Integrating data driven approaches and geospatial modeling to identify environmental hot spots and guide targeted...

Rapid urbanization in coastal watersheds has led to frequent eutrophication and the proliferation of harmful algal blooms (HABs), posing significant challenges for maintaining water quality and stream integrity. These challenges are further compounded by budget constraints at all levels of government, underscoring the need for scientifically robust and cost-effective methods to identify environmental hot spots at both regional and local scales. This study addresses this need by integrating conventional monitoring techniques with advanced geospatial modeling to identify critical areas for restoration in coastal New Jersey watersheds. Water quality monitoring and stream integrity assessments identified Mill Creek as a priority watershed, while the land use analysis within the riparian zones indicated both Mill Creek and Tuckerton Creek as area of concern due to the extent of altered land. Nine agricultural sites totaling 6.25 ha were selected as restoration sites within riparian buffer zones and the Riparian Forest Buffer Practice was recommended. The implementation cost of these sites varies from approximately $2,000 to $56,000 depending upon the area of each restoration site. To further refine the restoration efforts, fine scale hydrologically sensitive areas (HASs) covering approximately 1,500 ha across the study area were identified using a Topographic Wetness Index (TWI) approach. The integrated framework presented in this study offers a valuable tool for conservation planning in urbanizing watersheds. It supports the development of targeted, cost effective restoration strategies and provides actionable insights for policymakers and stakeholders working to improve and maintain water quality under both current conditions and future water management scenarios.