Adapting a regional water-quality model for local application: A case study for Tennessee, USA

Environmental Modelling and Software
By: , and 

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Abstract

We evaluated whether SPAtially Referenced Regression On Watershed attributes (SPARROW) models calibrated for two adjacent USA regions could be applied at the local scale to support management decisions for streams in Tennessee. Nutrient-source apportionment of load is important for this local-scale application and demands careful consideration of uncertainty in the calibrated coefficients. We used Gauss-Newton regression to test the published SPARROW models for constancy of coefficient estimates between calibration sites on streams within (n = 59) versus outside (n = 327) Tennessee and concluded source apportionment was unbiased for Tennessee streams. The SPARROW models were then applied without re-calibration to predict stream loads and source apportionment for Tennessee streams and to build tools for displaying model results and evaluating source-change scenarios. This approach may inform the adaptation of other regional-scale regression models for use to address water-resource management issues in smaller-scale watersheds.

Publication type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Title Adapting a regional water-quality model for local application: A case study for Tennessee, USA
Series title Environmental Modelling and Software
DOI 10.1016/j.envsoft.2019.01.001
Volume 115
Year Published 2019
Language English
Publisher Elsevier
Contributing office(s) Lower Mississippi-Gulf Water Science Center
Description 13 p.
First page 187
Last page 199
Country United States
State Tennessee
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