3/2/2016

ErosionandSedimentationResearchintheU.S.DepartmentofAgriculture,AgriculturalResearchService

ProceedingsoftheU.S.GeologicalSurvey(USGS)SedimentWorkshop,February47,1997

EROSIONANDSEDIMENTATIONRESEARCHINTHE
U.S.DEPARTMENTOFAGRICULTURE,AGRICULTURAL
RESEARCHSERVICE
ByS.J.BennettandC.V.Alonso,
USDAARS,
NationalSedimentationLaboratory,
P.O.Box1157,
Oxford,MS38655

Introduction:MissionoftheAgriculturalResearchServiceandHistorical
Perspective
TheARSistheresearchbranchoftheUSDA,anditsmissionistoprovideaccesstoagricultural
informationanddevelopnewknowledgeandtechnologyneededtosolveagriculturalproblemsof
nationalimportancetoensureadequateavailabilityofhighquality,safefoodandotherproducts,to
sustainaviableandcompetitivefoodandagriculturaleconomy,toenhancequalityoflifeand
economicopportunityforruralcitizensandsocietyasawhole,andtomaintainaqualityenvironment
andnaturalresourcebase.OfthesixmainARSprograms,theSoil,WaterandAirdivisionconducts
researchonconservingandmanagingoursoil,waterandairresourcestominimizetheeffects
agriculturehasontheenvironmentwhilekeepingcoststotheconsumerlowandprofitstothefarmer
ashighaspossible.
Traditionally,mostresearchhasfocusedonfarmmanagementandpractices,soilconservation
techniques,andtheimpactofagrichemicaltransportonwaterqualityandecology,andhowthese
areasaffectfarmproductivityandsustainability,thesocioeconomicsoffarmingcommunitiesandthe
preservationofnaturalresources.Tomeetthesechallenges,theARSestablishednationallaboratories
andexperimentstationsthroughoutthecountry,andapproximately18arecurrentlypursuingresearch
onerosionandsedimentation.Eachlaboratoryisstaffedwithscientistsfromseveraldisciplines
conductingresearchpertinenttobothitsgeographiclocation,thusservingtheneedsoflocal
communities,aswellasprovidingleadershipandsupportfornationalprograms.Themajorcentersfor
thisresearchare,andwillcontinuetobe,theNationalSedimentationLaboratoryatOxford,MS,and
theNationalErosionLaboratoryatWestLafayette,IN(1).SeveraloftheARSWatershedResearch
Centersarecontributors,includingtheSouthwestWatershedResearchCenteratTucson,AZ,the
NorthwestWatershedResearchCenteratBoise,ID,andtheNorthAppalachianExperimental
WatershedatCoshocton,OH.Interestsincontrollingerosionfromirrigatedlandshasincreasedinthe
pastdecade,andseveraloftheirrigationlaboratoriesarecontributing,withtheARSlocationat
Kimberly,ID,providingleadershiponthiseffort.Thereis,andhasbeen,considerableinterestinthe
developmentoferosionmodelsanddecisionsupportsystemsforassistinglandmanagersand
conservationspecialistsintheireffortstoreducetheadverseimpactsofsoilerosiononagricultural
productivityandtheenvironment.ThekeyARSlocationscontributingtothiseffortaretheNational
SoilErosionLaboratory,theNationalSedimentationLaboratory,theSouthwestWatershedResearch
Center,andtheGrasslandsResearchLaboratoryatTemple,TX.
Researchonerosionandsedimentationisstillfirmlyrootedinagriculturalareasandvicinities,hence
soilconservationandfarmmanagementpracticesremainthemostactiveareasofstudy.Offsite
impactsoferosionandsedimentation,arevitalizationoffundamentalresearch,andtheemergenceof
integrated,interagencyprojectshaveprovidedgreaterinsightandadvancedtechnologiesbroaderin
scopeandapplicationthaneverrealized.Suchdiversificationaffordsresearchopportunitiesinupland
http://water.usgs.gov/osw/techniques/workshop/s.j.bennett.html

