Investigation of Strategies for Reducing Agricultural Nonpoint Sources in the Chowan River Basin

摘要

A three-year study was conducted in the Chowan River Basin to measure water quality changes resulting from implementation of best managment practices (BMP's) to reduce agriculural nonpoint sources. Important components of the overall study framework were to conduct surveys for assessing agricultural practices and producer attitudes associated with the development and evaluation of an agricultural nonpoint source control program. A cooperatively executed field sampling program resulted in over 13,000 actual USGS flow values, and 876 concentration samples. Predictive models were developed to fill data gaps and allow calculation of annual yields. Important components of this total systems approach are recommendations to control agricultural nonpoint sources and methods for evaluating water quality changes.