Web-based watershed assessment tool is a global resource

Wednesday, April 5, 2023

Media Contact: Alisa Boswell-Gore | Agricultural Communications Services | 405-744-7115 | alisa.gore@okstate.edu

The Oklahoma Water Resources Center has partnered with Texas A&M University and the Oklahoma Conservation Commission to improve water quality and quantity assessments and forecasting in the state.
 
The Oklahoma Hydrologic and Water Quality System (OK-HAWQS) is a web-based tool for anyone to use. Texas A&M and the United States Department of Agriculture developed the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) to assess watersheds of varying sizes. It allows users to digitally model and simulate past, present and future water quality and quantity problems. The tool also studies how land management is changing and how the use of conservation practices affects the state’s water resources.

The Spatial Sciences Laboratory at Texas A&M provides technical support for OK-HAWQS, along with continued model and software development. The Oklahoma Conservation Commission serves as project lead, funding the model’s development and helping gather data from partner agencies.
 
“OK-HAWQS gives Oklahomans the ability to better assess water quality and quantity and respond to major water problems across the state,” said Abu Mansaray, a researcher at the Oklahoma Water Resources Center.
 
OK-HAWQS helps researchers save money, time and resources while covering areas where data collection is not feasible. Researchers can see predicted changes 10 to 50 years in the future by using OK-HAWQS to model watersheds of interest.
 
“As a simplified and more efficient way to study watersheds, researchers can set up and conduct modeling in less time with preloaded data in OK-HAWQS,” Mansaray said. “Researchers select a watershed, the parameters and the scenarios to run the model.” 
 
Total Maximum Daily Loads can be developed using OK-HAWQS to determine reductions needed to restore water quality. Although the SWAT model is customized for Oklahoma, researchers outside of the state can also use the technology due to zero cost and open accessibility. Model simulation only requires a username and password. For those interested, visit OK.HAWQS.