1/6

3/2/2016

ErosionandSedimentationResearchintheU.S.DepartmentofAgriculture,AgriculturalResearchService

areas,streamsandchannels,andbiologyandecologywhichspanscientific,agency,andacademic
boundaries,improvingboththerelevancyandvisibilityoftheresearchinnationalandinternational
communities.
TheErosionPredictionandControlNationalProgram(2)hasbeenestablishedtoprovideknowledge
andtechnologybywhichagriculturalactivitiesmaybeconductedwhilekeepingerosionofsoiland
attachedchemicalandbiologicalsubstancestoaminimum.Specificobjectivesofthisprogram
include:(a)developingandevaluatingcontroltechnologies,suchasmechanical(terraces,waterflow
controlstructures),vegetative(treeorgrasswindbreaks,alternatingcropstrips,stiffgrasshedges),or
tillagebased(conservationtillage),(b)developingandadvancingtheapplicationoferosionprediction
models,and(c)advancingthestateoftheartwithrespecttounderstandingerosionprocesses.
AnumberofcurrentresearchareaswithintheARSarebrieflydescribedbelow.Thisdocumentis
limitedinscopetotheagendaoftheworkshop,andprovidesasuccinctdescriptionofafewkey
researchareasspecifictothegeneralareaoferosionandsedimentation.

ConservationFarmManagementPractices
Tillingfarmlandsremainsthemostdamagingactivityresponsibleforsoillossandthemobilizationof
finegrainedmaterial.Conservationtillagesystemshavebeendevelopedtomaximizecropproduction
whilereducingsoillosses,andincludessuchpracticesasspecializedandalternativetilling
procedures,increasingandmaintainingsurfaceresiduecoverageandsurfaceroughness,creating
infiltrationchannels,improvinganimalmanagementonpastures,andincreasingcanopycoverage(3).
Theconstructionofvegetativebarriers,suchasstiffgrasshedgesandgrassstrips,andthe
establishmentofriparianbufferzoneshavebeenproventoreducesoillossandagrichemicaltransport
fromagriculturalfieldsaswellasdispersingrunofffromareasofconcentratedflow(4).Inparticular,
theexpirationoftheConservationReserveProgramin1995,wherewellestablishedgrasslandsare
returnedtocroplandproduction,posesamajorthreatforfuturesoillossandsedimentationproblems.
Studieshavebeeninitiatedtoquantifytheeffectsoftillageonsoilqualityanderodibilityandto
formulateandemplaceconservationtechniquesbeforeconversiontakesplace(5).Theultimate
successofconservationtechniquesdependsnotonlyonproventechnologybutonfarmer
participation,socioeconomicperceptionsofconservation,andappropriatelegislationsuchasNational
PracticeStandards.

FundamentalResearchonSoilErosionandErosionbyConcentratedFlows
Afundamentalunderstandingofsoilerosionprocessesisanecessaryprerequisitefordeveloping
adequateerosioncontroltechnology.Byusingsimpleoutdoorplotsandrainfallsimulators,theARS
hasbeenaleaderinquantifyingsoildetachmentandtransportprocessesandthesesametoolsarein
usetoday.RecentworkhasfocusedonbettercharacterizationofrainfallerosivityusingNEXRAD
technology,theeffectsofsurfacesealdevelopment,soilroughness,aggregatestrengthandproportion
ofrockfragmentsonsedimentyield,rilldevelopment,rillhydraulicsandmicrotopographyevolution,
themechanicsofcrackformation,theeffectsofcracksandsubsurfacepressuresoninfiltrationand
runoff,agrichemicalpartitioningwithindetachedsoils,anderosionbyheadcutformationand
migration(6).Newtechnology,suchasnonintrusiveacousticandlaserdevices,providegreater
insightintoasoil'sphysicalcharacteristics,ofparticularimportanceinevaluatingitsstrengthand
erodibility(7).Thesestudiesareprovinginstrumentalindevelopingandtestingaccurate,physically
basedmodelsforsoilerosion(seelater).Understandingandcharacterizingspatialandtemporal
variationsinasoil'spropertiesandtheimpactofantecedentconditions(historyeffectssuchas
climate,farmingpracticesorbiologicalactivities)remainthechallengesforfutureresearch.

