Boone Watershed

The Boone River watershed covers over 237,000 ha in six north central Iowa counties and lies within the Des Moines Lobe geologic formation, which is the southern most portion of the central North American Prairie Pothole Region. An extensive network of subsurface tile drains and surface ditches have been installed throughout the watershed, resulting in the elimination of most wetland areas and an intensively cropped landscape. The watershed is dominated by corn and soybean production and is also characterized by intensive livestock production. The watershed was identified by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) as discharging some of the highest nitrogen loads during 2000-2002 among the 68 Iowa watersheds that were analyzed within their statewide nutrient balance study.

Relevant Projects

• 2009-2011: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. A Market Feasibility Assessment for a Reverse Auction in the Boone River Watershed. Investigators: C.L. Kling, P.W. Gassman, M. Jha, K. Schilling, C. Wolter, and S. Rabotyagov. Amount: $200,000.
• 2009-10: USEPA. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Development of SWAT Hydrologic Parameters for Specific Iowa Landform Regions. Investigators: M. Buyck, P.W. Gassman, M. Jha, K.E. Schilling, and C.F. Wolter. Amount: $76,797.
• 2006-07: Iowa Farm Bureau, Leopold Center for Sustainable Development, Iowa Soybean Association. Iowa Corn Growers Association. Assessment of Conservation Practices on Agricultural Cropland in Iowa. Investigators: C.L. Kling. P.W. Gassman, M. Jha, H. Feng, and S. Secchi. Amount: $55,000.
• 2006-2007: Prairie Rivers of Iowa RC&D (funding from U.S. Department of Agriculture USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service). Rapid Watershed Assessment for the Boone River Watershed, the Upper Iowa Watershed and the South Skunk Watershed. Investigators: T. Isenhart, C.L. Kling, S. Secchi, M. Tomer, and P.W. Gassman. Amount: $72,500.
• 2005-2008: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service. Water Resource Degradation in the Boone Watershed: Integrating Stakeholder Knowledge and Preferences with Economic and Watershed Models. Investigators: C.L. Kling, M. Duffy, L. Kurkalova, P.W. Gassman, H. Feng, S. Secchi, and J. Cooper. Amount: $590,000.
• 2004-05: Iowa Department of Natural Resources. Adopting Conservation Practices on Agricultural Cropland in Iowa and Possible Nutrient Standards. Investigators: C.L. Kling, H. Feng, S. Secchi, P.W. Gassman, L. Kurkalova. Amount: $53,360.

Conference/Workshop Proceedings/Presentations

• Gassman, P.W., T. Campbell, M. Jha, and S. Secchi. 2009. Application of SWAT2005 for Potential Biofuel Cropping Systems in the Boone River Watershed in North Central Iowa, United States. Presented at the Institute of Crop Science and Resource Conservation, University of Bonn, October 28, Bonn, Germany.
• Gassman, P.W., T. Campbell, M. Jha, and S. Secchi. 2009. Application of SWAT2005 for Alternative Cropping Systems in the Boone River Watershed in North Central Iowa, United States. Presented at the Soil and Water Assessment Tool-Southeast Asia (SWAT-SEA) Conference, January 7-8, Chiang Mai, Thailand.
• Gassman, P.W., M. Jha, and S. Mickelson. 2009. Application of the SWAT2005 Alternative Runoff Curve Number Method for the Boone River Watershed in North Central Iowa, United States. Presented at the Soil and Water Assessment Tool-Southeast Asia (SWAT-SEA) Conference, January 7-8, Chiang Mai, Thailand.
• Gassman, P.W., M. Jha, S. Secchi, and C. Kling. 2008. Tile drainage and crop yield issues encountered using SWAT for the Boone River watershed in north central Iowa. Presented to the Mid-American SWAT Users Group, Jan. 18, St. Paul, MN.
• Gassman, P.W. 2008. Boone River watershed SWAT scenario results. Presented to the Boone River Watershed Association, Jan. 10, Prairie Rivers RC&D (sponsor), Webster City, IA.
• Gassman, P.W., S. Secchi, and M. Jha. 2008. Assessment of bioenergy-related scenarios for the Boone River watershed in north central Iowa. In: Proceedings of the 21st Century Watershed Technology: Improving Water Quality and Environment Conference, March 29-April 3, American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers, Concepción, Chile.
• Gassman, P.W., S. Secchi, and M. Jha. 2007. An alternative approach for analyzing wetlands in SWAT for the Boone River watershed in north central Iowa. In: 4th International SWAT Conference Book of Abtracts, July 3-7, UNESCO-IHE, Institute for Water Education, Delft, Netherlands (http://www.brc.tamus.edu/swat/conf_4th.html; full proceedings forthcoming).
• Gassman, P.W., S. Secchi, and M. Jha. 2007. Boone River watershed SWAT modeling workshop. Presented to the Boone River Watershed Association, Sept. 19, Prairie Rivers RC&D (sponsor), Webster City, IA.
• Gassman, P.W., S. Secchi, and M. Jha. 2007. Development of a modeling system for addressing nitrate and other diffuse pollution problems for the Boone River watershed in north central Iowa. Integrated Environmental Systems Institute, June 25, Cranfield Univ., Cranfield, UK.
• Gassman, P.W., S. Secchi, and M. Jha. 2006. Application of SWAT for the Boone River watershed in north central Iowa. Presented at the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers Annual Meeting, July 9-12, Portland, OR. ASABE Paper 062234, St. Joseph, MI.
• Gassman, P.W., S. Secchi and M. Jha. 2007. Alternative wetland analysis approaches with SWAT for the Boone River watershed in north central Iowa. In: Watershed Management to Meet Water Quality Standards and TMDLs: 4th Conference Proceedings, pp. 180 (abstract). March 10-14, San Antonio, TX, American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers, St. Joseph, MI.
• Secchi, S. and P.W. Gassman. 2006. CARD efforts in the Boone watershed. Presented to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, Dec. 7, Des Moines, IA.
• Secchi, S., L. Kurkalova, C. Kling, J. Cooper, P. Gassman, and M. Jha. 2006. Water resource degradation in the Boone River watershed: Integrating economic and watershed models. In: Managing agricultural landscapes for environmental quality, Strengthening the Science Base: Workshop Program & Abstract Book, pp. 56 (abstract). Oct. 11-13, Kansas City, MO. Soil and Water Conservation Society, Ankeny, IA.

