Economic differences between cumulative and episodic reduction of sediment from cropland

Wu, Pei-Ing; Braden, John B.; Johnson, Gary V.

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/89769 Copy

Description

Title

Economic differences between cumulative and episodic reduction of sediment from cropland

Author(s)

• Wu, Pei-Ing
• Braden, John B.
• Johnson, Gary V.

Contributor(s)

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Issue Date

1986-09

Keyword(s)

• Water resource development
• Water resource development--Illinois
• Agriculture
• Pollution
• Sediment
• Optimization

Geographic Coverage

Illinois (state)

Abstract

This study compares measures for reducing cumulative sediment loads from cropland with measures for reducing sediment loads from extreme storms. The issue is whether the optimal means of controlling cumulative loads are very different from the optimal controls for storm event loads. Differences are described in terms of costs and management practices. The analysis entailed developing a storm-event simulation model analogous to the SEDEC sedimentation economics model. The analogue model was used to identify the respective optimal cropland management strategies for various extreme storm conditions. These strategies were then analyzed using the annual average SEDEC, and the optimal strategies from SEDEC were analyzed for their storm-event properties. The comparisons permit conclusions concerning the relative effectiveness of management strategies for achieving cumulative sediment goals versus storm-event load goals. Data for a 223 study site in the Highland-Silver Lake Watershed in Southwestern Illinois were analyzed using this approach. The study produced four main conclusions. First, control costs for episodic sediment loads were consistently higher than the costs for proportionate reductions in annual average loads. Furthermore, strategies for reducing cumulative loads generally achieve less than proportionate reductions in cumulative loads. Second, the highest control costs were generally for the most extreme storms. Third, contour cultivation is a key element of efficient management strategies for row crops. Finally, where a permanent grass crop is grown adjacent to the stream, there is generally little more to be gained by changing upslope management practices. This suggests that grass strips along streams would greatly reduce the need to modify farming practices elsewhere in order to limit sedimentation.

Publisher

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Water Resources Center

Type of Resource

text

Language

en

Permalink

http://hdl.handle.net/2142/89769

Sponsor(s)/Grant Number(s)

• U.S. Department of the Interior
• U.S. Geological Survey

Copyright and License Information

Copyright 1986 held by Pei-Ing Wu, John B. Braden, Gary V. Johnson

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