Technical Abstract: In response to the 2002 Farm Bill, the Conservation Effects Assessment Project (CEAP) was initiated to assess and quantify the effects and benefits of USDA conservation programs. The Fort Cobb Reservoir watershed was selected for inclusion in the national CEAP Watershed Assessment Study because of high loads of suspended sediments, high levels of phosphorus and nitrogen, low levels of dissolved oxygen, and the presence of nuisance algae in the Fort Cobb Reservoir or stream tributary to the reservoir. The objective of the Fort Cobb research is to assess the effects and benefits of selected conservation practices (conservation tillage, stream fencing, conversion of cropland to perennial cover) as they relate to reducing suspended sediments to surface water, and phosphorus and nitrogen in surface and ground water. Field studies are being conducted to establish reference values on land management conditions with and without conservation practices, and to quantify changes due to conservation practices. Monitoring sites have been established within the watershed to collect climatic, soils, land management, hydrologic, stream channel stability, and water quality data. Results of this research are expected to lead to techniques and methodologies to mitigate water quality problems (nitrogen, phosphorus, sediment) currently impacting Fort Cobb Reservoir.