EVOLUTION OF HYDROLOGIC/WATERSHED MODELING PROJECTS

EVOLUTION OF HYDROLOGIC/WATERSHED MODELING PROJECTS

Water Yield, Water Quality, Erosion, Sediment and Chemical Movement

(Agricultural Ecosystems Modeling in 1998)

Southern Regional Research Projects Sponsored by the

Southern Association of Agricultural Experiment Station Directors

From 1962 and Continuing

The first project was organized in about 1962 under the leadership of Dean John A. Ewing of the University of Tennessee Agricultural Experiment Station. Participation among southern Land-Grant Universities, USDA-ARS, and USDA-SCS was broad. Since 1962, the project has completed several iterations with many revisions and changes of research objectives along the way. Central among the research themes has been modeling of agricultural and forest water yields and runoff rates, groundwater recharge rates, surface water quality, groundwater quality, erosion, sediment movement, chemical movement, and most recently, total water-related ecosystems.

Early research scientists who assumed leadership roles in the cooperative studies were Curtis Shelton (TN), James Lillard (VA), J. B. Allen (MS), T. V. Wilson (SC), C. Tom Haan (KY, now OK), and E. H. Wiser (NC). During the late 1960s and early 1970s, participation expanded to involve scientists from Land-Grant Universities of the Northeast, North Central, Southern Regions, and several USDA-ARS and U.S. Forest Service locations.

During the 1960s and 1970s, much of the project?s efforts were directed toward watershed characterization and surface and groundwater data collection. In the late 1970s, the research began to address forest hydrology. In the early 1970s, innovative statistical techniques and computerized modeling techniques were employed to cooperatively analyze large quantities of pooled data recorded by the participating states and agencies.

In the late 1970s, the researchers began to characterize and evaluate the predictions of the models related to their utility in field applications. This effort continued for about a decade, along with the widespread adoption of many of the models by designers and planners in field applications.

Increased participation in Projects S-174 and S-218 (Erosion Projects), compared to that of S-53, reflected the need at the time to shift emphasis from problems related to water quantity to those of erosion and sediment losses from agricultural and forest lands and the control of erosion. These changes in project study objectives represented an evolutionary process in which new-project needs benefited from resources, information, experiences, and methodology gained from the previous projects.

In the early 1980s, new soil erosion and productivity, sediment production, and erosion management studies were initiated. Prediction and characterization parameters were developed. In the late 1980s and into the early 1990s, the research began to emphasize water quality, especially as this related to agricultural fertilizers and pesticides. Groundwater quality models were also developed and tested; and soon thereafter, several of these were being used by public planners. At about the same time, some research scientists turned their attention to the quality of the surface waters of large rivers and estuaries. These efforts met with considerable success.

The group began in the 1990s to consider and address new types of models characterizing the total soil-water-plant-environment ecosystem. This important work continues into the late 1990s.

Throughout the project, a large number of graduate students have conducted their individual research investigations on studies supported by this long-term effort. Many of those persons now have successful careers in industry, research, government, teaching, and public planning. Table I summarizes project numbers and titles, brief objectives and statements of purpose, dates, and the names of the advisors. Table II gives Southern Cooperative Series Bulletins published through 1992 as outgrowths of this continuing effort. Table III lists, by project, researchers who contributed to publications originating from Southern Regional hydrologic/watershed projects. Table IV gives locations and years of many of the Technical Committee meetings. These tables and other information presented were taken from available reference sources and the writer's memory (or imagination). The writer thanks Curtis H. Shelton for his editorial comments, information which he supplied, and his suggestions for improving this statement.

