E. coli Pollution in Alabama's Lake Tuscaloosa Watershed: Identifying Potential Solutions using a Decision Analysis Approach

Lake Tuscaloosa, located in the State of Alabama in the Southeastern United States, is an important public water supply. The recent studies and monitoring of the lake have shown levels of E.coli that exceed the permissible limit, especially at the northern parts of the lake. The City of Tuscaloosa is currently facing a challenging situation: dealing with the increased development in the watershed and protecting the lake. The decision analysis framework and modeling schemes developed as part of this project examines flow and E.coli sources and transport issues, along with potential solutions. Developing a strategy to maintain the E.coli levels below the permissible limits in the watershed was challenging because many factors and information were needed for consideration during the data analysis and decision making parts.