Posters

• Gassman, P.W., C. Tornquist, S. Secchi, T. Campbell, and J. Williams. 2008. Assessment of bioenergy-related scenarios on soil carbon for the Boone River watershed in north central Iowa using Century and EPIC. Presented at the 21st Century Watershed Technology: Improving Water Quality and Environment Conference, March 29-April 3, American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers, Concepción, Chile.
• Gassman, P.W., S. Secchi, M. Jha, L. Kurkalova, T. Campbell, and C.L. Kling. 2008. The Boone River watershed modeling framework: A common land unit (CLU) approach for constructing model simulation scenarios. Presented at the USDA-CSREES National Water Conference: Research, Extension and Education for Water Quality and Quantity, Feb. 3-7, Sparks, NV.

Iowa Landform Watershed

Iowa Department of Natural Resources categorized state’s diverse landscapes into 7 landform regions based on the geological formations (http://www.igsb.uiowa.edu/Browse/landform.htm). The Iowa landform project simplified these landform regions into different but similar set of 7 eco-regions for watershed modeling purpose. Two watersheds were selected in each eco-region to parameterize the SWAT model to facilitate the development and implementation of Total Maximum Daily Load program in the state.

Project

• 2009-10: USEPA. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Development of SWAT Hydrologic Parameters for Specific Iowa Landform Regions. Investigators: M. Buyck, P.W. Gassman, M. Jha, K.E. Schilling, and C.F. Wolter. Amount: $76,797.

Journal Publications

Conference/Workshop Proceedings/Presentations

Posters

Presentations

Iowa-wide Watershed

The watersheds in the state of Iowa were grouped into 13 major watersheds covering more than 85% of the state for studying the economic and environmental impacts of placing conservation practices on the landscape for water quality benefits.

Relevant Projects

• 2006-07: Iowa Farm Bureau, Leopold Center for Sustainable Development, Iowa Soybean Association. Iowa Corn Growers Association. Assessment of Conservation Practices on Agricultural Cropland in Iowa. Investigators: C.L. Kling. S. Secchi, P.W. Gassman, M. Jha, and H. Feng. Amount: $55,000.
• 2005-06: Iowa State Water Resources Research Institute (now, Iowa Water Center). Improving Water Quality in Iowa Rivers: Analysis of Adopting Conservation Practices and Changing Agricultural Land Use. Investigators: C.L. Kling, H. Feng, P.W. Gassman, and L. Kurkalova. Amount: $39,600.
• 2004-05: Iowa Department of Natural Resources. Adopting Conservation Practices on Agricultural Cropland in Iowa and Possible Nutrient Standards. Investigators: C.L. Kling, H. Feng, S. Secchi, P.W. Gassman, L. Kurkalova. Amount: $53,360.

Journal Publications

• Secchi, S., P.W. Gassman, M. Jha, L. Kurkalova, H. Feng, T. Campbell, and C.L. Kling. 2007. The cost of cleaner water: Assessing agricultural pollution reduction at the watershed scale. Journal of Soil and Water Conservation Society 62(1):10-21.
• Secchi, S., M. Jha, L. Kurkalova, H. Feng, P.W. Gassman, and C.L. Kling. 2007. Privatizing ecosystem services: water quality effects from a carbon market. Choices: Food, Farm, and Resource Issues 22(2):97-101.

Conference/Workshop Proceedings/Presentations

• Secchi, S., P.W. Gassman, M. Jha, C.L. Kling, and L. Kurkalova. Water quality effects of corn ethanol versus switchgrass-based biofuels in the Midwest. Conference on Transition to a Bioeconomy: Environmental and Rural Development Impact. October 15-16, 2008, St. Louis, Missouri.
• Jha, M., P.W. Gassman, S. Secchi, and J.G. Arnold. Nonpoint Source Needs Assessment for Iowa Part I: Configuration, Calibration and Validation of SWAT. American Society of Agricultural Engineers 3rd Conference on Watershed Management to Meet Water Quality Standards and Emerging TMDL (Total Maximum Daily Loads). March 5-10, 2005, Atlanta, Georgia.
• Secchi, S., H. Feng, L. Kurkalova, C.L. King, P.W. Gassman, and M. Jha. Nonpoint Source Needs Assessment for Iowa Part II: The Economics of Conservation Practices. American Society of Agricultural Engineers 3rd Conference on Watershed Management to Meet Water Quality Standards and Emerging TMDL (Total Maximum Daily Loads). March 5-10, 2005, Atlanta, Georgia.
• Gassman, P.W., S. Secchi, M. Jha, and C.L. King. Nonpoint Source Needs Assessment for Iowa Part III: Economic and Environmental Outcomes. American Society of Agricultural Engineers 3rd Conference on Watershed Management to Meet Water Quality Standards and Emerging TMDL (Total Maximum Daily Loads). March 5-10, 2005, Atlanta, Georgia.

