natural Resources

Midwest Partnership for Watershed Management Decision Support Systems

Midwest Partnership for Watershed Management Decision Support Systems

Members:Members:

5.5. State University of New York at Buffalo State University of New York at Buffalo

6.6. University of Wisconsin Extension University of Wisconsin Extension

7.7. U.S. EPA, Region 5 - U.S. EPA, Region 5 - Office of Public Affairs, Office of Public Affairs, Water Division and the Office of Information Services Water Division and the Office of Information Services

8.8. Wisconsin Department of Natural Wisconsin Department of Natural ResourcesResources

9.9. U. S. EPA/HQ - Office of Water Smart U. S. EPA/HQ - Office of Water Smart Growth TeamGrowth Team

5.5. State University of New York at Buffalo State University of New York at Buffalo

6.6. University of Wisconsin Extension University of Wisconsin Extension

7.7. U.S. EPA, Region 5 - U.S. EPA, Region 5 - Office of Public Affairs, Office of Public Affairs, Water Division and the Office of Information Services Water Division and the Office of Information Services

8.8. Wisconsin Department of Natural Wisconsin Department of Natural ResourcesResources

9.9. U. S. EPA/HQ - Office of Water Smart U. S. EPA/HQ - Office of Water Smart Growth TeamGrowth Team

• Development, promotion and use of web-based, user-friendly, geo-spatial watershed management data and decision support tools

• Help set the standard for other watershed management programs

– Promoting data initiatives

– Relating specific tools to planning process phases and learning objectives

– Creating systems where outputs of tools can be plugged into other models

• Development, promotion and use of web-based, user-friendly, geo-spatial watershed management data and decision support tools

• Help set the standard for other watershed management programs

– Promoting data initiatives

– Relating specific tools to planning process phases and learning objectives

– Creating systems where outputs of tools can be plugged into other models

Midwest Partnership for Watershed Management Decision Support Systems

Midwest Partnership for Watershed Management Decision Support Systems

Purpose:Purpose:

Midwest Partnership for Watershed Management Decision Support Systems

Midwest Partnership for Watershed Management Decision Support Systems

Accomplishments:Accomplishments:

1.1. Brought together tool developers, resource Brought together tool developers, resource managers, and decision makers: Federal, State, managers, and decision makers: Federal, State, Tribal, Regional Plann’g Commissions & LocalTribal, Regional Plann’g Commissions & Local

2.2. Commitment from participants to advance Commitment from participants to advance Region-wide SDSS effortsRegion-wide SDSS efforts

3.3. ICMA and Extension Community are helping ICMA and Extension Community are helping to achieve local community outreach, and to achieve local community outreach, and capacity developmentcapacity development

4.4. RPC’s are asking for hands-on workshopsRPC’s are asking for hands-on workshops

1.1. Brought together tool developers, resource Brought together tool developers, resource managers, and decision makers: Federal, State, managers, and decision makers: Federal, State, Tribal, Regional Plann’g Commissions & LocalTribal, Regional Plann’g Commissions & Local

2.2. Commitment from participants to advance Commitment from participants to advance Region-wide SDSS effortsRegion-wide SDSS efforts

3.3. ICMA and Extension Community are helping ICMA and Extension Community are helping to achieve local community outreach, and to achieve local community outreach, and capacity developmentcapacity development

4.4. RPC’s are asking for hands-on workshopsRPC’s are asking for hands-on workshops

Midwest Partnership for Watershed Management Decision Support Systems

Midwest Partnership for Watershed Management Decision Support Systems

Lessons learned:Lessons learned:1.1. WDNR & RPC workshops confirmed local WDNR & RPC workshops confirmed local

decision makers’decision makers’ preferences preferences for certain tool for certain tool characteristics: web-based, spatial, public domaincharacteristics: web-based, spatial, public domain

2.2. Scalability allows each level of decision maker Scalability allows each level of decision maker look atlook at appropriateappropriate level level of data and detailof data and detail

- 8 digit watershed for big picture perspective- 8 digit watershed for big picture perspective

- 12 digit watershed for local analysis of proposed actions- 12 digit watershed for local analysis of proposed actions

1.1. WDNR & RPC workshops confirmed local WDNR & RPC workshops confirmed local decision makers’decision makers’ preferences preferences for certain tool for certain tool characteristics: web-based, spatial, public domaincharacteristics: web-based, spatial, public domain

2.2. Scalability allows each level of decision maker Scalability allows each level of decision maker look atlook at appropriateappropriate level level of data and detailof data and detail

- 8 digit watershed for big picture perspective- 8 digit watershed for big picture perspective

- 12 digit watershed for local analysis of proposed actions- 12 digit watershed for local analysis of proposed actions

Midwest Partnership for Watershed Management Decision Support Systems

Midwest Partnership for Watershed Management Decision Support Systems

Lessons learned:Lessons learned:33 Consistent data and methodology allow Consistent data and methodology allow easy easy

access to a variety of data. The demand for data access to a variety of data. The demand for data is both vertical & horizontal.is both vertical & horizontal.