SedimentTransportMechanics
http://water.usgs.gov/osw/techniques/workshop/s.j.bennett.html

2/6

3/2/2016

ErosionandSedimentationResearchintheU.S.DepartmentofAgriculture,AgriculturalResearchService

Theentrainment,transportanddepositionofsedimenthasamajorimpactonerosionandchannel
stability,channelcapacityasrelatedtofloodrisk,reservoirviability,andinstreamecology.Fieldand
laboratoryinvestigationshaveconcentratedontheformativeprocessescontrollingsedimenttransport
includingsortingprocessesinmixedsizesediments,turbulenceandbedformstability,thedynamics
ofsedimentladenflows,theeffectofflowunsteadinessonsedimentfluxandbedconfiguration,and
theintrusionoffinegrainmaterialintoopenframeworkgravelbeds(8).Theinabilitytoquantifyand
predictsuspendedsedimentloadsandtheneedtoidentifythesourceoffinegrainedsediment,
whetherfrombankerosionorhillslopeinput,hasnecessitatedemployingsophisticatedtechnology
andtheexpertiseofacademia.Acooperationcurrentlyexiststodevelopanautomated,fieldbased
acousticprobetomeasureinstantaneousdepthaveragedsuspendedloads(9).Bycouplingnew
conceptualizationswithtechnology,theARSisemergingasaninvaluableresourceforfederal
agenciesandacademia.

ChannelAdjustmentandEvolution
Geomorphicanalysesprovidedetailedinformationonthedynamicsofchannelevolutioncritically
importantforidentifyingunstablestreamreachesandguidingtheplacementandchoiceof
stabilizationtechniques.Withmorethan75%ofthesedimentfromchannelerosionemanatingfrom
streambanksinsomepartsofthecountry,researchonbankstabilityandchannelevolutionhas
focusedontheeffectsofporepressuresonbankstrength,thedepositionandentrainmentoffailed
blocksofcohesivematerial,quantifyingthevolumeofmaterialenteringthestreamthroughbank
failure,andcharacterizingthedynamicsofmeandersandredefiningtheconceptofdominant
dischargewithinincisedchannels(10).Concurrently,scientistshavebeendevelopingaphysically
basednumericalmodeloftheevolutionofunstableriverchannelmorphology,amodelableto
simulatetheeffectsofriparianvegetationonflowresistanceandbankmaterialpropertiesandfailure
frequencies(11).Coupledwithdetailedfieldexperiments,simulationsprovideameanstoinvestigate
theeffectsoflowcostvegetativebankprotectiontreatmentsinrestoredriverchannelsinadditionto
temporalvariationsinchannelgeometryandflowcapacityasaguideforeffectivechannel
management.

TheImpactofErosionandSedimentationonEcology,andStreamRestoration
Agriculturalactivitieshaveoftenresultedinthedegradationorlossofhabitatandhabitatresourcesin
adjacentordownstreamrivercorridorsandlakes,yetlittleinformationexiststoassesssuchimpactas
wellasprovidingguidelinesforrestoration.AtwofoldapproachhasbeenadoptedbyARSpersonnel
incooperationwithotherfederalagencies:(a)experimentalprojectstodeterminetheeffectsof
agriculturalrunoff,sedimentationandstreamstabilizationmeasuresonecologicalsystemsandwater
quality,and(b)formulatingappropriatestreamrestorationtechniquestobeusedwithchannel
stabilization(12).Recentworkhasdemonstratedthatshortagesofwoodydebris,poolhabitat,
substratesotherthansand,andflashyhydrologyaretheprimarydeficienciesinphysicalaquatic
habitatsinwarmwaterstreamsdamagedbychannelerosion,andthesesameecosystemsrespond
positivelytocertaintypesofstabilizationtechniquessuchasspurdikes,stoneweirs,emplacementof
woodyvegetation,andlowdropgradecontrolstructures(12).Constructedwetlandsonornearfarms
canalsopartitionrunoffrelatedagrichemicalsandsediments,thusminimizingtheirimpactonstream
ecosystems(13).Aninteragencyhandbookinpreparation,headedbytheNRCSwithcontributions
fromARSpersonnel,willprovidecompleteguidanceonplanning,designing,andevaluatingstream
restorationprojects(14).

