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Assessment of Runoff and Sediment Yields Using the AnnAGNPS Model from the Daning River Watershed in Three-Gorge Area of China
Citation:
Lizhong, H., H. Xiubin, Y. YUAN, AND H. Hongwei. Assessment of Runoff and Sediment Yields Using the AnnAGNPS Model from the Daning River Watershed in Three-Gorge Area of China. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. Molecular Diversity Preservation International, Basel, Switzerland, 9:1887-1907, (2012).
Impact/Purpose:
Soil erosion has increased throughout the 20th century (Angima et al., 2003), and has become an extremely serious environmental problem worldwide. It has been recognized as a threat to the productivity of the farms and the quality of surface waters in the Three-Gorge area of the Yangtze River of China. The region is subjected to flooding, soil erosion and sedimentation hazards leading to environmental, social and economics problems. However, only limited research is available to describe the erosion, sedimentation, and water quality dynamics on a watershed scale in this region. Thus, the accurate quantification of soil erosion and sediment in the watersheds of the region is urgently needed and essential for efficiently planning land use, enhancing agricultural production and productivity, reducing reservoir sedimentation and improving stream and river water quality.
Description:
Soil erosion has been recognized as one of the major threats to our environment and water quality worldwide, especially in China. To mitigate nonpoint source water quality problems caused by soil erosion, best management practices (BMPs) and/or conservation programs have been adopted. Watershed models, such as the Annualized Agricultural Non-Point Source Pollutant Loading model (AnnAGNPS), have been developed to aid in the evaluation of watershed response to watershed management practices. The model has been applied worldwide and proven to be a very effective tool in identifying the critical areas which had serious erosion, and in aiding in decision-making processes for adopting BMPs and/or conservation programs so that cost/benefit can be maximized and non-point source pollution control can be achieved in the most efficient way. The main goal of this study was to assess the characteristics of soil erosion, sediment and sediment delivery of a watershed so that effective conservation measures can be implemented. To achieve the overall objective of this study, all necessary data for the 4184 km2 Daning River watershed in Three-Gorge of the Yangtze River of China were assembled.