Water Resources Research Act Program

Details for Project ID OK_2023_Mirchi

Evaluating Regenerative Agricultural Practices (RAPs) as a Strategy to Mitigate Flash Flooding in Southwest Oklahoma

Institute: Oklahoma
Year Established: 2023 Start Date: 2023-09-01 End Date: 2024-08-31
Total Federal Funds: $25,000 Total Non-Federal Funds: $25,663

Principal Investigators: Ali Mirchi

Project Summary: Southwest Oklahoma should prepare to cope with flash floods as heavy rainfalls can occur during long dry spells. This project aims to study whether the use of cover crops in agricultural areas can mitigate the risk of flash flooding by making it possible to store a larger portion of stormwater in the soil. Cover crops are an example regenerative agricultural practice that tend to improve soil health and increase infiltration. We will use computer models to quantify potential reduction in the magnitude of floods and the delay in the occurrence of flood peaks due to the use of cover crops in an arid/semi-arid watershed in southwestern Oklahoma.