VELMA Watershed Modeling for the Puget Sound Integrated Terrestrial-Marine Modeling project
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VELMA is simulating how land use and climate change scenarios impact terrestrial freshwater runoff and loadings of nutrients and toxins to the Puget Sound National Estuary. VELMA's terrestrial outputs serve as inputs for Puget Sound marine ecosystem models developed by the University of Washington and NOAA. Results for this integrated terrestrial and marine modeling framework are being used to estimate impacts of stormwater pollutants affecting freshwater and marine biota, including endangered salmonids and orca. The team's primary goal is to assist communities, tribes, and state and federal decision makers in determining how much, where, and what kinds of terrestrial and marine ecosystem best management practices are required to achieve target pollutant load reductions to Puget Sound, now and in the future.