Multicriteria review of nonpoint source water quality models for nutrients, sediments, and pathogens

Abstract

There now exists a large number of nonpoint source models that have been developed for watershed management issues. As part of the National Agri-Environmental Standards Initiative (NAESI), it was necessary to evaluate which model or models would be the best choice for examining various best management practices for nutrients, sediments, and pathogens in test watersheds. Environment Canada has committed to the development of environmental performance standards that will guide environmentally sustainable agricultural practices and management. A literature review was carried out and a short list of 13 models was selected that met the basic needs of the project. These models were subsequently evaluated based on a multicriteria analysis that considered 21 model characteristics. A weight and a total score quantify the relative importance of each criterion. The top six models were SWAT (Soil and Water Assessment Tool), AnnAGNPS (Annualized Agricultural Nonpoint Source), BASINS (Better Assessment Science Integrating Point and Nonpoint Sources), GIBSI (Gestion Intégrée des Bassins versants à l'aide d'un Système Informatisé), AGNPS (Agricultural Nonpoint Source), and HSPF (Hydrologic Simulation Program - Fortran). © 2009, CAWQ.