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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Beltsville, Maryland (BARC) » Beltsville Agricultural Research Center » Hydrology and Remote Sensing Laboratory » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #311917
Title: Effectiveness of best management practices with changing climate in a Maryland watershed

Author
item RENKENBERGER, JASON - University Of Maryland
item MONTAS, HUBERT - University Of Maryland
item CHANSE, VICTORIA - University Of Maryland
item LEISNHAM, PAUL - University Of Maryland
item Sadeghi, Ali
item SHIRMOHAMMADI, ADEL - University Of Maryland
item BRUBAKER, KAYE - University Of Maryland
item ROCKLER, AMANDA - University Of Maryland
item HUTSON, THOMAS - University Of Maryland
item LANSING, DAVID - University Of Maryland

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/3/2015
Publication Date: 5/3/2015
Citation: Renkenberger, J., Montas, H., Chanse, V., Leisnham, P., Sadeghi, A.M., Shirmohammadi, A., Brubaker, K., Rockler, A., Hutson, T., Lansing, D. 2015. Effectiveness of best management practices with changing climate in a Maryland watershed. American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers Climate Change Symposium, May 3-5, 2015, Chicago, Illinois.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Large scale hydrologic modeling can be a useful tool to explore the effects of climate change on watersheds. In the Chesapeake Bay region agriculture has been identified as one of many contributing sources to water quality degradation. Many best management practices (BMPs) have been established overtime as effective tools in mitigating water quality degradation. However, with climate change we are faced with uncertainty regarding their implementation: will BMPs be just as effective in the future as they are now, do BMPs remain effective over time (BMP resilience), and how much do these factors change between different practices? To overcome the problems inherent to the analysis of large geographic areas, the Soil Water and Assessment Tool (SWAT), in combination with ArcGIS, were used to build and then analyze a watershed model. Using a calibrated and validated model for the Choptank watershed, an agricultural watershed in eastern Maryland, UMD researchers modeled and mapped several structural agricultural BMPs to areas that showed excessive nitrogen, phosphorus, and sediment runoff. Under climate scenarios with increased rainfall intensity, preliminary results show reduced BMP effectiveness. Climate scenarios where total rainfall increases show mixed results for specific BMPs and their effectiveness. Understanding that not all BMPs are “created equal” with regard to climate change will help inform implementation strategies. Ultimately, this knowledge can be used to ensure that cleanup efforts in the Chesapeake Bay watershed remain effective well into the future.