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Updated: Oct 7, 2025

Watershed Planning within a Quantitative Scenario Analysis Framework
Published on: July 24, 2016
Stochastic reliability-based risk evaluation and mapping for watershed systems and sustainability (STREAMS).
Allen Teklitz1, Christopher Nietch2, Timothy Whiteaker3
1Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Cincinnati, OH, USA.
This study introduces the STREAMS tool, a novel system for mapping water contamination risk. It helps improve water security and sustainability through better environmental awareness and decision-making.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Hydrology
- Geospatial Analysis
Background:
- Water contamination poses risks to security and sustainability.
- Effective decision-making requires understanding probabilistic and spatial contamination data.
- Geospatial tools are needed to visualize and communicate water contamination risks.
Purpose of the Study:
- To present a novel tool, STochastic Reliability-based Risk Evaluation And Mapping for watershed Systems and Sustainability (STREAMS), for assessing water contamination risk.
- To develop a visually compelling geospatial decision-making tool inspired by weather maps.
- To enable quantitative analysis of mitigation strategies for watershed sustainability.
Main Methods:
- Developed the STREAMS tool integrated with ArcGIS geoprocessing.
- Applied physics-based reliability theory to compute spatial risk distribution.
- Defined risk as the probability of exceeding a water contamination safety threshold.
Main Results:
- STREAMS produces risk maps communicating water contamination probability.
- The tool quantifies risk reduction from best management practices.
- Case studies demonstrate STREAMS' applicability across different watershed scales and properties.
Conclusions:
- STREAMS effectively communicates water contamination risk using geospatial maps.
- The tool supports informed decision-making for improved water security and sustainability.
- STREAMS facilitates the evaluation of mitigation strategies in watershed management.
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