RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Cannonsville Reservoir and Town Brook watersheds: Documenting conservation efforts to protect New York City's drinking water
JF Journal of Soil and Water Conservation
FD Soil and Water Conservation Society
SP 339
OP 344
DO 10.2489/jswc.63.6.339
VO 63
IS 6
A1 R.B. Bryant
A1 T.L. Veith
A1 P.J.A. Kleinman
A1 W.J. Gburek
YR 2008
UL http://www.jswconline.org/content/63/6/339.abstract
AB The Cannonsville Reservoir watershed is a major component of the unfiltered New York City water supply system. The voluntary, incentive-based Watershed Agricultural Program is a collaborative effort among producers, federal, state, and local organizations to address the problem of phosphorus loading effects on water quality through implementation of whole-farm plans. The effectiveness of selected conservation practices, including stream-bank fencing, precision feeding, and the use of cover crops with silage corn (Zea mays L.) are being evaluated. Simulation models have been developed and improved to evaluate the effectiveness of individual conservation practices and better assess animal agriculture and manure management practices. Conservation practices implemented through the Watershed Agricultural Program are resulting in lower phosphorus loading from nonpoint sources in the watershed. Future efforts need to identify the most cost-effective conservation practices and extend our knowledge of watershed quality protection beyond the boundaries of the Cannonsville Reservoir watershed.