4.4. Our focus is on public domain tools and data toOur focus is on public domain tools and data to ensureensure widewide accessibilityaccessibility

33 Consistent data and methodology allow Consistent data and methodology allow easy easy access to a variety of data. The demand for data access to a variety of data. The demand for data is both vertical & horizontal.is both vertical & horizontal.

4.4. Our focus is on public domain tools and data toOur focus is on public domain tools and data to ensureensure widewide accessibilityaccessibility

Midwest Partnership for Watershed Management Decision Support Systems

Midwest Partnership for Watershed Management Decision Support Systems

5.5. We’re seeking input from decision We’re seeking input from decision makers, providemakers, provide constant feedbackconstant feedback to to developers, and have mechanisms in place developers, and have mechanisms in place for this purposefor this purpose

- WDNR Evaluations- Direct feedback from workshop participants

6. We’re taking the feedback and issues we get, both Regionally and nationally, and advancing those across Agency lines

5.5. We’re seeking input from decision We’re seeking input from decision makers, providemakers, provide constant feedbackconstant feedback to to developers, and have mechanisms in place developers, and have mechanisms in place for this purposefor this purpose

- WDNR Evaluations- Direct feedback from workshop participants

6. We’re taking the feedback and issues we get, both Regionally and nationally, and advancing those across Agency lines

Unique & Emerging CharacteristicsOf The Tools

Unique & Emerging CharacteristicsOf The Tools

In demand byIn demand by

local officials, natural resource managers, and the general publiclocal officials, natural resource managers, and the general publiclocal officials, natural resource managers, and the general publiclocal officials, natural resource managers, and the general public

because they deliver ease of use, bundled data, and means of clear impact analysis:

because they deliver ease of use, bundled data, and means of clear impact analysis:

1.1. Web-basedWeb-based

2.2. Spatially Based and ScalableSpatially Based and Scalable

3.3. Science-basedScience-based

4.4. Accessible (in Public Domain)Accessible (in Public Domain)

5.5. IntuitiveIntuitive

6.6. Customizable via Features & Plug-insCustomizable via Features & Plug-ins

7.7. Free-standingFree-standing

1.1. Web-basedWeb-based

2.2. Spatially Based and ScalableSpatially Based and Scalable

3.3. Science-basedScience-based

4.4. Accessible (in Public Domain)Accessible (in Public Domain)

5.5. IntuitiveIntuitive

6.6. Customizable via Features & Plug-insCustomizable via Features & Plug-ins

7.7. Free-standingFree-standing

The Midwest Partnership:The Midwest Partnership:The Midwest Partnership:The Midwest Partnership:

Sponsoring certain Sponsoring certain Decision Support ToolsDecision Support Tools & & Data InitiativesData Initiatives to serve the needs of local to serve the needs of local decision-makersdecision-makers

We’re expanding our We’re expanding our outreach activitiesoutreach activities and and partnershipspartnerships to reach others who serve the to reach others who serve the needs of local communities,needs of local communities,

Providing Providing direct feedbackdirect feedback from decision-makers from decision-makers to tool developersto tool developers

Sponsoring certain Sponsoring certain Decision Support ToolsDecision Support Tools & & Data InitiativesData Initiatives to serve the needs of local to serve the needs of local decision-makersdecision-makers

We’re expanding our We’re expanding our outreach activitiesoutreach activities and and partnershipspartnerships to reach others who serve the to reach others who serve the needs of local communities,needs of local communities,

Providing Providing direct feedbackdirect feedback from decision-makers from decision-makers to tool developersto tool developers

The Midwest Partnership:The Midwest Partnership:The Midwest Partnership:The Midwest Partnership:

We are exerting We are exerting leadershipleadership, both Regionally , both Regionally and nationally, to advance SDSS efforts and nationally, to advance SDSS efforts

A A unique Federal-State-Local Government unique Federal-State-Local Government partnershippartnership to promote decision support to promote decision support tools for watershed management & land use tools for watershed management & land use decision-makingdecision-making

We are exerting We are exerting leadershipleadership, both Regionally , both Regionally and nationally, to advance SDSS efforts and nationally, to advance SDSS efforts

A A unique Federal-State-Local Government unique Federal-State-Local Government partnershippartnership to promote decision support to promote decision support tools for watershed management & land use tools for watershed management & land use decision-makingdecision-making