Spatial planning for lowland stream basins using a bioeconomic model

Most lowland-stream drainage-basins have a high population density and the landuse is very intensive. The permeable subsoil acts as an integrating medium, thus providing a widespread dispersal of leached nutrients and transmission of watertable lowering. This leads to desiccation and eutrophication of stream ecosystems. For providing suggestions with respect to cost-effective and sustainable spatial planning solutions the ‘WATERWISE’ bioeconomic model was developed. It combines the accuracy of simulation models with the versatility of optimization techniques to generate land-use patterns along with the appropriate water management, taking into account the preferences of stakeholders with respect to peak