Groundwater impacts due to conservation reserve program in Texas County, Oklahoma

The Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) is one of the largest programs of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) that encourages farmers and ranchers to establish resource-conserving vegetative covers to address soil, water and related resource issues on their lands. This research study examines the relationship between the CRP and the changes in the groundwater levels within Texas County in the Oklahoma Panhandle region. The region overlies the central portion of the High Plains Aquifer that has shown significant decline in groundwater levels, due largely to the development of irrigated agriculture. Using the calibrated SWAT (Soil and Water Assessment Tool) model and GIS-based analysis, a significant spatial correlation (gamma = -0.81 at 90% confidence level) was observed between the percentage of CRP and the difference in groundwater levels between 1990 and 2000 time periods. Thus, there is a significant potential for the CRP to increase groundwater recharge and help decrease the rate of decline in groundwater levels. Studies such as this will help justify long-term environmental benefits of the CRP, and also greatly aid in policy formulation. Additionally, we demonstrate the application of GIS-based modeling approach to facilitate efficient and effective decision making in land use planning. Published by Elsevier Ltd.