RESPEC Project

RESPEC developed a Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) model of the Cape Fear River Watershed for The Nature Conservancy (TNC). The SWAT model positioned the watershed to be a successful site for establishing a water fund by implementing best management practices (BMPs) to improve water quality in the diverse watershed. The tools developed as part of this project provided the information needed to make critical management decisions within the watershed.

Stakeholders and agencies formed a partnership with the TNC to determine the extent and methods to continue active restoration and protection in the watershed and prevent further degradation of water quality.

RESPEC engaged local stakeholders to ensure that the best and most feasible BMP scenarios were developed for future implementation. Conservation practices were simulated by using the developed SWAT model in a format that is easily paired with other models (such as InVEST) to demonstrate future management scenarios that were critical for launching a water fund.