Application of the RSPARROW modeling tool to estimate total nitrogen sources to streams and evaluate source reduction management scenarios in the Grande River Basin, Brazil

Matthew P. Miller; Marcelo L de Souza; Richard B Alexander; Lillian Gorman Sanisaca; Alexandre de Amorim Teixeira; Alison P. Appling

doi:10.3390/w12102911

Application of the RSPARROW modeling tool to estimate total nitrogen sources to streams and evaluate source reduction management scenarios in the Grande River Basin, Brazil

Water

By: Matthew P. Miller, Marcelo L de Souza, Richard B Alexander, Lillian Gorman Sanisaca, Alexandre de Amorim Teixeira, and Alison P. Appling

https://doi.org/10.3390/w12102911

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Abstract

Large-domain hydrological models are increasingly needed to support water-resource assessment and management in large river basins. Here, we describe results for the first Brazilian application of the SPAtially Referenced Regression On Watershed attributes (SPARROW) model using a new open-source modeling and interactive decision support system tool (RSPARROW) to quantify the origin, flux, and fate of total nitrogen (TN) in two sub-basins of the Grande River Basin (GRB; 43,000 km²). Land under cultivation for sugar cane, urban land, and point source inputs from wastewater treatment plants was estimated to each contribute approximately 30% of the TN load at the outlet, with pasture land contributing about 10% of the load. Hypothetical assessments of wastewater treatment plant upgrades and the building of new facilities that could treat currently untreated urban runoff suggest that these management actions could potentially reduce loading at the outlet by as much as 20–25%. This study highlights the ability of SPARROW and the RSPARROW mapping tool to assist with the development and evaluation of management actions aimed at reducing nutrient pollution and eutrophication. The freely available RSPARROW modeling tool provides new opportunities to improve understanding of the sources, delivery, and transport of water-quality contaminants in watersheds throughout the world.

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Additional publication details
Publication type	Article
Publication Subtype	Journal Article
Title	Application of the RSPARROW modeling tool to estimate total nitrogen sources to streams and evaluate source reduction management scenarios in the Grande River Basin, Brazil
Series title	Water
DOI	10.3390/w12102911
Volume	12
Issue	10
Year Published	2020
Language	English
Publisher	MDPI
Contributing office(s)	WMA - Integrated Modeling and Prediction Division
Description	2911, 20 p.
Country	Brazil
Other Geospatial	Grande River basin
Google Analytic Metrics	Metrics page