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ARS Home » Midwest Area » Columbus, Ohio » Soil Drainage Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #181023
Title: ASSESSING THE IMPACT OF CONSERVATION MANAGEMENT PRACTICES ON WATER AND SOIL QUALITY IN UPPER BIG WALNUT CREEK WATERSHED

Author
item King, Kevin
item Smiley, Peter - Rocky
item Baker, Barbara
item Fausey, Norman

Submitted to: ASAE Annual International Meeting
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/5/2005
Publication Date: 7/19/2005
Citation: King, K.W., Smiley, P.C., Baker, B.J., Fausey, N.R. 2005. Assessing the impact of conservation management practices on water and soil quality in Upper Big Walnut Creek watershed [abstract]. ASAE Annual International Meeting. Paper No. 05-2128.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Recent source water protection initiatives and legislative mandates housed in the 2002 farm bill require watershed scale assessments of conservation practices. The objective of this study is to share an approach being proposed and utilized in the Upper Big Walnut Creek watershed in Ohio for attaining this goal. Much of the Upper Big Walnut Creek Watershed is in agricultural row crop production and is extensively tile drained. Understanding the partitioning (quantity and quality) of surface runoff, true tile flow, and combined surface/tile flow is critical. The study consists of both modeling and field research using a multi-scale, multi-land use, nested, paired watershed approach. Water quality instrumentation includes control volume structures and automated samplers. Conservation management practices such as water table management (controlled drainage) as well as Core4 practices will be evaluated. The approach could be adopted or modified for similar assessment studies.