Applying Ecological Risk Principles to Watershed Assessment and Management |
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Authors: | VICTOR B SERVEISS |
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Institution: | (1) U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (8623-D), 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20460, US |
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Abstract: | Considerable progress in addressing point source (end of pipe) pollution problems has been made, but it is now recognized
that further substantial environmental improvements depend on controlling nonpoint source pollution. A watershed approach
is being used more frequently to address these problems because traditional regulatory approaches do not focus on nonpoint
sources. The watershed approach is organized around the guiding principles of partnerships, geographic focus, and management
based on sound science and data. This helps to focus efforts on the highest priority problems within hydrologically-defined
geographic areas. Ecological risk assessment is a process to collect, organize, analyze, and present scientific information
to improve decision making. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) sponsored three watershed assessments and found
that integrating the watershed approach with ecological risk assessment increases the use of environmental monitoring and
assessment data in decision making. This paper describes the basics of the watershed approach, the ecological risk assessment
process, and how these two frameworks can be integrated. The three major principles of watershed ecological risk assessment
found to be most useful for increasing the use of science in decision making are (1) using assessment endpoints and conceptual
models, (2) holding regular interactions between scientists and managers, and (3) developing a focus for multiple stressor
analysis. Examples are provided illustrating how these principles were implemented in these assessments. |
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Keywords: | : Watershed management Ecological risk assessment Watershed assessment Water quality management Environmental assessment Environmental decision making |
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