Table 1.
Examples of data to be integrated for watershed sustainability assessments.
| DATA TYPE | EXAMPLE VARIABLES | SELECTED SOURCES OF NATIONAL DATA AND MODELS |
|---|---|---|
| Geophysical | Watershed boundaries, soils, geology, land cover, groundwater | USGS33,34 |
| Atmosphere & climate | Air temperature, precipitation, air quality, climate change, atmospheric deposition to waters and watersheds | EPA-CMAQ36 |
| Physicochemical (water) | Flow, groundwater discharge, temperature, conductivity/salinity, dissolved oxygen, pH, sediment (bedded and suspended), organic matter, contaminant concentrations | EPA,32 USGS33 |
| Pollutant sources | Watershed loads of nutrients, sediment, and toxic chemicals from point and non-point sources | EPA, USGS, USDA; various databases |
| Biota | Fish, invertebrate, and wildlife communities, contaminant body burdens, harmful algae, pathogens | EPA,32 USGS33 |
| Demographics | Population density; distributions of income, age, ethnicity, gender | US Census37 |
| Human health | Cancer, fertility, birth defects, respiratory, gastrointestinal and psychiatric illnesses | CDCP35 |
| Economics | Final ecosystem goods and services (production and values), human well-being index | EPA38,39 |