Water Resources Research Act Program

Details for Project ID 2006NJ118B

Integrated Assessment of Economic and Water Quality Impacts of Agricultural Best Management Practices in Upper Cohansey River Watershed

Institute: New Jersey
Year Established: 2006 Start Date: 2006-03-01 End Date: 2007-12-31
Total Federal Funds: $59,966 Total Non-Federal Funds: $95,532

Principal Investigators: Zeyuan Qiu, Christopher Obropta

Project Summary: The economic and water quality impacts of agricultural best management practices at a watershed scale have been poorly understood. Built upon a current funded 319(h) project to develop a watershed management plan, this research aims to integrate an economic model with collected watershed assessment data and a biophysical model being tested in the project to evaluate the economic and water quality impacts, and strategic placements of agricultural BMPs in the Upper Cohansey River watershed located between Salem and Cumberland counties in southern Jersey. This information will be then used to assess potential reductions in water pollutant loads from agricultural sources through the implementation of various land use BMPs in the watershed. This research will provide essential information to evaluate the potential of achieving water quality improvement through reducing agricultural water pollution and facilitate discussions on water quality trading between point and nonpoint (such as agricultural) sources in suburban settings. The results can be applied to other watersheds that have agricultural operations and will contribute to the development and implementation of Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs) and watershed management plans, and eventually water quality improvements throughout New Jersey. The results on the water quality impacts of conservation practices in suburban settings will complement the national Conservation Effects Assessment Projects (CEAP) program that focuses on the big agricultural states.