Examination of a GIS-Based Water Quality Model using USGS Gaged Watersheds in Maryland

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dc.contributor.advisorMoglen, Glenn Een_US
dc.contributor.authorShivers, Dorianne E.en_US
dc.contributor.departmentCivil Engineeringen_US
dc.contributor.publisherDigital Repository at the University of Marylanden_US
dc.contributor.publisherUniversity of Maryland (College Park, Md.)en_US
dc.date.accessioned2007-06-22T05:40:09Z
dc.date.available2007-06-22T05:40:09Z
dc.date.issued2007-06-13
dc.description.abstractWater quality models are important tools used by the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) in developing Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs), which serve as water quality standards. The MDE tool, which spatially interpolates output from the Chesapeake Bay Program Watershed Model (WSM), is often used because it requires little time, data, or training. In contrast, the WSM requires extensive time, data, and training to run. This study examines if the MDE tool provides accurate estimates of pollutant loads and whether the mid-level complexity model AVGWLF provides comparatively more accurate estimates. The accuracy of the models was assessed based on qualitative comparisons, t-tests, and Nash-Sutcliffe coefficients. The MDE tool was found to more accurately predict total nitrogen and total sediment loads and the AVGWLF model was found to more accurately predict total phosphorus loads. The study also found that a consistent method for calculating observed loads needs to be developed.en_US
dc.format.extent1041306 bytes
dc.format.mimetypeapplication/pdf
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/1903/7024
dc.language.isoen_US
dc.subject.pqcontrolledEngineering, Civilen_US
dc.subject.pquncontrolledwater quality modelingen_US
dc.subject.pquncontrollednutrientsen_US
dc.subject.pquncontrolledsedimenten_US
dc.subject.pquncontrolledMarylanden_US
dc.titleExamination of a GIS-Based Water Quality Model using USGS Gaged Watersheds in Marylanden_US
dc.typeThesisen_US

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