Posters

• Secchi, S., M. Jha, L. Kurkalova, H. Feng, P.W. Gassman, and C.L. Kling. Effectiveness of agricultural conservation policies and alternatives metrics of water quality. American Agricultural Economics Association (AEAA) Annual Meeting. July 23-26, 2006, Long Beach, California.
• Secchi, S., M. Jha, L. Kurkalova, C.L. Kling, H. Feng, and P.W. Gassman. Assessing water quality improvement needs in the state of Iowa: conservation practices, costs, and watershed modeling. The American Agricultural Economics Association Annual (AAEA) Meeting. July 24-27, 2005, Providence, Rhode Island (2nd place winner).
• Kling, C.L., S. Secchi, P.W. Gassman, M. Jha, L. Kurkalova, and H. Feng. The costs of conservation practices to improve water quality in the state of Iowa. 2005 Agricultural and the Environmental Conference. Iowa State University, Ames, IA, March 8-9, 2005.
• Kling, C.L., T. Campbell, H. Feng, M. Jha, L. Kurkalova, S. Secchi, and P.W. Gassman. The cost of meeting the needs of nonpoint source water pollution control in Iowa. American Society of Agricultural Engineers 3rd Conference on Watershed Management to Meet Water Quality Standards and Emerging TMDL (Total Maximum Daily Loads). March 5-10, 2005, Atlanta, Georgia.

Maquoketa Watershed

The MRB covers about 4,900 km2 of predominantly agricultural land in northeast Iowa. It is one of the 13 tributaries of the Mississippi River and contributes significantly to the nutrient contamination mainly through agricultural nonpoint source pollution.

Relevant Projects

• 2009-10: USEPA. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Development of SWAT Hydrologic Parameters for Specific Iowa Landform Regions. Investigators: M. Buyck, P.W. Gassman, M. Jha, K.E. Schilling, and C.F. Wolter. Amount: $76,797.
• 2006-07: Iowa Farm Bureau, Leopold Center for Sustainable Development, Iowa Soybean Association. Iowa Corn Growers Association. Assessment of Conservation Practices on Agricultural Cropland in Iowa. Investigators: C.L. Kling. P.W. Gassman, M. Jha, H. Feng, and S. Secchi. Amount: $55,000.
• 2004-05: Iowa Department of Natural Resources. Adopting Conservation Practices on Agricultural Cropland in Iowa and Possible Nutrient Standards. Investigators: C.L. Kling, H. Feng, S. Secchi, P.W. Gassman, L. Kurkalova. Amount: $53,360.

Journal Publications

• Jha, M., B.A. Babcock, P.W. Gassman, and C.L. Kling. 2009. Economic and environmental impacts of alternative energy crops. International Agricultural Engineering Journal 18(3-4):15-23.
• Secchi, S., M. Jha, L. Kurkalova, H. Feng, P.W. Gassman, and C.L. Kling. 2007. Privatizing ecosystem services: water quality effects from a carbon market. Choices: Food, Farm, and Resource Issues 22(2):97-101.
• Reungsang, P., R.S. Kanwar, M. Jha, P.W. Gassman, K. Ahmad, and A. Saleh. 2007. Calibration and validation of SWAT for the Upper Maquoketa River Watershed. International Agricultural Engineering Journal 16(1-2):35-48.
• Secchi, S., P.W. Gassman, M. Jha, L. Kurkalova, H. Feng, T. Campbell, and C.L. Kling. 2007. The cost of cleaner water: Assessing agricultural pollution reduction at the watershed scale. Journal of Soil and Water Conservation Society 62(1):10-21.
• Jha, M., P.W. Gassman, S. Secchi, R. Gu, and J.G. Arnold. 2004. Impact of watershed subdivision level on flows, sediment loads, and nutrient losses predicted by SWAT. Journal of American Water Resources Association 40(3):811-825.

Conference/Workshop Proceedings/Presentations

• Jha, M., P.W. Gassman, C.L. Kling, and B.A. Babcock. Environmental and economic impacts of alternative energy crops. SWAT-SEA International Conference. Jan 5-7, 2009, Chiang Mai, Thailand.
• Secchi, S., P.W. Gassman, M. Jha, C.L. Kling, and L. Kurkalova. Water quality effects of corn ethanol versus switchgrass-based biofuels in the Midwest. Conference on Transition to a Bioeconomy: Environmental and Rural Development Impact. October 15-16, 2008, St. Louis, Missouri.
• Jha, M., P.W. Gassman, S. Secchi, and J.G. Arnold. Nonpoint Source Needs Assessment for Iowa Part I: Configuration, Calibration and Validation of SWAT. American Society of Agricultural Engineers 3rd Conference on Watershed Management to Meet Water Quality Standards and Emerging TMDL (Total Maximum Daily Loads). March 5-10, 2005, Atlanta, Georgia.
• Secchi, S., H. Feng, L. Kurkalova, C.L. King, P.W. Gassman, and M. Jha. Nonpoint Source Needs Assessment for Iowa Part II: The Economics of Conservation Practices. American Society of Agricultural Engineers 3rd Conference on Watershed Management to Meet Water Quality Standards and Emerging TMDL (Total Maximum Daily Loads). March 5-10, 2005, Atlanta, Georgia.
• Gassman, P.W., S. Secchi, M. Jha, and C.L. King. Nonpoint Source Needs Assessment for Iowa Part III: Economic and Environmental Outcomes. American Society of Agricultural Engineers 3rd Conference on Watershed Management to Meet Water Quality Standards and Emerging TMDL (Total Maximum Daily Loads). March 5-10, 2005, Atlanta, Georgia.
• Jha, M., P.W. Gassman, S. Secchi, R. Gu, and J.G. Arnold. Hydrologic simulation of the Maquoketa River Watershed with SWAT. In proceedings of American Water Resources Association Spring Specialty Conference: Agricultural Hydrology and Water Quality. May 12-14, 2003, Kansas City, Missouri.

