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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Oxford, Mississippi » National Sedimentation Laboratory » Water Quality and Ecology Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #249087
Title: Agricultural BMPs and ecosystem services in Beasley Lake, a CEAP watershed

Author
item Lizotte, Richard
item Knight, Scott
item Locke, Martin
item Bryant, Charles

Submitted to: Soil and Water Conservation Society Proceedings
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/19/2010
Publication Date: 7/18/2010
Citation: Lizotte Jr, R.E., Knight, S.S., Locke, M.A., Bryant, C.T. 2010. Agricultural BMPs and ecosystem services in Beasley Lake, a CEAP watershed. Soil and Water Conservation Society Proceedings. pp. 1.

Interpretive Summary: Interpretative summary not required - abstract only.

Technical Abstract: Aquatic ecosystems such as oxbow lakes found throughout the Lower Mississippi Alluvial Plain (i.e. the Mississippi Delta) can provide valuable goods and services such as water supply, fisheries, wildlife habitat and aesthetic value. Agriculture occurring intensively in the same region also provides valuable goods and services such as pollination, food and fiber. However agriculture can also produce disservices such as water pollution, habitat loss and decreased biodiversity. Attempting to balance desired services and undesired disservices between agriculture and aquatic ecosystems could include judicious use of agricultural best management practices (BMPs). The current study examined Beasley Lake ecosystem services such as water quality, fisheries and aquatic invertebrate biodiversity during a 14 year period in which various BMPs were implemented. Lake responses included improved water quality and fisheries and, to a lesser extent, improved aquatic invertebrate biodiversity without significant reductions to agricultural services in the watershed. Results show the use of agricultural BMPs can assist in providing a balance between aquatic ecosystem services and agricultural services.