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restoration plan is being implemented . GIS helps manage a variety of watershed restoration ' efforts . During the assessment phase , GIS was used to determine the location , types, extent , and impacts of the most severe AMD discharges and identify Ikk areas with high potential for agricultural runoff. t , Data sources included United States Geological fbt Survey topographic mapping , aerial photography , historic water quality and quantity results, and field- z "` �r! ;":�! generated data . Using a GPS receiver, each $ identified discharge was located . More than 200 AMD discharges were identified and > L ' field verified . Of those discharges , 39 priority AMD The Casselman River Watershed has discharges were selected and monitored . The been categorized by the water quality sampling program focused on flows Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and from the priority AMD discharge sites , AMD the Environmental Protection Agency impacted tributaries , and the Casselman River main as having the highest restoration channel . Using the GIS , optimum locations for each Priority sampling station were identified . The priority AMD discharges were indexed , ranked , and prioritized . Treatment approaches and cost estimates were prepared to guide future remediation efforts . To assess the feasibility of these options , a computer program called AMDTreat was run for each discharge . AMDTreat provides users with a method for predicting and modeling water treatment costs for mine drainage problems . It compared treatment option design requirements, capital cost, and operation and maintenance cost. To identify areas with the highest potential for agricultural runoff, agricultural lands in the watershed were digitized . Stream stretches with inadequate riparian zones were digitized and added to the GIS to establish locations with high potential for agricultural runoff. This assessment focused on providing a planning tool for improving water quality in the Casselman River and its tributaries by reducing the impacts of agricultural nonpoint pollution sources . Information for three primary agricultural-related criterion—total acres of agricultural land , total length of stream bank with inadequate riparian buffer zones , and total length of stream bank with inadequate riparian buffer zones through agricultural land-and agricultural nonpoint source screening results were used to assign a high , medium , or low priority to each subwatershed within each planning area . GIS was instrumental in calculating the acreages and lengths for the primary agricultural criterion . 121 GIS Needs Assessment and Implementation Plan Chapter 1 - Departmental GIS Needs Assessment