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ARS Home » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #124770
Title: THE WATER RESOURCES AND EROSION WATERSHEDS, FORT RENO, OK

Author
item DANIEL, JOHN

Submitted to: Grazinglands Research Laboratory Miscellaneous Publication
Publication Type: Government Publication
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/1/2001
Publication Date: 7/1/2001
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: The Water Resources and Erosion (WRE) watersheds have been a focus of water quality and erosion research at the Grazinglands Research Laboratory at El Reno, OK, for more than twenty years. The objective of this report is to provide an overall history of the watersheds, summarize research findings, and communicate associated publications resulting from past and current programs to the scientific community and the general public. A total of eight 4-acre atersheds are instrumented with equipment to measure runoff and soil moisture, and allow collection of water samples for monitoring erosion and water quality. Also groundwater monitoring wells and precipitation monitoring equipment are present. Four of the watersheds support a winter wheat/livestock production system while the other watersheds use a native rangland/livestock production system. These watersheds have provided a large amount of continuous information and insight and they continue to be a valuable resource for erosion and water quality research.

Technical Abstract: The Water Resources and Erosion (WRE) watersheds have been a focus of water quality and erosion research at the Grazinglands Research Laboratory at El Reno, OK, for more than twenty years. The objective of this report is to provide an overall history of the watersheds, summarize research findings, and list associated publications resulting from past and current programs. At the WRE site, there are a total of eight watersheds, each equipped with H-type wiers, stream gage recorders, water samplers and soil moisture measuring instruments. Also groundwater monitoring wells and precipitation monitoring equipment are present. Four of the watersheds utilize a winter wheat/livestock production system while the other watersheds incorporate a native rangeland/livestock production system. These watersheds have provided a large amount of continuous information and insight dealing with agricultural water budgets, infiltration, runoff, soil erosion, and nutrient transport resulting from various surface management and grazing practices, and they continue to be a valuable resource for erosion and water quality research.