Ecological regions versus hydrologic units: Frameworks for managing water quality
In the mid-1970s a flurry of research and assessment activity began on nonpoint source (NPS) pollution. Much of the activity was driven by legislative requirements, particularly Section 208 of the Clean Water Act which required states to identify nonpoint sources of pollution and develop feasible procedures and methods to control these sources. Unfortunately, response to the law was piecemeal--most states lacked a logical and useful spatial (geographical) framework to put the results in a meaningful environmental perspective. Spatial frameworks can have a profound influence on the effectiveness of the research, assessment, and management of many aquatic resource problems, particularly nonpoint source pollution. The authors believe that spatial frameworks based on ecological regions can often be more useful for assessing the health of aquatic systems than frameworks based only on hydrologic units, drainage basins, or administrative or political units. Their objective is to demonstrate the usefulness of the frameworks and approaches, and show the relative ineffectiveness of hydrologic units with examples at national, regional, and local scales.
- Research Organization:
- Environmental Protection Agency, Corvallis, OR (United States). Environmental Research Lab.
- OSTI ID:
- 5640687
- Report Number(s):
- PB-92-153873/XAB; EPA-600/J-92/095
- Resource Relation:
- Other Information: Pub. in Jnl. of Soil and Water Conservation, v46 n5 p334-340 1991. See also PB88-148978 and PB90-132416. Prepared in cooperation with NSI Technology Services Corp., Corvallis, OR. Environmental Research Lab
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
29 ENERGY PLANNING
POLICY AND ECONOMY
US CLEAN WATER ACT
COMPLIANCE
WATER QUALITY
REGIONAL ANALYSIS
HYDROLOGY
POLLUTION SOURCES
RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
SPATIAL DISTRIBUTION
WATER POLLUTION CONTROL
CONTROL
DISTRIBUTION
ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
LAWS
MANAGEMENT
POLLUTION CONTROL
POLLUTION LAWS
540320* - Environment
Aquatic- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (1990-)
290300 - Energy Planning & Policy- Environment
Health
& Safety