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The Applications of GIS in the Analysis of the Impacts of Human Activities on South Texas Watersheds

Author

Listed:
  • Edmund C. Merem

    (Department of Urban and Regional Planning, Jackson State University, 3825, Ridgewood Road, P.O. Box 23, Jackson, MS 39211, USA)

  • Sudha Yerramilli

    (National Center for Bio Defense Communications, Jackson State University, Mississippi e-Center @ JSU, 1230 Raymond Road, Jackson, MS 39204, USA)

  • Yaw A. Twumasi

    (Department of Advanced Technologies, School of Agriculture and Applied Sciences, Alcorn State University, 1000 ASU Drive, Jackson, MS 39096, USA)

  • Joan M. Wesley

    (Department of Urban and Regional Planning, Jackson State University, 3825, Ridgewood Road, P.O. Box 23, Jackson, MS 39211, USA)

  • Bennetta Robinson

    (Department of Urban and Regional Planning, Jackson State University, 3825, Ridgewood Road, P.O. Box 23, Jackson, MS 39211, USA)

  • Chandra Richardson

    (Department of Urban and Regional Planning, Jackson State University, 3825, Ridgewood Road, P.O. Box 23, Jackson, MS 39211, USA)

Abstract

With water resource planning assuming greater importance in environmental protection efforts, analyzing the health of agricultural watersheds using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) becomes essential for decision-makers in Southern Texas. Within the area, there exist numerous threats from conflicting land uses. These include the conversion of land formerly designated for agricultural purposes to other uses. Despite current efforts, anthropogenic factors are greatly contributing to the degradation of watersheds. Additionally, the activities of waste water facilities located in some of the counties, rising populations, and other socioeconomic variables are negatively impacting the quality of water in the agricultural watersheds. To map the location of these stressors spatially and the extent of their impacts across time, the paper adopts a mix scale method of temporal spatial analysis consisting of simple descriptive statistics. In terms of objectives, this research provides geo-spatial analysis of the effects of human activities on agricultural watersheds in Southern Texas and the factors fuelling the concerns under the purview of watershed management. The results point to growing ecosystem decline across time and a geographic cluster of counties experiencing environmental stress. Accordingly, the emergence of stressors such as rising population, increased use of fertilizer treatments on farm land, discharges of atmospheric pollutants and the large presence of municipal and industrial waste treatment facilities emitting pathogens and pesticides directly into the agricultural watersheds pose a growing threat to the quality of the watershed ecosystem.

Suggested Citation

  • Edmund C. Merem & Sudha Yerramilli & Yaw A. Twumasi & Joan M. Wesley & Bennetta Robinson & Chandra Richardson, 2011. "The Applications of GIS in the Analysis of the Impacts of Human Activities on South Texas Watersheds," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 8(6), pages 1-29, June.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:8:y:2011:i:6:p:2418-2446:d:12895
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Edmund C. Merem & Yaw A. Twumasi, 2008. "Using Spatial Information Technologies as Monitoring Devices in International Watershed Conservation along the Senegal River Basin of West Africa," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 5(5), pages 1-13, December.
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    Cited by:

    1. Qing Gu & Ke Wang & Jiadan Li & Ligang Ma & Jinsong Deng & Kefeng Zheng & Xiaobin Zhang & Li Sheng, 2015. "Spatio-Temporal Trends and Identification of Correlated Variables with Water Quality for Drinking-Water Reservoirs," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 12(10), pages 1-16, October.
    2. Ken Sexton & Jennifer J. Salinas, 2014. "Concurrent Fetal Exposure to Multiple Environmental Chemicals along the U.S.—Mexico Border: An Exploratory Study in Brownsville, Texas," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 11(10), pages 1-17, September.
    3. Yan Tu & Kai Chen & Huayi Wang & Zongmin Li, 2020. "Regional Water Resources Security Evaluation Based on a Hybrid Fuzzy BWM-TOPSIS Method," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(14), pages 1-24, July.
    4. Qing Gu & Jinsong Deng & Ke Wang & Yi Lin & Jun Li & Muye Gan & Ligang Ma & Yang Hong, 2014. "Identification and Assessment of Potential Water Quality Impact Factors for Drinking-Water Reservoirs," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 11(6), pages 1-16, June.
    5. Bo Yang & Ming-Han Li & Shujuan Li, 2013. "Design-with-Nature for Multifunctional Landscapes: Environmental Benefits and Social Barriers in Community Development," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 10(11), pages 1-26, October.

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