These four user interface responses (shown in Figs. 10 and 11) comprise the
prototype interactive web elements designed to provide users with watershed-scale
water use information. A user may further click any point on the screen within a
watershed, and the system will (1) dynamically remove any results from the
previous map click, (2) refresh the map, and (3) repopulate the three iframes with
updated information and calculations.
4.4 Discussion
Quantifying water use, and the portion not returned to a resource after use, is an
essential component of sustainably managing water resources. This information
forms the basis for current decision-making as well as proactive planning efforts to
ensure sustainable supplies under future environmental, economic, social, and
technological conditions. Particularly in watersheds that span multiple jurisdictions, such as the Potomac, compiling and assessing data can have the added benefit
of encouraging communication across political boundaries to manage a shared
resource.
Many interactive watershed data analysis and/or mapping tools have been
constructed in the United States, generally for individual states. Some, but not all,
of these tools have a web-based component. The USGS StreamStats program has
interactive maps either fully implemented or under development for most states
[48]. StreamStats primarily provides streamflow statistics and watershed characteristics for user-delineated watersheds. The Maryland StreamStats application [49],
constructed in collaboration with the Maryland Department of Environment, also
provides information on withdrawals and discharges for a particularly vulnerable
portion of the state, to select users only. Because of security concerns, water
withdrawal data with associated locational information cannot be made publicly
available in the United States, and web-based tools are generally password
protected. Pennsylvania [50] and Virginia [51] also have water use mapping tools
available to select users for data entry and data access. West Virginia [52] and
Michigan [53] have online tools available to the public to help users assess the
impact of potential withdrawals. Colorado’s Decision Support System website [54]
provides a suite of tools to access and analyze water availability and water use data.
A regional water resource planning effort has been underway for many years in
the Great Lakes Basin, led by the Great Lakes Commission. For the Great Lakes
Basin (including the Canadian portion), data collection is driven by ongoing
resource concerns that have led to interstate and international agreements and
significant financial support. The online Great Lakes Regional Water Use Database
[55] does not have a visual map interface, but it does allow registered users to
upload and manage data and the public to generate water use summary reports.
Another regional-based effort in the United States has been initiated by the Susquehanna River Basin Commission, which is also developing an interstate
web-based, consumptive use tool [56].
Interactive Geospatial Analysis Tool for Estimating Watershed-Scale. . .
165
prototype interactive web elements designed to provide users with watershed-scale
water use information. A user may further click any point on the screen within a
watershed, and the system will (1) dynamically remove any results from the
previous map click, (2) refresh the map, and (3) repopulate the three iframes with
updated information and calculations.
4.4 Discussion
Quantifying water use, and the portion not returned to a resource after use, is an
essential component of sustainably managing water resources. This information
forms the basis for current decision-making as well as proactive planning efforts to
ensure sustainable supplies under future environmental, economic, social, and
technological conditions. Particularly in watersheds that span multiple jurisdictions, such as the Potomac, compiling and assessing data can have the added benefit
of encouraging communication across political boundaries to manage a shared
resource.
Many interactive watershed data analysis and/or mapping tools have been
constructed in the United States, generally for individual states. Some, but not all,
of these tools have a web-based component. The USGS StreamStats program has
interactive maps either fully implemented or under development for most states
[48]. StreamStats primarily provides streamflow statistics and watershed characteristics for user-delineated watersheds. The Maryland StreamStats application [49],
constructed in collaboration with the Maryland Department of Environment, also
provides information on withdrawals and discharges for a particularly vulnerable
portion of the state, to select users only. Because of security concerns, water
withdrawal data with associated locational information cannot be made publicly
available in the United States, and web-based tools are generally password
protected. Pennsylvania [50] and Virginia [51] also have water use mapping tools
available to select users for data entry and data access. West Virginia [52] and
Michigan [53] have online tools available to the public to help users assess the
impact of potential withdrawals. Colorado’s Decision Support System website [54]
provides a suite of tools to access and analyze water availability and water use data.
A regional water resource planning effort has been underway for many years in
the Great Lakes Basin, led by the Great Lakes Commission. For the Great Lakes
Basin (including the Canadian portion), data collection is driven by ongoing
resource concerns that have led to interstate and international agreements and
significant financial support. The online Great Lakes Regional Water Use Database
[55] does not have a visual map interface, but it does allow registered users to
upload and manage data and the public to generate water use summary reports.
Another regional-based effort in the United States has been initiated by the Susquehanna River Basin Commission, which is also developing an interstate
web-based, consumptive use tool [56].
Interactive Geospatial Analysis Tool for Estimating Watershed-Scale. . .
165