Forum papers are thought-provoking opinion pieces or essays founded in fact, sometimes containing speculation, on a civil engineering topic of general interest and relevance to the readership of the journal. The views expressed in this Forum article do not necessarily reflect the views of ASCE or the Editorial Board of the journal.

Total maximum daily load (TMDL) reports archived in the USEPA database can provide useful guidance for the development of new TMDLs and watershed management plans by aiding the selection process for the most appropriate modeling tool. The database contains more than 70,000 individual documents; therefore, a rapid screening tool is needed to elicit information about previous modeling studies that might help guide stakeholders and regulators in dealing with the TMDL application at hand, save time, and lead to a more cost-effective regulatory outcome. The paper introduces a smart web-based software tool for TMDL report selection based on different water management criteria. The tool uses an automated search method based on frequency of common water body impairments and models to categorize and select TMDL reports. Additionally, this tool provides better insight on the relationship between the modeling tools used and the impairments they address. This tool has proven useful in reviewing the state of integrated modeling (IM), applications of remote sensing (RS), application of basic versus mechanistic modeling, margin of safety (MOS) assessment, and the state of practice regarding relationships among impairments, models, and regions where TMDLs for various pollutants are being developed. Despite limitations on direct access to all TMDLs developed and reported to the EPA by the user, the tool can be improved over time to derive a better understanding of the relationships between these impairments, data, and the TMDL development process. Although the MOS is not directly quantified in the current version of the TRS tool, this feature may be incorporated in future updates.

The use of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and remote sensing technologies for the development of water quality management programs and for post-implementation assessments has increased dramatically in the past decade. This increase in adoption has been made more accessible through the interfaces of many popular software tools used in the regulation and assessment of water quality. Customized applications of these tools will increase, as ease of access and affordability of directly monitored and remotely sensed datasets improve over time. Concurrently, there is a need for inclusive participatory engagement with stakeholders to achieve solutions to current watershed management challenges. This paper explores the potential of these GIS and remote sensing datasets, tools, models, and immersive engagement technologies from other domains, for improving public participation and stakeholder engagement throughout the watershed planning process. To do so, an initial review is presented about the use of GIS and remote sensing in watershed management and its role in impairment identification, model development, and planning and implementation. Then, ways in which GIS and remote sensing can be integrated with stakeholder engagement through (1) leveraging GIS and remote sensing datasets, and (2) stakeholder engagement approaches including outreach and education, modeler-led development, and stakeholder-led involvement and feedback, are discussed. Finally, future perspectives on the potential for transforming public participation and stakeholder engagement in the watershed management process through applications of GIS and remote sensing are presented.

Advances in computing, collection, and sharing of Earth Observations (EOs) have significantly improved the potential for integrating EO and water resources models. Inadequate observational data for the systems simulated have been a persistent limitation in developing robust water resources models. Although various EO datasets have been available for decades, they have been under-utilized for water resources modeling. This can be due to sensor and product limitations, including spatial, spectral, and temporal resolutions, and the reluctance of the water resources community to adopt the state-of-art quickly. Motivated by the dual agenda of engaging the water resources community on various aspects of integrating EOs with water resources modeling and understanding the likely factors that limit a deeper integration of EOs in water resources management, we investigated the communities' perception of water resources modeling and EO integration. This paper summarizes the findings of a web-based survey conducted at the annual ASCE-EWRI (American Society of Civil Engineers-Environmental Water Resources Institute) International Water Congress in 2022. The analysis of responses (n = 74) identified limited spatial resolution, atmospheric and cloud interference, and lack of in-situ validation data as the highest perceived barriers to integrating EOs with water resources modeling and management. Perceptions among different groups of participants and even within the groups were different. For example, the perceived barriers often differed between researchers and non-researchers (e.g., policymakers and practitioners). There were differences in perception among the remote-sensing and water resources researchers within the research community. Even among water resources communities, disparities existed between the perceptions of respondents who also identified as knowledgeable about remote sensing and those who didn't. These observations highlighted the need to intentionally develop a convergent group and domain to integrate the disciplines involved and capitalize on the advancements that have improved the EO for water resources management.