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THE ARS WATERSHED RESEARCH PROGRAM

THE ARS WATERSHED RESEARCH PROGRAM. AGRICULTURAL WATERSHED RESEARCH. • History • Facilities and Capabilities • Future. EARLY HISTORY OF WATERSHED PROGRAM. • Established 1935 as part of the Research Division of the Soil Conservation Service

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THE ARS WATERSHED RESEARCH PROGRAM

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  1. THE ARS WATERSHED RESEARCH PROGRAM

  2. AGRICULTURAL WATERSHED RESEARCH • History • Facilities and Capabilities • Future

  3. 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

  4. 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 support to SCS • Clientele broadened to include state and federal agencies and the private sector

  5. ESTABLISHMENT OF COMPREHENSIVEWATERSHED RESEARCH PROGRAM • In 1958 the Committee on Appropriations of the U.S. Senate requested USDA “to make a study of facility needs for research on soil and water problems…” • USDA study resulted in Senate Document 59 • Senate Document 59 identified “Hydrology of Agricultural Watersheds” as high priority

  6. SENATE DOCUMENT 59RECOMMENDATIONS • Recommended the establishment of 6 new experimental watersheds 1. Northwest Hydrology Research Watershed 2. Southwestern Rangeland Hydrology Research Watershed 3. Southern Great Plains Hydrology Research Watershed 4. North Central Hydrology Research Watershed 5. Southeast Hydrology Research Watershed 6. Northeast Hydrology Research Center • Recommended establishing a national center for making specialized analysis of data

  7. ARS Watershed Locations

  8. 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

  9. ACCOMPLISHMENTS • Effectiveness of conservation tillage in reducing runoff and erosion • Environmental impacts of agricultural chemicals watershed scale • Guidelines for reclamation of disturbed lands • EPA guidelines based on watershed response • Value of riparian ecosystems in improving water quality

  10. ACCOMPLISHMENTS • Hydraulic structure design • Effects of floodwater retarding structure • Remote sensing for quantifying soil moisture • Water supply forecasting • Natural resource models

  11. 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

  12. ARS WATERSHED STRATEGIC PLAN • Watershed Brochure • Fact Sheets • Watershed Program Profile • Special Sessions at Professional Meetings • Popular Articles

  13. 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

  14. 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

  15. BROCHURE Protecting Our Watersheds Through Research and Management – Challenges and Opportunities

  16. 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

  17. ARS WATERSHED PROGRAM PROFILE • General Overview of watershed program • In-depth description of each watershed • Research focus • Facilities • Accomplishments • Cooperators and stakeholders

  18. SPECIAL SESSIONS • AGU Special Session on Experimental Watersheds December 2000 • Overview poster on ARS Watershed Program • Posters for individual ARS locations

  19. POPULAR ARTICLES • Watershed Coalition Newsletter – July – December 2000 • AWRA Water Resources Impact – July 2000

  20. 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

  21. COLLABORATORS AND STAKEHOLDERS • National Association of Conservation Districts • Watershed Coalition • Electric Power Research Institute • Producer Groups

  22. 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 issues • The Watershed Strategic Plan is designed to • increase the utility and visibility of the • watershed program

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