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ARS Home » Midwest Area » Columbia, Missouri » Cropping Systems and Water Quality Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #189072
Title: WATERSHED-SCALE EVALUATION OF SELECTED SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION PRACTICES IN THE GOODWATER CREEK WATERSHED

Author
item BAFFAUT, CLAIRE - UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI
item BOCKHOLD, AMANDA - UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI
item THOMPSON, ALLEN - UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI
item Sadler, Edward
item ANDERSON, STEPHEN - UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI
item BROZ, ROBERT - UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI
item KURTZ, WILLIAM - UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI
item MCCANN, LAURA - UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI
item Lerch, Robert
item RIKOON, SANDY - UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI

Submitted to: International Soil and Water Conservation Conference
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/22/2006
Publication Date: 7/22/2006
Citation: Baffaut, C., Bockhold, A., Thompson, A., Sadler, E.J., Anderson, S.H., Broz, R., Kurtz, W.B., Mccann, L.M., Lerch, R.N., Rikoon, S. 2006. Watershed-scale evaluation of selected soil and water conservation practices in the goodwater creek watershed [abstract]. Soil and Water Conservation Society 2006 Conference Abstracts. SWCS Annual International Conference. July 22-26, 2006, Keystone, Colorado. p. 78.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: In spite of large amounts of funding directed toward the implementation of conservation practices on agricultural land, pesticide, nutrient, and sediment loadings to streams are still high in the Midwestern U.S. claypan region where surface water is the primary source of drinking water. The objective of this study is to characterize the effectiveness of grassed waterways, terraces, filter strips, and buffers in reducing atrazine and sediment loadings in the 27 square mile Goodwater Creek Watershed in northeast Missouri. The current paper describes results from preliminary studies calibrating the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) for the conditions in this watershed. Specific objectives will detect trends in existing water quality data and utilize SWAT to analyze the impacts of land use and management practices on water quality during the pre- and post-BMP implementation periods. Simulation results will help determine the relative impacts of weather trends and practice implementations on the constituent concentrations. Future work will increase the scope of modeling in several stages, with a goal of understanding how physical, technical, social, and economic factors interact to make certain agricultural practices effective in improving water quality. The project will result in a watershed plan that integrates the findings of this research to address the stream water quality issues and the goals of the watershed stakeholders. Efforts will be conducted to develop and distribute materials and a curriculum for training professionals in reaching farm operators regarding their role in reducing and controlling water quality degradation and for educating local stakeholders.