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ARS Home » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #296532
Title: Upper Washita River experimental watersheds: Sediment Database

Author
item Zhang, Xunchang
item Garbrecht, Jurgen
item Steiner, Jean
item BLAZS, ROBERT - Retired Non ARS Employee

Submitted to: Journal of Environmental Quality
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/15/2013
Publication Date: 7/10/2014
Publication URL: http://handle.nal.usda.gov/10113/60563
Citation: Zhang, X.J., Garbrecht, J.D., Steiner, J.L., Blazs, R.L. 2014. Upper Washita River experimental watersheds: Sediment database. Journal of Environmental Quality. 43:1273-1279.

Interpretive Summary: Improving the scientific understanding of the effectiveness of watershed conservation practices and floodwater-retardation structures to control floods and soil erosion is one of the primary objectives for sediment studies in the upper Washita River Experimental Watersheds. This paper summarizes sediment data collected in the watersheds during the 1961-2012 time period. Gaging sites, record lengths, sampling procedures, data processing, and instrumentation including suspended sediment samplers are described. Examples of data use and analyses are also presented to illustrate the potential use and relevance of the sediment data and to highlight past research findings. The sediment data, especially the breakpoint data from the unit source watersheds, are of great importance in understanding erosion processes, assessing the effectiveness of conservation practices, and evaluating and validating process-based soil erosion models. Data formats and availability are discussed, and the download links for accessing the data are specified. The paper and database should be useful to conservationists and erosion modelers who are interested in understanding erosion processes, developing effective conservation practices including adjusting landuse and cropping systems, and evaluating erosion models.

Technical Abstract: Improving the scientific understanding of the effectiveness of watershed conservation practices and floodwater-retardation structures to control floods and soil erosion is one of the primary objectives for sediment studies in the upper Washita River Experimental Watersheds. This paper summarizes sediment data collected in the watersheds during the 1961-2012 time period. Gaging sites, record lengths, sampling procedures, data processing, and instrumentation including suspended sediment samplers are described. Examples of data use and analyses are also presented to illustrate the potential use and relevance of the sediment data and to highlight past research findings. The sediment data, especially the breakpoint data from the unit source watersheds, are of great importance in understanding erosion processes, assessing the effectiveness of conservation practices, and evaluating and validating process-based soil erosion models. Data formats and availability are discussed, and the download links for accessing the data are specified.