RecentAdvancesinModelingSedimentYield
Modelsforsedimentyieldprovideinvaluableinformationwhenappliedtothoseareaslackingofdata,
forguidingdatacollectionprogramsingagedwatersheds,andforpredictingfutureimpactsof
agriculturalactivities,climate,landuse,streamstabilizationandfloodcontrolpractices.Thelevelof
http://water.usgs.gov/osw/techniques/workshop/s.j.bennett.html

3/6

3/2/2016

ErosionandSedimentationResearchintheU.S.DepartmentofAgriculture,AgriculturalResearchService

sophisticationofcurrenthillslopeandwatershedmodelshasincreasedsignificantly:theintegrationof
GISanddigitalelevationmodelswithnumericaltechniquesandphysicallybasedconceptualizations
provideforbettercharacterizationsofrunoffandsoilyields,instreamflowandsedimentrouting,
bankerosionandchannelwidening,andtheeffectsofchanginglandcoverage,agriculturaland
engineeringpractices(15).Cooperationshavebeenestablishedlinkingnationallaboratorieswith
stateoftheartcomputationalcentersinacademia(16).ARSoperationalmodelsfornaturalresource
conservationassessmentssuchastheRevisedUniversalSoilLossEquation(RUSLE),theWater
ErosionPredictionProject(WEPP),AgriculturalNonpointSourcePollution(AGNPS),Soiland
WaterAssessmentTool(SWAT)andTopographicParameterization(TOPAZ)arecontinuallybeing
improved,testedandexpanded(17).ThesemodelsreceiveprominentnationalsupportatARSand
NRCSlocations,andhavebeenimplementedthroughoutthecountrybybothfederalandnonfederal
users.However,theacquisitionofreliablefielddataisimperativeformodelverification,
improvementandapplicability.Thus,experimentalwatersheds,suchasGoodwinCreekandReynolds
Creek(18),provideunrivaledlongtermdatabasesformodelformulationanddevelopment,andtheir
continuedmaintenanceandviabilityisofcriticalimportance.

InteragencyCooperations:DECandMDMSEA
Thebenefitsofinteragencycooperationsareobvious:synergisticagreementsamongstactionagencies
whichpoolresourcesandexpertiseforimmediateresponsetospecificsocietalneeds.Although
primarilyappliedinnature,consortiumsofferopportunitiestoprovideleadershipanddevelop
technologywhileexpandingtheresearchbaseandimpactoftheparticularagency.Twocurrent
programsinvolvingARSpersonnelexemplifythebenefitsofsuchcooperations.
TheDemonstrationErosionControl(DEC)Project,establishedin1984,seekstodevelopand
demonstrateawatershedorsystemsapproachtoaddressproblemsassociatedwithwatershed
instability:erosion,sedimentation,flooding,andenvironmentaldegradation.WatershedsintheLower
MississippiValley,areasdevastatedbyerosion,channelincisionandchannelwidening,were
targeted.Severalfederalagenciesandsomeuniversities,eachwithclearroles,objectives,and
expertiseareparticipatingincludingtheCOE,NRCS,ARS,COEWES,USGS,andtheUniversityof
Mississippi.Notableadvancesinlandtreatment,stablechannelassessment,streambankerosion,
streamhabitatrestoration,computationalandphysicalmodelingofrivers,sedimenttransport
mechanics,andgradecontrolstructuredesignhavebeenrecordedinliteraturepublishedbyDEC
affiliatepersonnel.
TheMississippiDeltaManagementSystemsEvaluationArea(MDMSEA)Project,establishedin
1994,seekstodesignandevaluatebestmanagementpracticestoreduceadverseagriculturalimpacts
onwaterresourcesandecologicalprocesses(19).Aconsortiumof15federal,state,andlocalagencies
areinvolved,andtheprincipalagenciesaretheARS,USGS,andMississippiWaterResources
ResearchInstitute.Theprojecttargetedthreeresearchwatershedseachcomprisinganoxbowlake,
thusprovidingclosedsystemsforintegratedresearch.Althoughonlyinuseforoneyear,precision
farmingtechniqueshavesignificantlyreducedtheamountofherbiciderequiredforweedcontrolin
cottonandsoybeanfields.Hence,theprovensuccessandnationalimpactofinteragencycooperations
willfosternewliaisonsinthefuture.

