Great Plains Agroclimate and Natural Resources Research Unit Site Logo
ARS Home About Us Helptop nav spacerContact Us En Espanoltop nav spacer
Printable VersionPrintable Version     E-mail this pageE-mail this page
Agricultural Research Service United States Department of Agriculture
Search
  Advanced Search
 
Programs and Projects
Subjects of Investigation
 

Research Project: INTEGRATION OF CLIMATE VARIABILITY AND FORECASTS INTO RISK-BASED MANAGEMENT TOOLS FOR AGRICULTURE PRODUCTION AND RESOURCE CONSERVATION

Location: Great Plains Agroclimate and Natural Resources Research Unit

Title: Sediment loading and controls in the grasslands of the Great Plains

Authors

Submitted to: Soil and Water Conservation Society Proceedings
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: August 15, 2009
Publication Date: September 14, 2009
Citation: Garbrecht, J.D., Starks, P.J. 2009. Sediment loading and controls in the grasslands of the Great Plains [abstract]. Soil and Water Conservation Society Proceedings, From Dust Bowl to Mud Bowl, Conservation measures and the Future of Reservoirs, September 14-16, 2009, Kansas City, MO. p. 31. Available on-line: http://www.swcs.org/documents/filelibrary/sedimentation/Sediment_Program_FINAL_web_A40C2200C17B7.pdf

Interpretive Summary: Abstract only.

Technical Abstract: In this study, the effects of upstream conservation measures on sediment delivery to and half-life of the Fort Cobb Reservoir in West-Central Oklahoma are investigated. Few conservation practices were implemented on the Fort Cobb Reservoir watershed before the 1950s. In the second half of the 20th century, extensive soil conservation measures were implemented to protect agriculturally fertile but erosion-prone soils. Fortuitously, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) collected discharge and suspended sediment measurements during the 1943-1950 time span, and again in 2004-2008. These two time periods are called pre- and post-conservation periods, respectively. These discharge and suspended sediment measurements offered the opportunity to compare sediment yield to the reservoir before and after implementation of conservation practices. A separate suspended sediment-discharge rating curve was developed for each the pre- and post-conservation period, and average annual sediment delivery to the reservoir was estimated based on these rating curves and the reservoir inflow record. The reduction in watershed sediment yield as a result of conservation practices was by about a factor of 2, less than anticipated by initial projections. Calculated sediment inflow was compared to a 1993 survey of reservoir sedimentation, and reservoir half-life was projected by extrapolation of (1) surveyed sedimentation rates, (2) sedimentation rates under the assumption of pre-conservation land use and management conditions, and (3) sedimentation rates under the assumption of post-conservation land use and management conditions. The calculated increase in the half-life of the reservoir under current post-conservation conditions was attributed to the wide range of conservation practices implemented in the second half of the 20th century. However, a climatic shift in the mid 1980s resulted in an increased soil erosion and transport activity that offset to a large extent the downstream beneficial impacts of upstream conservation efforts.

   

 
Project Team
Garbrecht, Jurgen
Steiner, Jean
Zhang, Xunchang
Schneider, Jeanne
 
Publications
   Publications
 
Related National Programs
  Water Availability and Water Management (211)
 
 
Last Modified: 06/20/2013
ARS Home | USDA.gov | Site Map | Policies and Links 
FOIA | Accessibility Statement | Privacy Policy | Nondiscrimination Statement | Information Quality | USA.gov | White House