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Title: CONSERVATION EFFECTS ASSESSMENT PROJECT (CEAP) WATERSHED ASSESSMENT STUDIES: YALOBUSHA RIVER WATERSHED [ABSTRACT]

Author
item Wilson, Glenn
item Rhoton, Fred
item Romkens, Mathias
item Dicarlo, David
item Dabney, Seth
item OLDHAM, LARRY - MISSISSIPPI STATE UNIV.
item Cooper, Charles

Submitted to: Agronomy Abstracts
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/28/2004
Publication Date: 10/29/2004
Citation: Wilson, G.V., Rhoton, F.E., Romkens, M.J., Dicarlo, D.A., Dabney, S.M., Oldham, L., Cooper, C.M. 2004. Conservation Effects Assessment Project (CEAP) watershed assessment studies: Yalobusha River Watershed [abstract]. Agronomy Abstracts #3411.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: The USDA ARS-NRCS has established a joint Conservation Effects Assessment Project (CEAP) that will assess the environmental benefits due to conservation practices on 12 benchmark watersheds. The Yalobusha River Watershed (YRW), which covers 168,750 ha consisting of 18% cropland, 19% pasture areas, 53% forested areas, 6% wetland, and 4% surface water, was selected as a benchmark watershed. The MLRA for the YRW is Southern Coastal Plain with alluvial soils comprised of dispersive silt topsoil over sand and clay layers overlying consolidated clay. Major features of the river system include: 1) erosion-resistant cohesive streambeds; 2) channelized stream network; 3) channelized main stem terminates in an narrower unmodified, sinuous reach; and 4) a debris plug on the lower end of the channelized main stem. The YRW experiences deposition and flooding problems in downstream reaches and excessive erosion via gully inlet erosion and bank failures along upstream reaches. The objective of the CEAP activities for YRW is to evaluate watershed responses to drop pipe and riparian forest buffer conservation practices. Fields with and without these practices will be instrumented for runoff and sediment transport measurement along with upstream and downstream measurements in the stream. To determine sediment source areas and trapping efficiencies, each field will be sampled along transects to account for soil variability due to differences in hydropedologic properties.