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LANDSCAPE MANAGEMENT FOR RESTORATION OF AGRICULTURAL WATERSHEDS
Citation:
LOWRANCE, R., T. ISENHART, B. GBUREK, D. SHIELDS, P. J. WIGINGTON JR, AND S. DABNEY. LANDSCAPE MANAGEMENT FOR RESTORATION OF AGRICULTURAL WATERSHEDS. Presented at Managing Agricultural Landscapes for Environmental Quality, Kansas City, MO, October 11 - 13, 2006.
Description:
As part of CEAP, we conducted a review of the available literature on landscape management to achieve improvement of water quality, water quantity, soil quality, and air quality in agricultural systems. At least 15 general principles emerged from this review. These principles will be examined and selected examples of their origins and application will be described. We will focus on landscape management techniques that affect water quantity and quality and their effects on potential sources of impairment of surface waters. In particular, we will discuss the potential for nitrate removal through constructed and restored wetlands, the potential for stream corridor and riparian restoration to control watershed sediment transport, and the potential for conversion to perennial vegetation to alter hydrology and pollutant transport processes. For each example, there are data on the effects of individual practices but little or no information on watershed scale effects of applying the practices. For each suite of practices, there is a suitable scale for examining watershed effect. For the use of wetlands for nitrate removal, we suggest that the proper scale is the farm scale to allow nitrate removal to occur on each farm. For stream corridor and riparian restoration, the proper scale must take into account other major modifications, especially reservoirs. Where regional reservoirs are important, the scale to test these practices is probably similar to the 8-digit hydrologic unit. For conversion to perennial vegetation the scale is probably intermediate between the farm scale and the 8 digit hydrologic unit.