Posters

• Secchi, S., M. Jha, L. Kurkalova, H. Feng, P.W. Gassman, and C.L. Kling. Effectiveness of agricultural conservation policies and alternatives metrics of water quality. American Agricultural Economics Association (AEAA) Annual Meeting. July 23-26, 2006, Long Beach, California.
• Reungsang, P., R.S. Kanwar, M. Jha, P.W. Gassman, K. Ahmad, and A. Saleh. Assessment of agricultural management practices in the Upper Maquoketa River Watershed, Northeast Iowa: Using two modeling approaches. 3rd International SWAT User’s Conference. July 11-15, 2005, Zurich, Switzerland.
• Secchi, S., M. Jha, L. Kurkalova, C.L. Kling, H. Feng, and P.W. Gassman. Assessing water quality improvement needs in the state of Iowa: conservation practices, costs, and watershed modeling. The American Agricultural Economics Association Annual (AAEA) Meeting. July 24-27, 2005, Providence, Rhode Island (2nd place winner).
• Kling, C.L., S. Secchi, P.W. Gassman, M. Jha, L. Kurkalova, and H. Feng. The costs of conservation practices to improve water quality in the state of Iowa. 2005 Agricultural and the Environmental Conference. Iowa State University, Ames, IA, March 8-9, 2005.
• Kling, C.L., T. Campbell, H. Feng, M. Jha, L. Kurkalova, S. Secchi, and P.W. Gassman. The cost of meeting the needs of nonpoint source water pollution control in Iowa. American Society of Agricultural Engineers 3rd Conference on Watershed Management to Meet Water Quality Standards and Emerging TMDL (Total Maximum Daily Loads). March 5-10, 2005, Atlanta, Georgia.

Raccoon Watershed

The RRW receives water from portions of 17 Iowa counties (almost 9,400 km²) and flows approximately 300 km from its origin in Buena Vista County to its confluence with the Des Moines River in the City of Des Moines. Water from the Raccoon River has been the major source of drinking water for the central Iowa communities.

Relevant Projects

• 2009-10: USEPA. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. A Market Feasibility Assessment for Water Quality Trading and Reverse Auctions in the Raccoon River watershed. Investigators: C.L. Kling, P.W. Gassman, M. Jha, K. Schilling, C. Wolter, S. Rabotyagov. Amount: $200,000.
• 2009: USEPA. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Development of SWAT Hydrologic Parameters for Specific Iowa Landform Regions. Investigators: M. Buyck, P.W. Gassman, M. Jha, K.E. Schilling, C.F. Wolter. Amount: $76,797.
• 2006-07: Iowa Farm Bureau, Leopold Center for Sustainable Development, Iowa Soybean Association. Iowa Corn Growers Association. Assessment of Conservation Practices on Agricultural Cropland in Iowa. Investigators: C.L. Kling. P.W. Gassman, M. Jha, H. Feng, and S. Secchi. Amount: $55,000.
• 2004-05: Iowa Department of Natural Resources. Adopting Conservation Practices on Agricultural Cropland in Iowa and Possible Nutrient Standards. Investigators: C.L. Kling, H. Feng, S. Secchi, P.W. Gassman, L. Kurkalova. Amount: $53,360.

Journal Publications

• Jha, M.., C.F. Wolter, P.W. Gassman, and K.E. Schilling. 2010 (in press) Assessment of TMDL implementation strategies for nitrate impairment of the Raccoon River, Iowa. Journal of Environmental Quality.
• Feng, H., M. Jha, P.W. Gassman. 2009. The allocation of nutrient load reduction across a watershed: Assessing delivery coefficients as an implementation tool. Review of Agricultural Economics 31(1):183-204. doi:10.1111/j.1467-9353.2008.01432.x.
• Jha, M., S. Rabotyagov, P.W. Gassman. 2009. Optimal placement of conservation practices using genetic algorithm with SWAT. International Agricultural Engineering Journal 18(1-2):41-50.
• Schilling, K.E., M. Jha, Y.-K. Zhang, P.W. Gassman, C.F. Wolter. 2008. Impact of land use and land cover change on the water balance of a large agricultural watershed: Historical effects and future directions. Water Resources Research 44: W00A09. doi:10.1029/2007WR006644.
• Jha, M., J.G. Arnold, P.W. Gassman. 2007. Water quality modeling for the Raccoon River Watershed using SWAT. Transactions of the ASABE 50(2):479-493.
• Burkart, C., M. Jha. 2007. Nitrate Reduction Approaches. Choices: Food, Farm, and Resource Issues 22(2):103-107.

Report

• Schilling, K.E., C.F. Wolter, D.E. Christiansen, D.J. Schnoebelen, and M. Jha. 2008. Water quality improvement plan for Raccoon River, Iowa. TMDL Report. Watershed Improvement Section, Iowa Department of Natural Resources, 202 p.

Conference/Workshop Proceedings/Presentations

• Jha, M., S. Rabotyagov, P.W. Gassman, H. Feng, and T. Campbell. Optimal placement of conservation practices in the Raccoon River Watershed in Iowa via a Genetic Algorithm SWAT interface. International Conference on 21st Century Watershed Technology: Improving Water Quality and Environment. American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers (ASABE). March 29 - April 3, 2008, Concepcion, Chile.
• Jha, M., C.F. Wolter, K.E. Schilling, P.W. Gassman, and S. Secchi. Development of a TMDL for the Raccoon River in West Central Iowa using SWAT. American Society of Agricultural Engineers (ASABE) 4th conference on Watershed Management to Meet Water Quality Standards and TMDLs. March 11-12, 2007, San Antonio, Texas.
• Feng, H. and M. Jha and P.W. Gassman. Allocating nutrient load reduction across a watershed: Implications of different principles. American Agricultural Economics Association (AEAA) Annual Meeting. July 23-26, 2006, Long Beach, California.
• Jha, M., K.E. Schilling, P.W. Gassman, C.F. Wolter, and J.G. Arnold. SWAT modeling for the Raccoon River Watershed in Iowa. American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers (ASABE) Annual International Meeting. July 9-12, 2006, Portland, Oregon.