John Ike Sewell

Tennessee Agricultural Experiment Station

October, 1998

Table II. Southern Cooperative Series Bulletins

Number	Title

147 (SC) 1969	Hydrologic Data Summaries from Small Agricultural Watersheds in the Southern Region, 1962-1967 (S-53)

198 (NC) 1975	Factors Affecting Water Yields from Small Watersheds and Shallow Ground Aquifers (S-53)

199 (SC) 1975	Hydrologic Data Summaries for Small Watersheds in the Southern Region (S-53)

200 (VA) 1975	Evaluation of a Model for Simulating Continuous Streamflow from Small Watersheds (S-53)

201 (KY) 1975	Evaluation of a Model for Simulating Monthly Water Yields from Small Watersheds (S-53)

202 (TN) 1975	Field Procedures for Predicting Runoff from Small Watersheds (S-53)

203 (SC) 1975	Water Yields from Shallow Ground Aquifers (S-53)

291 (VA) 1983	Hydrologic/Water Quality Models for Agriculture and Forestry (S-108)

338 (GA) 1989	Application of Water Quality Models for Agricultural and Forested Watersheds (S-164)

360 (WI) 1991	Soil Erosion and Productivity (S-174)

361 (WI) 1991	Erosion Management and Prediction Parameter Determination (S-174)

372 (GA) 1992	Application and Enhancement of Hydrologic/Water Quality Models (S-211)

XXX (NC?) 1999	Impact of Agricultural Systems on Surface and Ground Water Quality (tentative title) (S-249)

Table I. Project Titles, Dates, Numbers, Administrative Advisors, and Statement of Purpose.

Date	Number	Title	Advisors
1962	S-53	Factors Affecting Water Yields from Small Watersheds and Shallow Ground Aquifers	John A. Ewing (TN) and Paul E. Schleusener (CSRS)
Statement of Purpose		The objectives of the project were to determine the water yield of small watersheds under specific soil and vegetative conditions, and to correlate runoff rates and total water yield with such engineering practices as terracing, water impoundment, and tillage. The ultimate purpose of the project was to develop criteria for watershed management leading toward the optimum in time-distribution, efficient use, and predictability of water supply.

1974	S-82	Development of Hydrologic Models Predicting Water Yields from Small Watersheds and Shallow Ground Aquifers	George Kriz (NC) and Paul E. Schleusener (CSRS)
Statement of Purpose		During about 12 years since the S-53 work, substantial understanding of the factors affecting water yields from small watersheds and ground aquifers was gained. Many factors and parameters characterizing these phenomena under a wide variety of hydrologic conditions were developed. The S-82 studies initiated large-scale cooperative efforts, aided by then recent advances in computer technology, to develop complete hydrologic models predicting water yields from small watersheds and ground aquifers.

1976	S-108	Development of Hydrologic/Water Quality Models for Agriculture and Forestry	George Kriz (NC), John I. Sewell (TN) and Paul E. Schleusener (CSRS)
Statement of Purpose		A central focus of this project was to formulate hydrologic and water quality models for application to the management of the quality and quantity of water resources associated with agriculture and forestry watersheds.

1981	S-164	Application of Water Quality Models for Agricultural and Forested Watersheds	John I. Sewell (TN) and C. F. Becker (CSRS)
Statement of Purpose		Studies of this project emphasized the application of sophisticated, computer-based hydrologic and water quality models to planning and design situations and the development of user interfaces to allow for better applied management of the quantity and quality of water resources.

1982	S-174	Effects, Mechanisms, and Control of Erosion and Sediment from Agricultural and Forest Lands	John I. Sewell (TN) and C. M. Smith (CSRS)
Statement of Purpose		Studies addressed erosion management and erosion prediction parameter determination related to cropping systems involving cotton, corn, grain sorghum, and soybeans under a wide variety of tillage conditions. To enhance applicability of the results, emphasis was given to the development of cropping management factors for use in the Universal Soil Loss Equation. These cooperative studies of the relationships between erosion management and soil productivity were conducted from the perspective of prediction parameter determination.

