The DR2 drainage area of the Granger Drain subbasin is one of five study ar...
At a typical study site, several methods are used to collect water and chem...
Data Collection in the DR2 Study Area, 2003–2004
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) is studying five areas across the Nation to better understand how natural factors and agricultural management practices (AMPs) affect the transport of water and chemicals. Natural factors include climate and landscape (soil type, topography, geology), and AMPs include practices related to tillage, irrigation, and chemical application. The study approach is similar in each area so that we can compare and contrast the results and more accurately predict conditions in other agricultural settings.
The DR2 drainage and the other four study areas represent nationally important agricultural settings (chemical use, crops, and AMPs) and natural settings (climate, geology, topography, and soils). The DR2 study area, which is part of the Yakima River watershed, is representative of the complex, multi-crop systems found in irrigated agricultural settings of the arid western United States.
Other features that are relevant to this study:
Data Collection in the DR2 Study Area, 2003–2004
| What kind of data | Why the data are collected | How often |
|---|---|---|
| Meteorological data (including wind speed, solar radiation, and air temperature), soil temperature and soil moisture | To estimate the amount of irrigation water that reaches the water table, and how much is lost to evapotranspiration | Continuously for 2 years |
| Amount of streamflow at DR2 at Yakima Valley Highway gaging station | To interpret water-quality data correctly (the amount of water in streams affects chemical concentrations) | Continuously for 2 years (data available at http://waterdata.usgs.gov/wa/nwis/nwisman/?site_no=462023120075200&agency_cd=USGS ) |
| Quality of stream and runoff water1 | To quantify the transport and behavior of natural and agricultural chemicals | Several times a year (>14 samples) for 2 years, with intensive sampling during application season |
| Ground-water levels in wells | To determine direction of ground-water flow, which affects transport of chemicals | At least quarterly in some wells, continuously in others for at least 1 year |
| Quality of ground water, soil water, and shallow water in and around streambed/riparian zone1 | To quantify the transport and behavior of natural and agricultural chemicals | At least quarterly for 1 year |
| Quality of sediment in streambed and soils in agricultural fields1 | To quantify the storage, behavior, and transport of water and chemicals in the soils and sediment | At least once during study |
1In this study, water-quality and sediment-quality data include concentrations of nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorous), pesticides and pesticide breakdown products, and natural constituents and properties, including major ions (calcium, magnesium, chloride, etc.), organic carbon, dissolved oxygen, and temperature.
Roza-Sunnyside Board of Joint Control
Sunnyside Valley Irrigation District
Roza Irrigation District
South Yakima Conservation District
Prosser Irrigated Agriculture Research & Extension Center
Kathy McCarthy, Lead Scientist, DR2 study (503) 251-3527, mccarthy@usgs.gov
Paul Capel, Team Leader, National study(612) 625-3082, capel@usgs.gov
NAWQA Program http://water.usgs.gov/nawqa
Morace, J.L., Fuhrer, G.J., Rinella, J.F., McKenzie, S.W., and others, 1999, Surface Water-Quality Assessment of the Yakima River Basin, Washington, USGS Water-Resources Investigations Report 98-4113.
We are working with local growers and land owners to gain access to study sites. We also need information about the study area and about current as well as historical agricultural management practices—past practices also affect concentrations of agricultural chemicals in ground and surface water.
We will report the findings of the study in public meetings and in publications. These findings will provide information that will be useful for improving agricultural management locally and nationally, and will guide future studies in other watersheds.
The USGS provides reliable scientific information to describe and understand the Earth; minimize loss of life and property from natural disasters; manage water, biological, energy and mineral resources; and enhance and protect our quality of life.
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