Sny Magill Creek/Bloody Run Creek Watershed

The Sny Magill Creek (91.3 km²) and Bloody Run Creek (98 km²) watersheds are located adjacent to each other in Clayton County, Iowa in the Paleozoic Plateau ecoregion. Both watersheds are characterized by Karst features (caves, sinkholes, and springs) and feature coldwater streams that support put-and-take trout fishing. Extensive implementation of terraces and other conservation practices have been carried out in both watersheds to improve stream water quality, part of which occurred within a paired watershed study.

Funded Projects

• U.S. Department of Agriculture, Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service. Economics and Water Quality Effects of Multiple Conservation Practices in Three Midwest Watersheds. 2005-2008 (with C.L. Kling, M. Helmers, T. Isenhart, W. Simpkins, K. Schilling, and M. Al-Kaisi), $645,000.
• Iowa Department of Natural Resources. Modeling of the Sny Magill Watershed. 2000-2001 (with C.L. Kling and A. Saleh), $22,931.

Journal Articles

• Gassman, P.W., J.A. Tisl, E.A. Palas, C.L. Fields, T.M. Isenhart, M.J. Helmers, C.F. Wolter, K. Schilling, and L.S. Seigley. 2010. Conservation practice establishment in two northeast Iowa watersheds: Strategies, water quality implications, and lessons learned. Journal of Soil and Water Conservation 65(6): 381-392. doi: 10.2489/jswc.65.6.381.
• Schilling, K.E., M.D. Tomer, P.W. Gassman, C.L. Kling, T.M. Isenhart, T.B. Moorman, W.W. Simpkins, and C.F. Wolter. 2007. A tale of three watersheds: Non-point source pollution and conservation practices across Iowa. CHOICES: The Magazine of Food, Farm, and Resource Issues. American Agricultural Economics Association. 22(2): 87-95.

Conference Papers and Presentations

• Saleh, A., P.W. Gassman, L.S. Seigley, and E. Palas. 2001. Application of ArcView soil and water assessment tool (AVSWAT) model for the Sny Magill Creek Watershed in northeast Iowa. Presented at the 5th International Conference; Diffuse/Nonpoint Pollution and Watershed Management, June 10-15, Marquette Univ., Milwaukee, WI. International Water Association, London, UK.
• Gassman, P., J. Herring, T. Isenhart, S. Sengupta, M. Jha, J. Tisl, E. Palas, C. Fields, T. Campbell, and L. Seigley. 2006. Simulation of conservation practice adoption and water quality impacts in an Iowa CEAP watershed with SWAT. In: Managing agricultural landscapes for environmental quality, Strengthening the Science Base: Workshop Program & Abstract Book, pp. 60 (abstract). Oct. 11-13, Kansas City, MO. Soil and Water Conservation Society, Ankeny, IA.
• Kling, C., P. Gassman, M. Helmers, T. Isenhart, W. Simpkins, M. Al-Kaisi, M. Tomer, M. Burkart, T. Moorman, M. Jha, and S. Secchi. 2006. Economic and water quality effects of multiple conservation practices in three Midwest watersheds. In: Proceedings of the 2006 USDA-CSREES National Water Quality Conference: Research, Extension and Education for Water Quantity and Quality, Feb. 5-9, San Antonio, TX (abstract: http://www.usawaterquality.org/conferences/2006/AgBMP.html).
• Gassman, P.W., T.M. Isenhart, M. Jha, S. Secchi and J.M. Herring. 2007. Simulation of BMP water quality impacts for a watershed in northeast Iowa. In: Proceedings of the 2007 USDA-CSREES National Water Quality Conference: Research, Extension and Education for Water Quality and Quantity, Jan. 28-Feb. 1, Savannah, GA (abstract: http://www.usawaterquality.org/conferences/2007/AgBMP.html).

Poster Papers

• Gassman, P., T.M. Isenhart, J.P. Herring, C.L. Fields, and L.S. Seigley. 2006. Conservation Practice Adoption and Water Quality Impacts in Two Northeast Iowa CEAP Watersheds. Presented at the 2006 USDA-CSREES National Water Quality Conference: Research, Extension and Education for Water Quantity and Quality, Feb. 5-9, San Antonio, TX (abstract: http://www.usawaterquality.org/conferences/2006/AgBMP.html).

CARD Report

• Saleh, A., P.W. Gassman, and C.L. Kling. 2002 (Revised). Sny Magill watershed modeling project: Final report. Staff Report 01-SR 95. CARD, Iowa State Univ., Ames, IA.

Upper Mississippi River Basin Watershed

The UMRB flows roughly 1,300 miles, from Lake Itasca in northern Minnesota to the confluence with the Ohio River at the southern Illinois, and drains approximately 490,000 km2 of prime agricultural lands covering portions of seven Midwestern states. Despite representing only about 15% of the Mississippi River drainage area, it is identified as a major contributor of nutrients (about 43% of the nitrogen and 26% of the phosphorous loads) to the Gulf of Mexico causing seasonal oxygen-depleted condition known as hypoxia.

Relevant Projects

• 2008-10: NSF. National Science Foundation. Biofuels and the Hydrologic Cycle. Investigators: R. Anex, R.W. Arritt, B.K. Gelder, P.W. Gassman, M. Jha. Amount: $307,903.
• 2007-09: DOE/USDA. Joint U.S. Department of Energy - U.S. Department of Agriculture, Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service (CSREES). Expansion of Ethanol Production: Evaluation of Costs and Benefits to Rural Communities in the Upper Mississippi River Basin. Investigators: L. Kurkalova, C.L. Kling, P.W. Gassman, M. Jha, S. Secchi, D. Otto, A. Carriquiry. Amount: $676,722.
• 2006-08: NASA/USDA. Joint National Aeronautical and Space Agency - U.S. Department of Agriculture Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service (CSREES). Interactive Drivers of Land-use/land-cover Change in Agricultural Areas: Climate and Land Manager Choices. Investigators: C.L. Kling, E.S. Takle, P.W. Gassman, H. Feng. Amount: $465,900.

