I am a Research Hydrologist in the Agroecosystems Management Research Unit at the NLAE in Ames, Iowa. My research focuses on quantifying, and managing interactions between climate, soils, and land-use and their impact on hydrology and water quality at field, landscape, and watershed scales, and am active in the ARS Conservation Effects Assessment Project (CEAP) and the Long-Term Agroecosystem Research (LTAR) networks. I was born/raised on a farm in Northeast Iowa, and received my B.S. and Ph.D. in Civil Engineering and M.S.C in Geoinformatics from the University of Iowa. My doctoral research focused on landscape connectivity, rainfall and tillage induced erosion, and the redistribution of soil, carbon and water across agricultural landscapes. In free time I enjoy golfing and hiking with my wife, Michelle, and can generally be found in a gym, or on a baseball/softball/football field coaching or watching one of our kids, Nicholas, Jackson, Olivia and Leonidas.

• Publications

  • (Clicking on the reprint icon will take you to the publication reprint.)
  • The LTAR Croplands Common Experiment at Upper Mississippi River Basin - Ames-(Peer Reviewed Journal)
    
    
  • A database for ancillary information of three-dimensional soil surface microtopography measurements -(Abstract Only)
    Nouwakpo, S.K., Eltner, A., Candido, B., Nichols, M.H., Wacha, K.M., Yingkui, L., Washington-Allen, R. 2024. A database for ancillary information of three-dimensional soil surface microtopography measurements. Meeting Abstract. https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu24-10373.
    
  • Soil health and the hydrologic cycle -(Peer Reviewed Journal)
    Wyatt, B., Hatfield, J.L., Wacha, K.M., Lal, R., Arenas, A., Birge, H., Schnitkey, G.D., Peterson, T. 2024. Soil health and the hydrologic cycle. Council for Agricultural Science and Technology Issue Paper. 76. https://doi.org/10.62300/QEOG5785.
    
  • Does organic farming improve soil health indicators relative to conventional farming in the U.S. Midwest?-(Abstract Only)
    Ruis, S.J., Kovar, J.L., Wacha, K.M., Cambardella, C.A. 2023. Does organic farming improve soil health indicators relative to conventional farming in the U.S. Midwest? {abstract]. ASA-CSSA-SSSA Annual Meeting Abstracts.
    
  • Climate and discharge trends in Mississippi River Basin LTAR watersheds-(Abstract Only)
    Baffaut, C., Moriasi, D.N., Witthaus, L.M., Malone, R.W., Wacha, K.M., Metz, M.E. 2023. Climate and discharge trends in Mississippi River Basin LTAR watersheds [abstract]. ASA-CSSA-SSSA Annual Meeting Abstracts, October 30, 2023, St. Louis, MO. Available: https://scisoc.confex.com/scisoc/2023am/meetingapp.cgi/Paper/151181
    
  • Soil energetics: An introduction-(Popular Publication)
    Philo, A., Wacha, K.M., Hatfield, J.L. 2023. Soil energetics. Acres USA. https://bookstore.acresusa.com/products/august-2023-issue-pdf.
    
  • Grassed Waterways: Phosphorus Best Management Practices-Fact Sheet-(Popular Publication)
    Wacha, K.M., Gilley, J.E. 2023. Grassed Waterways: Phosphorus Best Management Practices-Fact Sheet. SERA-IEG 17 Bulletin. https://sera17.wordpress.ncsu.edu/grassed-waterways/.
    
  • Terraces: phosphorus best management practices-fact sheet-(Popular Publication)
    Wacha, K.M., Gilley, J.E. 2023. Terraces: phosphorus best management practices-fact sheet. SERA-IEG 17 Bulletin. https://sera17.wordpress.ncsu.edu/grassed-waterways/.
    
  • Strip cropping-(Popular Publication)
    Gilley, J.E., Wacha, K.M. 2023. Strip cropping. SERA-IEG 17 Bulletin. AVAILABLE.
    
  • Erosion control systems-(Popular Publication)
    Gilley, J.E., Wacha, K.M. 2023. Erosion control systems. SERA-IEG 17 Bulletin. AVAILABLE.
    
  • Eastern red cedar effects on carbon sequestration and soil quality in the great plains -(Peer Reviewed Journal)
    Sauer, T.J., Wacha, K.M., Brevik, E.C., Zamora, D. 2023. Eastern red cedar effects on carbon sequestration and soil quality in the great plains. Soil Science Society of America Journal. https://doi.org/10.1002/saj2.20534.
    
  • Intermittency on soil movement: The role of landscape macro/microtopography-(Abstract Only)
    Papanicolaou, A.N., Wacha, K.M. 2022. Intermittency on soil movement: The role of landscape macro/microtopography [abstract]. American Geophysical Union.
    
  • Soil energetics: A unifying framework to quantify soil functionality -(Peer Reviewed Journal)
    Wacha, K.M., Philo, A., Hatfield, J.L. 2022. Soil energetics: A unifying framework to quantify soil functionality. Agrosystems, Geosciences & Environment. 5(4). Article e20314. https://doi.org/10.1002/agg2.20314.
    
  • Short-term effects of nitrogen source on soil properties and plant growth -(Peer Reviewed Journal)
    Wacha, K.M., Hatfield, J.L., O'Brien, P.L., Dold, C. 2021. Short-term effects of nitrogen source on soil properties and plant growth. Agrosystems, Geosciences & Environment. 4(2). Article e20176. https://doi.org/10.1002/agg2.20176.
    
  • Quantifying the time-specific kinetic energy of simulated rainfall using a dynamic rain gauge system -(Peer Reviewed Journal)
    Wacha, K.M., Huang, C., O'Brien, P.L., Papanicolaou, T.N., Hatfield, J.L. 2021. Quantifying the time-specific kinetic energy of simulated rainfall using a dynamic rain gauge system. Agricultural & Environmental Letters. 6(1). Article e20042. https://doi.org/10.1002/ael2.20042.
    

• Projects

  Sustainable Intensification in Agricultural Watersheds through Optimized Management and Technology In-House Appropriated (D)   Accession Number:441902

  Croplands Emissions - Midwest Area - Ames, IA Interagency Reimbursable Agreement (I)   Accession Number:446988

  Quantifying Soil Health in the Des Moines Lobe Under a Wide Range of Management Scenarios Using the Oklahoma Mobile Kits Non-Funded Cooperative Agreement (N)   Accession Number:444166

• ARS News Articles

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