InformationSources(NationalProgramLeaders,ResearchLeadersandkey
personnel)
Inlieuofdetailedreferences,theinterestedreaderisencouragedtocontactthekeypersonnelinvolved
inthespecificresearch.
1.D.A.Farrell,USDAARS,NationalProgramStaff,Building005,BARCWest,Beltsville,MD
20705.
http://water.usgs.gov/osw/techniques/workshop/s.j.bennett.html

4/6

3/2/2016

ErosionandSedimentationResearchintheU.S.DepartmentofAgriculture,AgriculturalResearchService

2.C.R.Amerman,USDAARS,NationalProgramStaff,Building005,BARCWest,Beltsville,
MD20705.
3.Residuemanagement:K.McGregor,USDAARS,NationalSedimentationLaboratory,P.O.
Box1157,Oxford,MS,38655L.B.Owens,USDAARS,NorthAppalachianExperimental
Watershed,EndofStateRoute621,StateRoute478,Coshocton,OH43812D.Wilkins,
USDAARS,ColumbiaPlateauConservationResearchCenter,P.O.Box370,Pendleton,OR
97801TillagesystemsandPasturemanagement:K.McGregor,USDAARS,National
SedimentationLaboratory,P.O.Box1157,Oxford,MS,38655L.B.Owens,USDAARS,
NorthAppalachianExperimentalWatershed,EndofStateRoute621,StateRoute478,
Coshocton,OH43812J.L.Steiner,USDAARS,SouthernPiedmontConservationResearch
Center,1420ExperimentStationRoad,P.O.Box555,Watkinsville,GA30677D.Wilkins,
USDAARS,ColumbiaPlateauConservationResearchCenter,P.O.Box370,Pendleton,OR
97801.
4.StiffGrassHedges:S.Dabney,USDAARS,NationalSedimentationLaboratory,P.O.Box
1157,Oxford,MS,38655K.McGregor,USDAARS,NationalSedimentationLaboratory,
P.O.Box1157,Oxford,MS,38655J.C.Ritchie,USDAARS,HydrologyLaboratory,Bldg.
007,Rm.104,BARCWest,Beltsville,MD20705RiparianZone:A.W.Thomas,USDA
ARS,SoutheastWatershedResearchLaboratory,P.O.Box946,Tifton,GA31793.
5.ConservationReserveProgram:J.Gilley,USDAARS,Soil/WaterConservationResearch
Unit,UniversityofNebraskaLincoln,119KeimHall,EastCampus,Lincoln,NE685830915
K.McGregor,USDAARS,NationalSedimentationLaboratory,P.O.Box1157,Oxford,MS,
38655.
6.S.J.BennettandC.V.Alonso,USDAARS,NationalSedimentationLaboratory,P.O.Box
1157,Oxford,MS,38655J.L.Hatfield,USDAARS,NationalSoilTilthLaboratory,2150
PammelDrive,Ames,IA50011A.Kennedy,USDAARS,AgriculturalEngineering
Department,WashingtonStateUniversity,Room215,JohnsonHall,Pullman,WA99164
6421L.D.Norton,USDAARS,NationalSoilErosionResearchLaboratory,Purdue
University,SoilBldg.,WestLafayette,IN479071196C.E.Rice,G.Hanson,K.Robinsonand
D.Temple,USDAARS,HydraulicEngineeringResearchUnit,1301N.WesternStreet,
Stillwater,OK74075M.J.M.Romkens,USDAARS,NationalSedimentationLaboratory,P.O.
Box1157,Oxford,MS,38655M.A.Weltz,USDAARS,PacificWestArea,Southeast
WatershedResearchCenter,2000EastAllenRoad,Tuscon,AZ857191596.
7.J.L.Hatfield,USDAARS,NationalSoilTilthLaboratory,2150PammelDrive,Ames,IA
50011C.E.Rice,G.Hanson,K.RobinsonandD.Temple,USDAARS,Hydraulic
EngineeringResearchUnit,1301N.WesternStreet,Stillwater,OK74075M.J.M.Romkens,
USDAARS,NationalSedimentationLaboratory,P.O.Box1157,Oxford,MS,38655D.
Wilkins,USDAARS,ColumbiaPlateauConservationResearchCenter,P.O.Box370,
Pendleton,OR97801.
8.C.V.Alonso,S.J.Bennett,andR.A.Kuhnle,USDAARS,NationalSedimentationLaboratory,
P.O.Box1157,Oxford,MS,38655.
9.R.A.Kuhnle,USDAARS,NationalSedimentationLaboratory,P.O.Box1157,Oxford,MS,
38655RobertDerrow,NationalCenterforPhysicalAcoustics,UniversityofMississippi,
University,MS38677.
10.A.SimonandS.Darby,USDAARS,NationalSedimentationLaboratory,P.O.Box1157,
Oxford,MS,38655.
11.S.Darby,USDAARS,NationalSedimentationLaboratory,P.O.Box1157,Oxford,MS,
http://water.usgs.gov/osw/techniques/workshop/s.j.bennett.html

