Richard M. Anderson

Bio and Research:

I develop and use decision models and systems modeling approaches to address problems in environmental and particularly watershed management. Complex environmental decisions often involve multiple stakeholders, conflicting objectives, important risks, and long-lasting impacts. They typically require value judgments and lack adequate data. I address these problems using tools of decision analysis, systems modeling, applied statistics, and optimization. My systems modeling interests include linking changes in watershed land use to hydrologic regime to biotic integrity. For example, in recent work in the Lake Erie, USA basin I (1) used a Bayesian approach to explore the use of value judgments of natural resource managers in choosing lake fishery management policies; (2) used regionalization analysis and Monte Carlo simulation in applying a systems model to link forest cover to hydrologic regime to tributary productivity to guide habitat restoration decisions; and (3) evaluated alternative phosphorus management strategies. My ongoing research goal is to develop rigorous and useful applications of decision and systems analysis to real watershed management problems.