Journal Publications

• Kurkalova, L., S. Secchi, P.W. Gassman, S. Rabotyagov, M. Jha, and T. Campbell. Energy prices and water quality in the Midwest. Canadian Journal of Agricultural Economics (under review, October 2009).
• Takle, E.S., M. Jha, E. Lu, R.W. Arritt, W.J. Gutowski, Jr., and the NARCAP Team. Streamflow in the Upper Mississippi River Basin as simulated by SWAT driven by 20C results of NARCCAP regional climate models. Meteorologische Zeitschift (revised, February 2010)
• Secchi, S., P.W. Gassman, M. Jha, L. Kurkalova, and C.L. Kling. 2010 (in press) The water quality effects of corn expansion in the Midwest. Ecological Applications.
• Rabotyagov, S., T. Campbell, M. Jha, P.W. Gassman, J.G. Arnold, L. Kurkalova, S. Secchi, H. Feng, and C.L. Kling. 2010 (in press). Least cost control of agricultural nutrient contributions to the Gulf of Mexico Hypoxic Zone. Ecological Applications.
• Lu, E., E.S. Takle, and M. Jha. 2009. The relationships between climatic and hydrological changes in the Upper Mississippi River Basin: A SWAT and multi-GCM study. Journal of Hydrometeorology (in press) doi:10.1175/2009JHM1150.1.
• Jha, M., J.G. Arnold, P.W. Gassman, F. Giorgi, and R. Gu. 2006. Climate change sensitivity assessment on Upper Mississippi River Basin streamflows using SWAT. Journal of American Water Resources Association 42(4):997-1016.
• Takle, E.S., M. Jha, and C.J. Anderson. 2005. Hydrological cycle in the Upper Mississippi River Basin: 20th century simulations by multiple GCMs. Geophysical Research Letters 32, L18407, doi:10.1029/2005GL023630.
• Jha, M., Z. Pan, E.S. Takle, and R. Gu. 2004. Impact of climate change on stream flow in the Upper Mississippi River Basin: A regional climate model perspective. Journal of Geophysical Research 109, D09102, doi:10.1029/2003JD003686.

Book Chapters

• Takle, E.S., M. Jha, and E. Lu. 2009. Climate Change and Streamflow in the Upper Mississippi River Basin. In: Understanding Climate Change: Climate Variability, Predictability & Change in the Midwestern United States (Eds. S.C. Pryor). Indiana University Press. Bloomington, IN, ISBN: 978-0-253-35344-3.
• Gassman, P.W., S. Secchi, M. Jha, and L. Kurkalova. 2006. Upper Mississippi River Basin modeling system part 1: SWAT input data requirements and issues. In: Coastal Hydrology and Processes (Eds. V.P. Singh and Y.J. Xu). Water Resources Publications, Highland Ranch, CO, ISBN: 1-887201-46-7.
• Jha, M., P.W. Gassman, S. Secchi, and J.G. Arnold. 2006. Upper Mississippi River Basin modeling system part 2: Baseline simulation results. In: Coastal Hydrology and Processes (Eds. V.P. Singh and Y.J. Xu). Water Resources Publications, Highland Ranch, CO, ISBN: 1-887201-46-7.
• Kling, C.L., S. Secchi, M. Jha, H. Feng, P.W. Gassman, and L.A. Kurkalova. 2006. Upper Mississippi River Basin modeling system part 3: Conservation practice scenario results. In: Coastal Hydrology and Processes (Eds. V.P. Singh and Y.J. Xu). Water Resources Publications, Highland Ranch, CO, ISBN: 1-887201-46-7.
• Takle, E.S., C. Anderson, M. Jha, and P.W. Gassman. 2006. Upper Mississippi River Basin modeling system part 4: Climate change impacts on flow and water quality. In: Coastal Hydrology and Processes (Eds. V.P. Singh and Y.J. Xu). Water Resources Publications, Highland Ranch, CO, ISBN: 1-887201-46-7.

