Decision-Support Systems

Introduction

Decision-Support Systems The process of environmental decision making requires use of good science, transparency, stakeholder participation, and learning. So EPA scientists are involved in decision-support research to increase our national capacity to assess and manage complex environmental problems.

Projects Development of an Ecosystem Services Tools Database (PDF) (2 pp, 427 KB) Development of Protocols and Decision-Support Tools for Assessing Watershed System Assimilative Capacity (SAC) in Support of Risk-Based Ecosystem Management/Restoration Practices (PDF) (2 pp, 1.35 MB)

EPA scientists are currently involved in decision-support research with the goals of increasing our national capacity to assess and manage complex environmental problems and advancing methods for integrated assessment. The process of environmental decision making requires use of good science, transparency, stakeholder participation, and learning.

Environmental decision support requires the application of appropriate environmental databases, mapping tools, models, and economic valuation methods. EPA decision-support research will seek to provide a framework that enables understanding of the role of different participants in the decision problem, as well as the need for an adaptive assessment that responds to their decision support needs. Scientists will provide innovative, online decision support that offers EPA, regions, states, communities, and resource managers the ability to integrate programs and information, visualize outcomes of the decisions, and maximize use of diverse data, models, and tools at multiple scales to generate alternative decision options and to understand the consequences of management decisions on the sustainability of ecosystem services, their value, and human well being.

References and Products

Meta-Analysis of Phosphorous Attenuation in Best Management Practices (BMP) and Low Impact Development (LID) Practices in Urban and Agricultural Areas (PDF) (32 pp, 621 K) (EPA/600/R-13/208) September 2013

US EPA. (2009) "Ecosystem Services Decision Support: A Living Database of Existing Tools, Approaches, and Techniques for Supporting Decisions Related to Ecosystem Services – Science Brief." Publication No. EPA/600/R-09/102.

Eggleton, M.A., R. Ramirez, C.W. Hargrave, K.B. Gido, J.R. Masoner, G.D. Schnell, and W.J. Matthews. (2005). “Predictability of Littoral-Zone Fish Communities Through Ontogeny in Lake Texoma, Oklahoma-Texas, USA.” Environmental Biology of Fishes, 7: 21–36.

Masoner, J.R., D.S. Burden, and G.W. Sewell. (2002). “Digital Atlas of Lake Texoma.” U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2002-428.

Masoner, J.R., D.S. Burden, and T.E. Short. (2002). “Digital Geologic Map of Sherman Quadrangle, North Central Texas.” U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 02-264.

Contact

Dave Burden
Hydrologist
580-436-8606

Tim Canfield
Ecologist
580-436-8535

Bart Faulkner
Hydrologist
580-436-8530

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