the ars watershed research program. .................... watershed processes national program...

THE ARS WATERSHED RESEARCHPROGRAM

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

Watershed Processes National Program Component

AGRICULTURAL WATERSHED RESEARCH

• History

• Facilities and Capabilities

• Future

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.


EARLY HISTORY OF WATERSHEDPROGRAM

• Established 1935 as part of the Research Division

of the Soil Conservation Service

• Purpose – Quantify the effects of soil and water

conservation practices on a watershed scale

• Three experimental watersheds were established

Coshocton, Ohio

Riesel, Texas

Hastings, Nebraska

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.


CREATION OF THE AGRICULTURALRESEARCH SERVICE

• ARS created as a new USDA Agency – 1954• Most USDA research programs were merged into

the new agency• The watershed research programs, formerly within

SCS, became a part of ARS • Continued to provide research supportto SCS • Clientele broadened to include stateand federal agencies and the private sector

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.


ESTABLISHMENT OF COMPREHENSIVEWATERSHED RESEARCH PROGRAM

• In 1958 the Committee on Appropriationsof the U.S. Senate requested USDA “tomake a study of facility needs for researchon soil and water problems…”

• USDA study resulted in Senate Document 59• Senate Document 59 identified “Hydrology of

Agricultural Watersheds” as high priority

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.


SENATE DOCUMENT 59RECOMMENDATIONS

• Recommended the establishment of 6 new experimentalwatersheds

1. Northwest Hydrology Research Watershed2. Southwestern Rangeland Hydrology Research Watershed3. Southern Great Plains Hydrology Research Watershed4. North Central Hydrology Research Watershed5. Southeast Hydrology Research Watershed6. Northeast Hydrology Research Center• Recommended establishing a national center for making

specialized analysis of data

Temple, TX

Boise, ID

Coshocton, OH

El Reno, OK

Oxford, M SStillwater, OK

T ifton, GA

Treynor, IA

Tucson, AZ

University Park, PA

Watkinsville, GA

Woodward, OK

Columbia, M OBeltsville, M D

ARS Watershed Locations

VALUE OF ARS WATERSHEDS

• National network of “outdoor laboratories”• Representative of most physiographic regions• Unique facility – Unmatched in quality and

longevity• Capable of addressing a variety of national

issues at the “watershed scale”• Long-term data base• Managed watersheds

• Effectiveness of conservation tillage in reducingrunoff and erosion

• Environmental impacts of agricultural chemicalswatershed scale

• Guidelines for reclamation of disturbed lands• EPA guidelines based on watershed response• Value of riparian ecosystems in improving water

quality

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

• Hydraulic structure design• Effects of floodwater retarding structure• Remote sensing for quantifying soil

moisture• Water supply forecasting• Natural resource models

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.


ARS WATERSHED STRATEGIC PLANPURPOSE

• Develop an integrated national program• Utilize the national network of experimental

watersheds to address critical issues• Increase the visibility of the watershed

program• Increase the funding base for the watershed

program

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.


ARS WATERSHED STRATEGIC PLAN

• Watershed Brochure• Fact Sheets• Watershed Program Profile• Special Sessions at Professional Meetings• Popular Articles

THE FUNDAMENTAL ISSUES• Protecting life and property from floods• Mitigating the effects of droughts• Providing clean water• Rehabilitating impaired watersheds• Determining the effects of climate change on

water resource• Ensuring environmental and esosystem health

ARS AREAS OF WATERSHED RESEARCH

• Rehabilitating watersheds and managing floods• Mitigating droughts and forecasting water supplies• Enhancing water quality• Restoring stream corridors• Developing tools for managing watersheds

and making policy decisions

BROCHURE

Protecting Our Watersheds Through Research and Management – Challenges and Opportunities

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.


FACT SHEETS

• Water Quality: Insuring a Safe Environment and Sustainable Agriculture

• Understanding the Global Water Cycle: The Key to Reducing Weather and Climate Uncertainties for

American Agriculture• Drought and Water Scarcity: An Increasing Threat to a

Growing Society• Watershed Flood Control: Today’s Success

Tomorrow’s Challenge

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.


ARS WATERSHED PROGRAM PROFILE

• General Overview of watershed program• In-depth description of each watershed

• Research focus • Facilities • Accomplishments • Cooperators and stakeholders

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.


SPECIAL SESSIONS

• AGU Special Session on Experimental WatershedsDecember 2000

• Overview poster on ARS Watershed Program • Posters for individual ARS locations

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.


POPULAR ARTICLES

• Watershed Coalition Newsletter –July – December 2000

• AWRA Water Resources Impact – July 2000

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.


COLLABORATORS AND STAKEHOLDERS

• USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service• Other Federal Agencies

- EPA - Bureau of Land Management- NASA - National Weather Service- USGS - Corps of Engineers

• State Natural Resource Agencies

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.


COLLABORATORS AND STAKEHOLDERS

• National Association of Conservation Districts• Watershed Coalition• Electric Power Research Institute• Producer Groups

SUMMARY The ARS Watershed Research Program

- contains a unique network of watershed facilities- has made numerous contributions of national

importance- provides the opportunity to address emerging

national issuesThe Watershed Strategic Plan is designed to

increase the utility and visibility of the watershed program

the ars watershed research program. .................... watershed processes national program...

Documents