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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Oxford, Mississippi » National Sedimentation Laboratory » Watershed Physical Processes Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #395588
Research Project: Computational Tools and Decision Support System Technologies for Agricultural Watershed Physical Processes, Water Quality and Ground Water Management

Location: Watershed Physical Processes Research

Title: Irrigation water conservation practices in the Mississippi River alluvial plain: On-farm reservoirs

Author
item OZEREN, YAVUZ - University Of Mississippi
item Wren, Daniel
item ROSSELL, WILLIAM - University Of Mississippi

Submitted to: International Conference on Hydroscience and Engineering (ICHE)
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/18/2022
Publication Date: 5/27/2022
Citation: Ozeren, Y., Wren, D.G., Rossell, W. 2022. Irrigation water conservation practices in the Mississippi River alluvial plain: On-farm reservoirs. International Conference on Hydroscience and Engineering (ICHE). Izmir, Turkey, May 26-27, 2022.

Interpretive Summary: ABSTRACT ONLY

Technical Abstract: The Lower Mississippi River Basin (the Delta) is one of the major agricultural regions in the United States. Irrigation water in the Delta relies mainly on the Mississippi River alluvial aquifer which ranks third in the United States for total groundwater withdrawals. Excessive groundwater pumping in the area has resulted in significant groundwater decline in the past 30 years. A number of measures to provide sustainable source for irrigation water in the region are under investigation. A widely adapted method to reduce the dependence on groundwater resources is the use on-farm reservoirs and tailwater recovery systems. The embankments of the on- farm reservoirs are constructed using locally available soils and left unprotected, which makes them susceptible to erosion due to wind generated waves and surface runoff. Protection and maintenance of the reservoir embankments create additional economic burden on the producers. A series field studies were carried out by the authors at various on-farm reservoirs in the States of Mississippi and Arkansas which aimed to assess the level of embankment impairment in relation to measured wind and wave properties. Laboratory experiments were carried out to identify processes involved during wave induced embankment erosion. This paper summarizes the key findings of the laboratory and field measurements.