Overview of the Mark Twain Lake/Salt River Basin Conservation Effects Assessment Project

Abstract

The Mark Twain Lake/Salt River Basin was selected as one of the USDA Agricultural Research Service benchmark watersheds for the Conservation Effects Assessment Project because of documented soil and water quality problems and broad stakeholder interest. The basin is located in northeastern Missouri within the Central Claypan Region, and it is the source of water to Mark Twain Lake, the major public water supply in the region. At the outlet to Mark Twain Lake, the basin drains 6,417 km² (2,478 mi²), including 10 major watersheds that range in area from 271 to 1,579 km² (105 to 609 mi²). The basin is characterized by flat to gently rolling topography with a predominance of claypan soils that result in high runoff potential. The claypan soils are especially vulnerable to soil erosion, which has degraded soil and water quality throughout the basin, and to surface transport of herbicides. Results from cropping system best management practice studies showed that no-till cropping systems did not reduce surface runoff compared to tilled systems, and no-till led to increased transport of soil-applied herbicides. A major challenge is the need to develop cropping systems that incorporate herbicides yet maintain sufficient crop residue cover to control soil erosion. Results of the Soil and Water Assessment Tool model simulations showed that the model was capable of simulating observed long-term trends in atrazine concentrations and loads and the impact of grass waterways on atrazine concentrations. Current and future research efforts will continue to focus on best management practice studies, development of needed tools to improve watershed management, and refinements in the calibration and validation of the Soil and Water Assessment Tool model.