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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Oxford, Mississippi » National Sedimentation Laboratory » Watershed Physical Processes Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #116032
Title: PARTNERSHIPS IN DEVELOPING AND IMPLEMENTING AGNPS98: A SUITE OF WATER QUALITY MODELS FOR WATERSHED USE

Author
item THEURER, FRED - NRCS
item Bingner, Ronald - Ron
item FONTENOT, WILDEN - NRCS
item KOLIAN, STEPHAN - LOUISIANA DEQ

Submitted to: National Watershed Conference National Watershed Coalition
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/11/2000
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: The development of partnerships between local, state, and federal agencies has become essential in creating and implementing watershed management plans. Computer models that integrate many different disciplines of science and real world data are an extremely valuable part of this process. This study illustrates the successful application of watershed technology in recommending best management practices to reduce the pollution and subsequent impairment within rivers and streams. A Louisiana bayou watershed and a Pacific Northwest watershed were used as examples of the cooperation needed in these partnering projects. The limited resources and manpower from individual agencies will require the formation of similar partnerships throughout the United States to meet the continuing demand on assessing the environmental impact of agricultural lands.

Technical Abstract: Watershed scale evaluation is an essential step in recommending best management practices and/or setting Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) pollutant allocations. Allocations established without comprehensive studies will likely require treatment of lands that will contribute little to load reductions and insufficient treatment of higher contributing lands. The Agricultural Nonpoint Source model (AGNPS 98) was developed to perform these necessary evaluations. Two case studies are given to show how partnering with non-USDA agencies is necessary for the successful application and local adaptation of AGNPS 98. The first was a PL-566 land treatment watershed project to restore spring chinook and steel head in the Tucannon River. This is an agriculture watershed located in the Columbia River Basin in the Pacific Northwest. This project was the basis for many of the AGNPS 98 computer models--most of which were developed totally or in part by NRCS's partners. The second is a potential locally led effort to assist the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality (LDEQ) and other partners to evaluate TMDL standards for Bayou Plaquemine Brule'. This watershed is a completed PL- 566 (flood prevention and drainage) watershed project in the Mermantau River Basin. This basin has the highest priority for establishing TMDL's in that state. Partnerships, such as these, provide a mechanism for agencies and individuals to accomplish watershed water quality evaluations needed to reduce non-point source water pollution.