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ARS Home » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #124578
Title: WATERSHED APPROACH: CONTEXT, STRATEGY AND PRACTICE

Author
item Green, Timothy
item VANSCHILFGAARDE, JAN - RETIRED

Submitted to: Encyclopedia of Soil Science
Publication Type: Book / Chapter
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/15/2002
Publication Date: 7/8/2002
Citation: Green, T.R., Vanschilfgaarde, J. 2002. Watershed approach: context, strategy and practice. Encyclopedia of Soil Science. R. Lal (ed) Pg. 1403-1407. www.dekker.com

Interpretive Summary: Soil science addresses open systems with natural and human-induced complexities. Water is an important change agent and state variable in the soil system, interacting over a broad range of space-time scales. Thus, soil water management must be understood and practiced in the appropriate context of the landscape, watershed and hydrologic system. Strategies for soil water management are discussed in this content, and historical examples of practices are given from the Colorado River, San Joaquin Valley, and Kissimee River. The discussion gives the reader an overview of soil water management as an integrated process using the watershed approach. It also addresses political and economic issues of the stakeholders involved in regional, national and international policy and decision making. Regardless of the technical and political reasoning, some compromises or trade-offs will be required.

Technical Abstract: Soil science addresses open systems with natural and human-induced complexities. Water is an important change agent and state variable in the soil system, interacting over a broad range of space-time scales. Thus, soil water management must be understood and practiced in the appropriate context of the landscape, watershed and hydrologic system. Strategies for soil water management are discussed in this content, and historical examples of practices are given from the Colorado River, San Joaquin Valley, and Kissimee River. The discussion gives the reader an overview of soil water management as an integrated process using the watershed approach. It also addresses political and economic issues of the stakeholders involved in regional, national and international policy and decision making. Regardless of the technical and political reasoning, some compromises or trade-offs will be required.