1986	S-211	Hydrologic/Water Quality Modeling of Sediment and Chemical Movement	John I. Sewell (TN) andW. L. Harris (CSRS)
Statement of Purpose		Research under this project was directed toward helping to: characterize the influence of climate and cultural management on sediment and chemical movement; develop integrated model systems of plant growth, sediment loss and/or soil productivity into hydrologic and water quality models; and develop improved user interfaces for more effective planning procedures and management practices to reduce sediment and chemical losses.

1987	S-218	Control, Prediction, Economics, and Environmental Effects of Soil Erosion	John I. Sewell (TN) and C. M. Smith (CSRS)
Statement of Purpose		This study, capitalizing on the successes of Project S-174, developed and refined: field-scale techniques for predicting soil erosion losses, integrated management principles and practices for controlling erosion, and procedures to estimate the environmental effects of soil erosion. The economic costs of soil erosion losses were integrated into all of these investigations.

1991	S-249	The Impact of Agricultural Systems on Surface and Ground Water Quality	John I. Sewell (TN), W. L. Harris (CSRS) and Berlie L. Schmidt (CSREES)
Statement of Purpose		The primary research thrust of this cooperative project was to evaluate the efficiency with which existing management-oriented, catchment-scale models describe the movement of nutrients and pesticides into surface and ground water. Along with the evaluation studies, improved model interface systems facilitating the use of the models for planning purposes were developed.

1996	S-273	Ecosystems Model Development and Application of Comprehensive Agricultural Ecosystems Models	John I. Sewell (TN) and Berlie L. Schmidt (CSREES)
Statement of Purpose		The new dimension of this modeling study is addressing total agricultural ecosystems incorporating biotic and economic components. More specifically, existing hydrologic/chemical/sediment models will be improved and evaluated under several land uses and a variety of geographic areas. New systems will be developed to integrate existing data sources into the comprehensive models to enhance their field applicability.

Table III. Researchers who Contributed Data to and Participated in Southern Cooperative Series Bulletins Pertaining to Southern Regional Hydrologic/Watershed/Erosion Modeling Projects

S-53, Bulletins 147, 198-203 (1962-1975)
Project/State	Participants	Project/State	Participants
KY	C. T. Haan	SC	T. V. Wilson, J. T. Ligon
LA	R. L. McFall	TN	C. H. Shelton, J. I. Sewell
MS	J. B. Allen	VA	J. H. Lillard, J. B. Burford, V. O. Shanholtz
NC	E. H. Wiser

S-108, Bulletin 291 (1976-1983)
Project/State	Participants	Project/State	Participants
FL	K. L. Campbell, R. S. Mansell	SC	J. T. Ligon, T. V. Wilson
IN	D. B. Beasley	TN	G. M. Lessman, C. H. Shelton
KY	C. T. Haan	VA	V. O. Shanholtz, M. D. Smolen
MD	M. Yaramanoglu	MS	F. D. Whisler
GA-ARS Watkinsville	R. R. Bruce, A. W. Thomas	NC	E. H. Wiser
OK	F. R. Crow	MS-ARS, Oxford	D. G. DeCoursey, E. H. Seely
OK-ARS, Chickasha	M. H. Freere, A. D. Nicks	MS-US Forest Service, Oxford	S. J. Ursic

S-164, Bulletin 338 (1981-1989)
Project/State	Participants	Project/State	Participants
FL	K. L. Campbell, R. S. Mansell, P. S. Rao, H. Riekark	MS	F. D. Whisler, J. E. Hairston, J. C. Hayes, J. O. Sanford
GA	D. L. Thomas, A. Shirmohammadi	NC	E. H. Wiser
IL	L. K. Ewing	OK	F. R. Crow, B. N. Wilson, C. T. Haan
IN	D. B. Beasley	VA	M. D. Smolen, V. O. Shanholtz, Theo A. Dillaha, III, Saied Mostaghimi
KY	R. Warner, I. D. Moore, G. Coltharp	GA-ARS, Tifton	W. G. Knisel, L. E. Asmussen
LA	R. L. Bengtson	GA-ARS, Watkinsville	A. W. Thomas, R. R. Bruce
MD	M. Yaramanoglu, W. L. Magette	MS-ARS, Oxford	E. H. Seely, M. J. M. Romkens
		MS-US Forest Service, Oxford	S. J. Ursic, M. Auernhamer, P. D. Duffy

