Does the model allow us to set or achieve some level of economic viability and see the resulting level of ecological health?
Yes, in the sense that we can set growth levels and examine changes to ecosystem indicators of health. We can also assess how policies alter land use distribution on the landscape which can impact ecosystem health. However, we need to assume a set of policies in order to test effects and can not work directly from the goal. INDEX Q: Can the information be extrapolated beyond the Patuxent watershed? A: The economic model can be implemented for all counties encompassing the watershed, but would not be valid for other areas. The ecological model has been applied to other ecosystems, but the particular findings of the linked ecological economics model would not necessarily apply to other watersheds. General ecological or economic modeling techniques which are being developed will be widely applicable to data in other regions. INDEX Q: Why didn’t you use an existing (hydrology) model? A:For one, we could not find an off-the-shelf product that would suit all the needs of our integrated study
