Hydrological impacts of the conservation reserve program—a mini review

The Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) is a voluntary land conservation initiative implemented by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). The program aims to improve the natural environment and enhance wildlife by incentivizing landowners to convert sensitive agricultural land into vegetative cov...

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Main Authors: Layda Belia Spor Leal, Tirthankar Roy, Daniel R. Uden, Karina Schoengold
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2024-12-01
Series:Frontiers in Water
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frwa.2024.1506255/full
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author Layda Belia Spor Leal
Tirthankar Roy
Daniel R. Uden
Daniel R. Uden
Daniel R. Uden
Karina Schoengold
Karina Schoengold
author_facet Layda Belia Spor Leal
Tirthankar Roy
Daniel R. Uden
Daniel R. Uden
Daniel R. Uden
Karina Schoengold
Karina Schoengold
author_sort Layda Belia Spor Leal
collection DOAJ
description The Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) is a voluntary land conservation initiative implemented by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). The program aims to improve the natural environment and enhance wildlife by incentivizing landowners to convert sensitive agricultural land into vegetative cover. This mini review synthesizes known peer-reviewed research on the effects of CRP on hydrological processes, highlighting the effects on water quality, groundwater levels, surface water yields, surface water runoff, and effects on the hydrological cycle. These studies show that the CRP appears to have a positive impact on water quality, decreasing the levels of nitrogen and suspended solids. Furthermore, the CRP denotes positive results when used to manage excess runoff on surrounding land. Regarding groundwater volume, the impact of CRP varied by location and showed limited changes in volume. Despite these findings, this review highlights the need for further and continued research on the effects of CRP on hydrology to improve monitoring strategies and increase its benefits on the environment.
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spelling doaj-art-58c225deff7e40d68a44c58900e301c32024-12-09T06:28:52ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Water2624-93752024-12-01610.3389/frwa.2024.15062551506255Hydrological impacts of the conservation reserve program—a mini reviewLayda Belia Spor Leal0Tirthankar Roy1Daniel R. Uden2Daniel R. Uden3Daniel R. Uden4Karina Schoengold5Karina Schoengold6Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, United StatesDepartment of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, United StatesSchool of Natural Resources, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, United StatesDepartment of Agronomy and Horticulture, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, United StatesCenter for Resilience in Agricultural Working Landscapes, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, United StatesDepartment of Agricultural Economics, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, United StatesNebraska Water Center, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, United StatesThe Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) is a voluntary land conservation initiative implemented by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). The program aims to improve the natural environment and enhance wildlife by incentivizing landowners to convert sensitive agricultural land into vegetative cover. This mini review synthesizes known peer-reviewed research on the effects of CRP on hydrological processes, highlighting the effects on water quality, groundwater levels, surface water yields, surface water runoff, and effects on the hydrological cycle. These studies show that the CRP appears to have a positive impact on water quality, decreasing the levels of nitrogen and suspended solids. Furthermore, the CRP denotes positive results when used to manage excess runoff on surrounding land. Regarding groundwater volume, the impact of CRP varied by location and showed limited changes in volume. Despite these findings, this review highlights the need for further and continued research on the effects of CRP on hydrology to improve monitoring strategies and increase its benefits on the environment.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frwa.2024.1506255/fullhydrologywater resourcesconservation practicesagricultural managementconservation reserve program
spellingShingle Layda Belia Spor Leal
Tirthankar Roy
Daniel R. Uden
Daniel R. Uden
Daniel R. Uden
Karina Schoengold
Karina Schoengold
Hydrological impacts of the conservation reserve program—a mini review
Frontiers in Water
hydrology
water resources
conservation practices
agricultural management
conservation reserve program
title Hydrological impacts of the conservation reserve program—a mini review
title_full Hydrological impacts of the conservation reserve program—a mini review
title_fullStr Hydrological impacts of the conservation reserve program—a mini review
title_full_unstemmed Hydrological impacts of the conservation reserve program—a mini review
title_short Hydrological impacts of the conservation reserve program—a mini review
title_sort hydrological impacts of the conservation reserve program a mini review
topic hydrology
water resources
conservation practices
agricultural management
conservation reserve program
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frwa.2024.1506255/full
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