Project Number: 6218-13000-011-14
Project Type: Reimbursable

Start Date: May 15, 2012
End Date: Sep 30, 2014

Objective:
Problems to be addressed through this agreement include the following four areas: 1. Improving our understanding of the aggregate effects of conservation practices at the watershed scale; 2. Improving our ability to select and place conservation practices on the landscape for maximum effectiveness; 3. Improving conservation practices to better protect water resources; and 4. Maintaining the effectiveness of conservation practices under changing climate and land use.

Approach:
Improving our understanding of the aggregate effects of conservation practices at the watershed scale: 1) Develop models/decision support tools to evaluate the effectiveness of BMP's at the watershed scale. 2) Enhance the landscape version of SWAT to better represent field-to-basin scale processes. Improving our ability to select and place conservation practices on the landscape for maximum effectiveness: 1) Develop mapping techniques for placing specific practices within watersheds based on terrain and soils data. 2) Assess and compare the trade-offs of no-till adoption, and support the development of nutrient management recommendations for water quality protection, at the watershed scale. Improving conservation practices to better protect water resources: 1) Watershed scale assessment of combined conservation practices. Maintaining the effectiveness of conservation practices under changing climate and land use: 1) Use reservoir sedimentation, land use change, and climate information to anticipate future reservoir sedimentation and needs for additional conservation under changing climate.