5/6

3/2/2016

ErosionandSedimentationResearchintheU.S.DepartmentofAgriculture,AgriculturalResearchService

38655.
12.C.M.Cooper,S.S.Knight,andF.D.Shields,USDAARS,NationalSedimentationLaboratory,
P.O.Box1157,Oxford,MS,38655.
13.C.M.Cooper,S.S.Knight,andS.Testa,USDAARS,NationalSedimentationLaboratory,P.O.
Box1157,Oxford,MS,38655.
14.F.D.Shields,USDAARS,NationalSedimentationLaboratory,P.O.Box1157,Oxford,MS,
38655.
15.J.G.ArnoldandR.Srinivasan,USDAARS,Grassland,Soil/WaterResearchLaboratory,808
E.BlacklandRoad,Temple,TX,76502R.L.Bingner,USDAARS,NationalSedimentation
Laboratory,P.O.Box1157,Oxford,MS,38655J.Garbrecht,USDAARS,SouthernPlains
Area,P.O.Box1199,ElReno,OK73093C.E.Rice,USDAARS,HydraulicEngineering
ResearchUnit,1301N.WesternStreet,Stillwater,OK74075A.W.Thomas,USDAARS,
SoutheastWatershedResearchLaboratory,P.O.Box946,Tifton,GA31793M.A.Weltz,
USDAARS,PacificWestArea,SoutheastWatershedResearchCenter,2000EastAllenRoad,
Tuscon,AZ857191596.
16.R.L.BingnerandC.V.Alonso,USDAARS,NationalSedimentationLaboratory,P.O.Box
1157,Oxford,MS,38655S.Wang,CenterforComputationalHydroscienceandEngineering,
UniversityofMississippi,University,MS38677.
17.RUSLE:G.R.Foster,USDAARS,NationalSedimentationLaboratory,P.O.Box1157,Oxford,
MS,38655WEPP:D.C.Flanagan,J.M.Laflen,M.A.Nearing,andL.D.Norton,USDAARS,
NationalSoilErosionResearchLaboratory,PurdueUniversity,SoilBldg.,WestLafayette,IN
479071196SWAT:J.G.ArnoldandR.Srinivasan,USDAARS,Grassland,Soil/Water
ResearchLaboratory,808E.BlacklandRoad,Temple,TX,76502TOPAZ:J.Garbrecht,
USDAARS,SouthernPlainsArea,P.O.Box1199,ElReno,OK73093.
18.GoodwinCreekWatershed:C.V.Alonso,USDAARS,NationalSedimentationLaboratory,
P.O.Box1157,Oxford,MS,38655ReynoldsCreekWatershed:C.W.Slaughter,USDAARS,
NorthwestWatershedResearchCenter,800ParkBlvd.,PlazaIV,Suite105,Boise,ID83712
7716.
19.J.D.Schreiber,USDAARS,NationalSedimentationLaboratory,P.O.Box1157,Oxford,MS,
38655R.Rebich,USGS,308SouthAirportRoad,Pearl,MS,39208J.Pote,MWRRI,P.O.
DrawerAD,MississippiState,MS397625529FrankGwin,Jr.,P.O.Drawer727,Tchula,MS
39169.

Autobiography
Bennett,S.J.,USDAARS,NationalSedimentationLaboratory,Oxford,MS:Forthepast15
months,theincumbenthasservedasaResearchGeologistintheChannelandWatershed
ProcessesResearchUnit.Hisresearchincludesexperimentalandtheoreticalinvestigations
ofsedimenttransportofmixedsizedensityfractions,bedformmechanics,turbulence,
dynamicsofsedimentladenflows,anderosionbyconcentratedflow.
WorkshopProceedings
ContributionsfromOtherFederalAgencies
ContributionfromtheUSGS
http://water.usgs.gov/osw/techniques/workshop/s.j.bennett.html

6/6