Application of integrated GIS and multimedia modeling on NPS pollution evaluation

• Published in: Environmental monitoring and assessment 2009-11, Vol.158 (1-4), p.319-331
• Main Authors: Lin, C. E, Kao, C. M, Lai, Y. C, Shan, W. L, Wu, C. Y
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Agricultural land; Agricultural pollution; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Applied ecology; Applied sciences; Atmospheric Protection/Air Quality Control/Air Pollution; Basins; Best management practices; Biological and medical sciences; BMP; Creeks; Creeks & streams; Drinking water; Earth and Environmental Science; Ecology; Ecotoxicology; Ecotoxicology, biological effects of pollution; Environment; Environmental Management; Environmental monitoring; Environmental Monitoring - methods; Exact sciences and technology; Farms; Freshwater; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Geographic Information Systems; GIS; Global positioning systems; GPS; Investigations; Land management; Land pollution; Land use; Mathematical models; Monitoring/Environmental Analysis; Multimedia; Multimedia communications; Multimedia modeling; Nonpoint source pollution; NPS pollutant; Nutrient loading; Performance evaluation; Pollutants; Pollution; Pollution control; Pollution load; Pollution prevention; Pollution sources; Rainy season; Remote sensing; River basins; Rivers; Simulation; Studies; Surface water; Taiwan; Waste load; Water pollution; Water Pollution - analysis; Water quality; Watershed management; Watersheds
• ISSN: 0167-6369; 1573-2959
• DOI: 10.1007/s10661-008-0586-x

In Taiwan, nonpoint source (NPS) pollution is one of the major causes of the impairment of surface waters. I-Liao Creek, located in southern Taiwan, flows approximately 90 km and drains toward the Kaoping River. Field investigation results indicate that NPS pollution from agricultural activities is one of the main water pollution sources in the I-Liao Creek Basin. Assessing the potential of NPS pollution to assist in the planning of best management practice (BMP) is significant for improving pollution prevention and control in the I-Liao Creek Basin. In this study, land use identification in the I-Liao Creek Basin was performed by properly integrating the skills of geographic information system (GIS) and global positioning system (GPS). In this analysis, 35 types of land use patterns in the watershed area of the basin are classified with the aid of Erdas Imagine® process system and ArcView® GIS system. Results indicate that betel palm farms, orchard farms, and tea gardens dominate the farmland areas in the basin, and are scattered around on both sides of the river corridor. An integrated watershed management model (IWMM) was applied for simulating the water quality and evaluating NPS pollutant loads to the I-Liao Creek. The model was calibrated and verified with collected water quality and soil data, and was used to investigate potential NPS pollution management plans. Simulated results indicate that NPS pollution has significant contributions to the nutrient loads to the I-Liao Creek during the wet season. Results also reveal that NPS pollution plays an important role in the deterioration of downstream water quality and caused significant increase in nutrient loads into the basin's water bodies. Simulated results show that source control, land use management, and grassy buffer strip are applicable and feasible BMPs for NPS nutrient loads reduction. GIS system is an important method for land use identification and waste load estimation in the basin. Linking the information of land utilization with the NPS pollution simulation model may further provide essential information of potential NPS pollution for all subregions in the river basin. Results and experience obtained from this study will be helpful in designing the watershed management and NPS pollution control strategies for other similar river basins.