Landon Marston - Urban Water Systems Session (AGU Hydrology Days 2020)

Mapping and Modeling of Interbasin Water Transfers within the United States

Interbasin water transfers (IBTs) can have a significant effect on the hydrology, environment, water supplies, and economies of the basins importing and exporting water, as well those downstream of the transfer. Though there is often local knowledge of water transfers, we lack a comprehensive national understanding of the role IBTs play in supplying water for society, as well as the collective hydrologic impact of IBTs. To meet this need, we are creating a centralized, publicly accessible database and visualization of IBTs within the United States, which will be used to understand the impact of IBTs on society and the environment. This data product will enable closure of water budgets and improve estimates of water availability and use. Specifically, our work will enable quantification of IBTs impact on water resources at the regional and national scale and model how these impacts may evolve under changing climate, population shifts, and land use changes. Moreover, this study will provide an empirical basis for modeling IBTs, improve the overall fidelity of hydrologic models, and thus, enhance approaches for estimation of water supply and demand. We anticipate the new data and knowledge created by our study will serve as a catalyst for new research surrounding IBTs and, more generally, human influences on water resources.

Видео Landon Marston - Urban Water Systems Session (AGU Hydrology Days 2020) канала One Water Solutions Institute