RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Conservation Effects Assessment Project research in the Leon River and Riesel watersheds
JF Journal of Soil and Water Conservation
FD Soil and Water Conservation Society
SP 453
OP 460
DO 10.2489/jswc.63.6.453
VO 63
IS 6
A1 R.D. Harmel
A1 C.G. Rossi
A1 T. Dybala
A1 J. Arnold
A1 K. Potter
A1 J. Wolfe
A1 D. Hoffman
YR 2008
UL http://www.jswconline.org/content/63/6/453.abstract
AB The Leon River basin was selected as a benchmark watershed for the Conservation Effects Assessment Project to complement the historical USDA Agricultural Research Service experimental watersheds near Riesel, Texas. Excessive nutrient and bacteria concentrations contributed by agricultural, urban, and natural sources are the primary water quality concerns. Modeling and field evaluations of the hydrologic impact and soil and water quality response to tillage and nutrient management practices are the primary research themes of this project. Water quality data from 15 Leon River watersheds (0.3 ha [0.75 ac] to 6,070 km2 [2,340 mi2]) and 13 Riesel watersheds (1.2 ha [3.0 ac] to 70.4 ha [174 ac]) has improved modeling of phosphorus transformation and transport routines. Modeling research also coupled field- and farm-scale model output to improve the basin-scale Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) for the national assessment of conservation practices. Additional key products of Conservation Effects Assessment Project research include innovative erosion control methods on military lands, enhanced carbon sequestration estimates for various agricultural land uses, and improved understanding of environmental and economic impacts of organic fertilizer application.