Progress 07/11/07 to 05/31/08
Outputs
Progress Report Objectives (from AD-416) To develop and maintain an integrated geo-spatial data resource on land use and water quantity and quality in the Suwannee River Basin (SRB); 2) increase understanding of the interrelationships between agricultural production and water resources in the SRB; and 3) develop and enhance tools including simulation models, to provide better information for decision makers in water resource management. Approach (from AD-416) While the USDA-ARS and University of Georgia have detailed hydrologic, land use, and water quality records for 25-30 years for the LRW, above Tifton, GA, and the Suwannee River Water Management District (SRWMD) and other agencies in Florida have detailed information on groundwater, surface water, and water quality in the Florida part of the basin, very little information on the rest of the heavily agricultural part of the upper Suwannee basin exists. There is a pressing need to provide a network of streamflow, groundwater, precipitation, water quality, and land use information for the entire basin, to make the data from GA and FL compatible and accessible, and to conduct research to improve agricultural management practices so they take advantage of the processes controlling water quantity and quality in the basin. The USDA-ARS-SEWRL proposes to partner with UGA to provide this network and data management by building on our long-term research and monitoring in the LRW. The first phase of this will be to provide more complete coverage of the Little River 8-digit Hydrologic Unit and to provide comparisons to other large sub-basins, the Alapaha and Withlacoochee. Significant Activities that Support Special Target Populations This project relates to objective 2 of the inhouse project: Modify, test, and apply the Riparian Ecosystem Management Model (REMM) to evaluate and guide restoration and management of riparian buffers and wetlands. During Fiscal Year 2008, the cooperator expanded the permanent stream monitoring network in the Suwannee River Basin. Installation of permanent water quality sampling stations with refrigerated, flow- proportional samplers on New River at Highway 82 in Tifton was completed. This site, in conjunction with the sampling site further upstream on New Comparisons will be made with predominantly agricultural watersheds. The new site collects weekly flow-proportional samples which are analyzed for nutrients. During weekly service visits, samples are retrieved and YSI multiparameter water quality sondes are used for in-situ measurements. Hydrologic data are collected using radiotelemetry and are made available on the Southeast Watershed Research Lab website within 24 hours. Hydrologic and water quality data are archieved by Southeast Watershed Research Lab staff. Bacteriological measurements were begun in May 2008. Progress was monitored through interactions between the cooperator and Lead Scientist via email, phone and meetings. See progress report for 6602-13000-023-10S project for this project also. This project was replaced by 6602-13000-023-10S.
Impacts
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Publications
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