Agricultural watershed conservation and optimization using a participatory hydrological approach

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Agricultural Engineering
• Water Resource Management

Background:

• Achieving Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) targets in agricultural watersheds requires effective conservation practices (CPs).
• Complex hydrologic models hinder stakeholder involvement and practical implementation of CPs.
• Integrating local knowledge with scientific modeling is crucial for optimizing watershed management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a simplified modeling approach integrating farmer knowledge for optimizing agricultural conservation practices.
• To evaluate the cost-effectiveness of various CPs for reducing sediment and phosphorus loads in the Pomme de Terre watershed.
• To enhance the usability of complex hydrologic model outputs for watershed stakeholders.

Main Methods:

• Utilized Hydrologic Simulation Program Fortran (HSPF) for complex hydrologic modeling.
• Developed a simplified participatory framework (SAM) to translate HSPF outcomes.
• Incorporated farmer opinions on seven conservation practices in the Pomme de Terre watershed, Minnesota.

Main Results:

• Reduced tillage and filter strips identified as the most cost-effective CPs for non-point source pollution reduction.
• Conservation cover perennials also showed significant potential for pollutant load reduction.
• The integrated approach facilitated a more inclusive and practical scenario development process.

Conclusions:

• A seamless modeling approach integrating stakeholder knowledge significantly enhances the development of optimized management scenarios.
• Cost-effective CPs like reduced tillage and filter strips are vital for achieving TMDL goals.
• Sustainable implementation of CPs requires enhanced involvement of farmers and amateur modelers through user-friendly frameworks.