S-174, Bulletins 360 and 361 (1982-1991)
Project/State	Participants	Project/State	Participants
AL	B. F. Hajek	SC	J. T. Ligon, T. V. Wilson
FL	M. E. Collins	TN	C. H. Shelton, D. D. Tyler
IL	J. K. Mitchell	TX	Tom Hallmark
KY	B. J. Barfield, R. C. Warner	WI	G. D. Bubenzer
LA	R. L. Bengtson	GA-ARS, Watkinsville	G. W. Langdale
MS	J. E. Hairston, F. D. Whisler	MS-ARS, Oxford	C. K. Mutchler, L. D. Meyer
NC	W. J. Gilliam, D. K. Cassel

S-211, Bulletin 372 (1986-1992)
Project/State	Participants	Project/State	Participants
AL	C. E. Boyd, K. H. Yoo, J. L. Michael	MS	F. D. Whisler, J. E. Hairston, J. W. Pote, D. R. Shaw
AR	D. R. Edwards	NC	J. E. Parsons
FL	K. L. Campbell A. B. Bottcher, D. G. Neary, P. S. C. Rao	OK	B. Wilson, C. T. Haan
GA, Athens	P. B. Bush	SC	J. C. Hayes
GA, Tifton	D. L. Thomas, D. B. Beasley, M. C. Smith	VA	T. A. Dillaha, C. D. Heatwole
IL	L. K. Ewing	GA-ARS, Watkinsville	A. Dillard, R. R. Bruce
IN	B. A. Engel	GA-ARS, Tifton	A. W. Thomas, C. Mills
KY	R. C. Warner, B. J. Barfield	MS-ARS, Oxford	R. Binger
LA	R. L. Bengtson	MS-US Forest Service, Oxford	S. J. Ursic, T. L. Rogerson, E. R. Lawson
MD	A. Shirmohammadi

Table IV. Locations and Years of Some Technical Committee Meetings by Project

Project: S-53
Location	Year	Location	Year
Clemson, SC	1963	Clemson, SC	1970
Oak Ridge, TN	1964	Raleigh, NC	1970
Baton Rouge, LA	1967	Lexington, KY	1971
Blacksburg, VA	1968	Raleigh, NC	1972
Mayaguez, PR	1969	Starkville, MS	1973
		Knoxville, TN	1974

Project: S-82
Location	Year	Location	Year
Raleigh, NC	1975

Project: S-108
Location	Year	Location	Year
Atlanta, GA	1980

Project: S-164
Location	Year	Location	Year
Watkinsville, GA	1982	Atlanta, GA	1985
Atlanta, GA	1983	Raleigh, NC	1986
Lexington, KY	1984

Project: S-174
Location	Year	Location	Year
Atlanta, GA	1982	Baton Rouge, LA	1985
Atlanta, GA	1983	Clemson, SC	1986
Lexington, KY	1984

Project: S-211
Location	Year	Location	Year
Atlanta, GA	1987	Tifton, GA	1989
Watkinsville, GA	1987	Atlanta, GA	1990
Baton Rouge, LA	1988	Raleigh, NC	1991

Project: S-218
Location	Year	Location	Year
Atlanta, GA	1987	Jackson, TN	1989
Urbana, IL	1987	Shreveport, LA	1990
Raleigh, NC	1988	College Station, TX	1991

Project: S-249
Location	Year	Location	Year
Nashville, TN	1992	Fayetteville, AR	1994
Beltsville, MD	1992	Baton Rouge, LA	1995
Blacksburg, VA	1993

Project: S-273
Location	Year	Location	Year
Greensboro, NC	1996	Stillwater, OK	1998
Ames, IA	1997	Knoxville, TN	1999