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Murray Scown photo

Murray Scown

Associate Senior Lecturer

Murray Scown photo

Improving Predictive Models of In-Stream Phosphorus Concentration Based on Nationally-Available Spatial Data Coverages

Author

  • Murray Scown
  • Michael McManus
  • John Carson
  • Christopher Nietch

Summary, in English

Spatial data are playing an increasingly important role in watershed science and management. Large investments have been made by government agencies to provide nationally-available spatial databases; however, their relevance and suitability for local watershed applications is largely unscrutinized. We investigated how goodness of fit and predictive accuracy of total phosphorus (TP) concentration models developed from nationally-available spatial data could be improved by including local watershed-specific data in the East Fork of the Little Miami River, Ohio, a 1,290 km2 watershed. We also determined whether a spatial stream network (SSN) modeling approach improved on multiple linear regression (nonspatial) models. Goodness of fit and predictive accuracy were highest for the SSN model that included local covariates, and lowest for the nonspatial model developed from national data. Septic systems and point source TP loads were significant covariates in the local models. These local data not only improved the models but enabled a more explicit interpretation of the processes affecting TP concentrations than more generic national covariates. The results suggest SSN modeling greatly improves prediction and should be applied when using national covariates. Including local covariates further increases the accuracy of TP predictions throughout the studied watershed; such variables should be included in future national databases, particularly the locations of septic systems.

Department/s

  • LUCSUS (Lund University Centre for Sustainability Studies)

Publishing year

2017-08

Language

English

Pages

944-960

Publication/Series

Journal of the American Water Resources Association

Volume

53

Issue

4

Document type

Journal article

Publisher

Wiley-Blackwell

Topic

  • Environmental Sciences related to Agriculture and Land-use
  • Oceanography, Hydrology, Water Resources
  • Environmental Sciences

Keywords

  • water quality
  • spatial data
  • autocorrelation
  • statistical modelling
  • phosphorus (P)
  • river

Status

Published

ISBN/ISSN/Other

  • ISSN: 1752-1688