Water Resources for Public Impact Through A Process-Based Watershed Model

Process-based watershed models have a long tradition in academic settings worldwide. Over time, these tools have been improved with respect to their physical conceptualization, data representation, and computational capabilities. However, most models still require a high degree of expertise for their use which limits their adoption. This ultimately hinders the transfer of knowledge into the public and private sectors. In this contribution, I describe efforts to modernize and enhance the usefulness of the TIN-based Real-time Integrated Basin Simulator (tRIBS) to estimate the impacts of forest treatments on water supplies. The application of the model focused on simulating how individual tree removal affects evapotranspiration in forest stands and its consequences to watershed storage and streamflow. Carried out in collaboration with a water utility, this effort leveraged the capabilities of tRIBS to guide forest management decisions. It also expanded the model integration with novel datasets, including lidar products, airborne and satellite-based data, and ground-based cameras. Investments in model infrastructure were performed to lower the barriers to entry for users with varying levels of technical expertise. These included the release of the model as an open-source code with a modernized user manual, the use of Python packages and notebooks for model applications, and the development of a web-based visualization tool with scenario workflows. Drawing examples from forest treatment sites in Arizona, I showcase how a more accessible and reproducible tool can lead to water resources for public impact.