RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Hydrologically sensitive areas: Variable source area hydrology implications for water quality risk assessment
JF Journal of Soil and Water Conservation
FD Soil and Water Conservation Society
SP 277
OP 284
VO 55
IS 3
A1 M. T. Walter
A1 M. F. Walter
A1 E. S. Brooks
A1 T. S. Steenhuis
A1 J. Boll
A1 K. Weiler
YR 2000
UL http://www.jswconline.org/content/55/3/277.abstract
AB A conceptual approach to assessing water quality risk in the context of variable source area hydrology was developed and applied to the New York City (NYC) water supply watersheds. The term hydrologically sensitive area (HSA) was used to refer to areas in a watershed especially prone to generating runoff that are, therefore, potentially susceptible to transporting contaminants to perennial surface water bodies. As an example, a cost benefit method for quantifying HSAs was developed and applied such that water quality protection was balanced with agricultural needs for NYC watersheds. In accordance with the variable source area concept, the spatial extent of HSAs vary throughout the year. On an annual average, approximately 10% of the watershed is designated HSA and about 20% of the total annual runoff originates on these HSAs. This study is meant to illustrate an approach to dealing with water quality risk assessment.