Conference/Workshop Proceedings/Presentations

• Kurkalova, L., S. Secchi, P.W. Gassman, S. Rabotyagov, M. Jha, and T. Campbell. Energy prices and water quality in the Upper Mississippi River Basin. 2010 Land Grant and Sea Grant National Water Conference. February 21-25, 2010. Hilton Head Island, South Carolina.
• Jha, M., S. Rabotyagov, C.L. Kling, P.W. Gassman, and E.S. Takle. Effect of potential future climate change on the cost-effective nonpoint source pollution reduction strategies in the Upper Mississippi River Basin. International SWAT User’s Conference. August 5-7, 2009. Boulder, Colorado.
• Takle, E.S., M. Jha, E. Lu, R.W. Arritt, W.J. Gutowski, Jr., and the NARCCAP Team. Streamflow in the Upper Mississippi River Basin as simulated by SWAT driven by 20C results of the NARCCAP regional climate models. 21st Century Challenges in Regional-scale Climate Modeling Workshop. May 4-8, 2009. Lund, Sweden.
• Lu, E., E.S. Takle, M. Jha, and NARCCAP Team. Changes of climate and hydrological cycle in the Upper Mississippi River Basin. American Meteorological Society 89th Annual Meeting. January 11-15, 2009, Phoenix, Arizona.
• Jha, M., P.W. Gassman, S. Secchi, C.L. Kling. SWAT modeling approach for a large watershed in north-central USA. SWAT-SEA International Conference. Jan 5-7, 2009, Chiang Mai, Thailand.
• Secchi, S., P.W. Gassman, M. Jha, C.L. Kling, and L. Kurkalova. Water quality effects of corn ethanol versus switchgrass-based biofuels in the Midwest. Conference on Transition to a Bioeconomy: Environmental and Rural Development Impact. October 15-16, 2008, St. Louis, Missouri.
• Kurkalova, L.A., S. Secchi, C.L. Kling, P.W. Gassman, and M. Jha. Rotation and water quality effects of harvesting corn stover. American Agricultural Economics Association (AAEA) Annual Meeting. July 27-29, 2008, Orlando, Florida.
• Secchi, S., P.W. Gassman, M. Jha, L. Kurkalova, and C.L. Kling. Biofuels and water quality in the Midwest: Corn versus Switchgrass as Feedstock. Iowa Water Conference: Linking Land Management and Water Quality. Feb. 26-27, 2008, Ames, Iowa AND Conference on the Ecological Dimensions of Biofuels, Ecological Society of America. March 10, Washington, D.C.
• Rabotyagov, S., T. Campbell, M. Jha, P.W. Gassman, J.G. Arnold, L. Kurkalova, S. Secchi, H. Feng, and C.L. Kling. Least cost control of agricultural nutrient contributions to local water and the Gulf of Mexico dead zone. Australian Agricultural and Resources Economics Annual Meeting. Feb. 5-8, 2008, Canberra, Australia.
• Takle, E.S., M. Jha, C.J. Anderson, and P.W. Gassman. Climate change impacts on the hydrology of the Upper Mississippi River Basin as determined by an ensemble of GCMs. American Meteorological Society 86th Annual Meeting. January 29-February 2, 2006, Atlanta, Georgia.
• Kling, C.L., H. Feng, P.W. Gassman, M. Jha, L. Kurkalova, and S. Secchi. Modeling nutrient transport in the Upper Mississippi River Basin. Mississippi River Basin Nutrients Science Workshop. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. October 4-6, 2005, St. Louis, Missouri.
• Takle, E.S., M. Jha, P.W. Gassman, C.J. Anderson, and S. Secchi. Climate change impacts on the hydrology and water quality of the Upper Mississippi River Basin. 3rd International SWAT User’s Conference. July 11-15, 2005, Zurich, Switzerland.
• Jha, M., P.W. Gassman, S. Secchi, J.G. Arnold, L. Kurkalova, and C.L. Kling. An assessment of alternative conservation practice and land use strategies on the hydrology and water quality of the Upper Mississippi River Basin. 3rd International SWAT User’s Conference. July 11-15, 2005, Zurich, Switzerland.
• Kling, C.L., H. Feng, P.W. Gassman, M. Jha, L. Kurkalova, and S. Secchi. Natural Resources at Risk: Water Quality and the Dead Zone in the Gulf of Mexico. Association of Environmental and Resource Economist (AERE) Workshop. June 12-14, 2005, Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming.
• Takle, E.S., M. Jha, Z. Pan, and R. Gu. Climate change and uncertainty of stream flow scenarios of the Upper Mississippi River Basin by use of a regional climate model. American Meteorological Society 85th Annual Meeting. January 9-13, 2005, San Diego, California.
• Gassman, P.W., E.S. Takle, C. Anderson, M. Jha, and R.M. Cruse. Climate Change Projection Impact on Soil Carbon and other Environmental Indicators for the Upper Mississippi River Basin. 3rd USDA Symposium on Greenhouse Gases & Carbon Sequestration in Agriculture and Forestry. March 21-24, 2005, Baltimore, Maryland.
• Takle, E.S., M. Jha, Z. Pan, and R. Gu. Impacts of climate change on flow in the Upper Mississippi River Basin. Regional-scale Climate Modeling Workshop, World Climate Research Program (WCRP), World Meteorological Organization (WMO). March 29-April 2, 2004, Lund, Sweden.
• Takle, E.S., M. Jha, and C.J. Anderson. Changes in stream flow due to increase in greenhouse gas forcing. International Workshop on IPCC Model Analysis. March 1-4, 2005, Honolulu, Hawaii.
• Jha, M., P.W. Gassman, S. Secchi, and J.G. Arnold. Simulation framework for water quality modeling in the Upper Mississippi River Basin. In Proceedings of American Society of Agricultural Engineers 2nd Conference on Watershed Management to Meet Emerging TMDL Environmental Regulations. November 8-12, 2003, Albuquerque, New Mexico.
• Jha, M., P.W. Gassman, and R. Gu. Modeling diffuse pollution at a watershed scale using SWAT. In proceedings of 2nd International SWAT User’s Conference. July 1-4, 2003, Bari, Italy.
• Gassman, P.W., M. Jha, S. Secchi, and J.G. Arnold. Initial calibration and validation of the SWAT model for the Upper Mississippi River Basin. In proceedings of International Water Association 7th International Conference on Diffuse Pollution and Basin Management. August 17-22, 2003, University College, Dublin.
• Secchi, S., P.W. Gassman, M. Jha, and J.G. Arnold. Application of SWAT for the Upper Mississippi River Basin. In proceedings of American Water Resources Association Spring Specialty Conference: Agricultural Hydrology and Water Quality. May 12-14, 2003, Kansas City, Missouri.

