ESTCP, in partnership with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), has initiated five demonstrations of watershed analysis models and tools to advance the management of land and water resources on Department of Defense (DoD) installations. Using a watershed-based approach, DoD can manage its operations, activities, and lands to avoid or minimize impacts to wetlands, groundwater, and surface waters on or adjacent to installations, enhancing compliance, sustainability, and stewardship efforts.

Demonstrations are under way using three watershed modeling approaches, one stormwater modeling approach, and one soil erosion and deposition modeling approach. Several of the efforts build on models developed by EPA and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. A key goal of these demonstrations is to ensure model outputs and uncertainties are communicated to end users and decision makers in a manner that is easily interpretable and that directly relates to management actions and their effects. Engagement with EPA on these efforts and their successful completion will assist DoD in maintaining future compliance with the Clean Water Act total maximum daily load requirements and federal goals regarding stormwater management.

This work directly supports the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed by the Office of the Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Installations and Environment and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Office of Research and Development on February 7, 2012. The MOU promotes collaboration in the development and demonstration of innovative technologies to support DoD’s vision of sustainable and resilient military installations. DoD installations can serve as test beds for innovative technologies and support widespread adoption and implementation if demonstrated technologies are proven successful. 

Project Summaries