Decision support system for total maximum daily load

A decision support system (DSS) was developed to calculate total maximum da ily loads (TMDLs) of various pollutants for water quality limited sections (WQLS) within a river basin. The DSS includes a watershed simulation model, a database, a consensus building module, and a TMDL module that provides a worksheet for the calculations. The system can generate multiple combinati ons of waste load allocation and nonpoint-load allocation to meet the water quality criteria for the intended uses of the WQLS. Considering various po ssible solutions, the regulatory agency and local stakeholders can negotiat e an option most agreeable to all parties. The methodology is demonstrated with am example application in the Catawba River Basin, which extends from North Carolina to South Carolina.