Posters

• C.L. Kling, S. Rabotyagov, M. Jha, and P.W. Gassman. Optimal targeting of conservation practices for nonpoint source pollution control in the Upper Mississippi River Basin. SWCS Science to Solutions Conference. December 9-11, 2009, Des Moines, Iowa.
• M. Jha, E.S. Takle, P.W. Gassman, and C.L. Kling. Effect of potential future climate change on the hydrology and water quality in the Upper Mississippi River Basin. SWCS Science to Solutions Conference. December 9-11, 2009, Des Moines, Iowa.
• C.L. Kling, S. Secchi, P.W. Gassman, M. Jha, and L. Kurkalova. Water quality effects of corn expansion in the Midwest. SWCS Science to Solutions Conference. December 9-11, 2009, Des Moines, Iowa.
• Jha, M., S. Rabotyagov, E.S. Takle, E. Lu, P.W. Gassman, and C.L. Kling. Interactive Drivers and Impacts of Land Use Changes: Climate and Conservation Policy. NASA Land Use Land Cover Science Team Meeting. March 31-April 2, 2009, Bethesda, Maryland.
• Jha, M., S. Rabotyagov, C.L. Kling, P.W. Gassman, and E.S. Takle. Effect of potential future climate change on the cost-effective nonpoint source pollution reduction strategies in the UMRB. International Scientific Congress on Climate Change. March 10-12, 2009, Copenhagen, Denmark.
• Jha, M., E.S. Takle, E. Lu, P.W. Gassman, and C.L. Kling. Interactive Drivers of Land Cover and Land Use Change in the Upper Mississippi River Basin (Part III). NASA Carbon Cycle & Ecosystems Joint Science Workshop. May 1-2, 2008, Adelphi, Maryland.
• Kling, C.L., E.S. Takle, H. Feng, M. Jha, S. Rabotyagov, E. Lu, P.W. Gassman, J. Parcel, and T. Campbell. Interactive Drivers of Land Cover and Land Use Change in the Upper Mississippi River Basin (Part II). NASA Land-Cover and Land-Use Change Science Team Meeting. April 4-6, 2007, Adelphi, Maryland.
• Feng, H., P.W. Gassman, M. Jha, C.L. Kling, S. Secchi, E.S. Takle, and L. Kurkalova. Interactive Drivers of Land Cover and Land Use Change in the Upper Mississippi River Basin (Part I). NASA Land-Cover and Land-Use Change Science Team Meeting. October 10-12, 2006, Adelphi, Maryland.
• Jha, M., P.W. Gassman, S. Secchi, L. Kurkalova, and H. Feng. SWAT Baseline data inputs and simulation results for the Upper Mississippi River Basin. Nutrients Science Workshop. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. October 4-6, 2005, St. Louis, Missouri.
• Takle, E.S., M. Jha, and C.J. Anderson. Changes in Stream Flow due to Increase in Greenhouse Gas Forcing. International Workshop on Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Model Analysis. International Pacific Research Center, University of Hawaii, March 1-4, 2005, Honolulu, Hawaii.
• Takle, E.S., C.L. Kling, H. Asbjornsen, P.W. Gassman, M. Jha, R.W. Arritt, W.J. Gutowski, Jr., S. Secchi, H. Feng, and L. Kurkalova. Forecasting environmental change: policy guidance from fully coupled and interactive human behavior and physically based models. National Council for Science and Environment (NCSE) Conference. Washington, D.C., February 3-4, 2005.
• Kling, C.L., L. Kurkalova, S. Secchi, P.W. Gassman, and M. Jha. Spatial water quality trade-offs: Upper Mississippi River Basin. American Agricultural Economics Association (AAEA) Annual Meeting. Montreal, Quebec, July 27-30, 2003. (1st place winner))
• Secchi, S., P.W. Gassman, M. Jha, and J.G. Arnold. Application of SWAT for the Upper Mississippi River Basin. AWRA Spring Specialty Conference: Agricultural Hydrology and Water Quality. Kansas City, Missouri, May 12-14, 2003.
• Jha, M., Z. Pan, E.S. Takle, and R. Gu. Climate Change Induced Streamflow in the Upper Mississippi River Basin. 14th Symposium of American Meteorological Society on Global Change and Climate Variations. Long Beach, California, February 9-13, 2003.
• Pan, Z., M. Jha, E.S. Takle, and R. Gu. Regional Climate Model Based Water Quality Assessment for Climate Change in the Upper Mississippi River Basin. 2nd ICTP Conference on Detection and Modeling of Regional Climate Change. Trieste, Italy, September 30-October 4, 2002.
• Gassman, P.W., S. Secchi, M. Jha, J.G. Arnold, R. Srinivasan and S. Chinnasamy. Application of SWAT for Alternative Management Scenarios for the Upper Mississippi River Basin. 6th International Conference of International Water Association on Diffuse Pollution. Amsterdam, The Netherlands, September 30-October 4, 2002.

Walnut Creek/Squaw Creek Watershed

The Walnut (52.2 km²) and Squaw (47.4 km²) creek watersheds are two adjacent watersheds with similar basin characteristics located in the southern Iowa Drift Plain, an area characterized as steeply rolling hills and well developed drainage. These watersheds were selected for a paired watershed approach to study nonpoint source pollution reduction strategies by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources.

Relevant Projects

• 2009-10: USEPA. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. A Market Feasibility Assessment for a Reverse Auction in the Walnut Creek Watershed. Investigators: C.L. Kling, P.W. Gassman, M. Jha, K.E. Schilling, C.F. Wolter, and S. Rabotyagov. Amount: $200,000.
• 2004-06: USDA/CSREES. U.S. Department of Agriculture/Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Services (now AFRI). Water Quality and Economic Effects of Multiple Conservation Practices in Three Midwest Watersheds. Investigators: C.L. Kling, M.M. Al-Kaisi, P.W. Gassman, M.J. Helmers, T.M. Isenhart, K.E. Schilling, and W.W. Simpkins. Amount: $645,600.

Journal Publications

• Rabotyagov, S., M. Jha, and T. Campbell. 2009. Resilient optimal solutions for nonpoint source pollution reduction at watershed scale. Canadian Journal of Agricultural Economics (revised, January 2010)
• Rabotyagov, S., M. Jha, and T. Campbell. 2010 (in press) Impact of crop rotations on optimal selection of conservation practices for water quality protection. Journal of Soil and Water Conservation.
• Jha, M., K.E. Schilling, P.W. Gassman, and C.F. Wolter. 2010 (in press) Targeting land cover change for nitrate load reductions in an agricultural watershed. Journal of Soil and Water Conservation.
• Schilling, K.E., M.D. Tomer, P.W. Gassman, C.L. Kling, T.M. Isenhart, T.B. Moorman, W.W. Simpkins, and C.F. Wolter. A tale of three watersheds: Nonpoint source pollution and conservation practices across Iowa. Choices: Food, Farm, and Resource Issues 22(2):87-95.