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Most agricultural water quality models are based on lumped parameterizations of spatial processes. The MARIA-GIS (Management of Agricultural Resources through Integrated Assessment and Geographic Information Systems) water quality tool has been developed to predict space-time planning scenarios across spatially variable agricultural landscapes. The tool runs under the ArcGIS 9 environment, and consists of a multi-functional system for agricultural production and water quality simulation modeling; and spatial data storage, analysis, and display. MARIA-GIS offers a spatial framework for integrating a complex, agricultural system water quality model (modified USDA-ARS RZWQM) with interaction between simulated land areas via overland runoff and runon. MARIA-GIS also provides the increased interface sophistication necessary for distributed hydrologic modeling. This paper describes the MARIA-GIS development history, with special emphasis on the spatial water quality modeling GIS framework and the incorporated simulation modeling components.