Long-term monitoring of agroecosystem and impact of climate change on agriculture in the Mississippi Delta are currently ongoing using eddy covariance and energy balance technologies.
Mission
The Lower Mississippi River Basin is one of the most productive and intensively irrigated agricultural regions in the nation with 90% of the irrigation water pumped coming from the Mississippi River Valley Alluvial Aquifer. Overdrawing this shallow productive aquifer is negatively impacting agricultural productivity and profitability, base flows of streams, water quality, and aquatic and riparian habitats. Currently, scientists from USDA-ARS and universities in Mississippi, Arkansas, and Missouri are conducting research and extension activities on water-related issues.