Status of the CEAP National Assessment

Robert KelloggJerry Lemunyon

Natural Resources Conservation Service, USDA

The National Assessment

Purpose: Quantify environmental effects andand benefits of conservation practices for national and regional reporting

1. Cropland2. Wetlands3. Wildlife4. Grazing Land

Goals

1. Estimate the benefits of conservation practices currently present on the landscape

2. Estimate the need for conservation practices and the benefits that could be realized under “full treatment”

3. Simulate alternative options for implementing conservation programs in the future

4. Incorporate estimates of practice benefits into the Agency’s annual Performance Reporting System

Cropland ComponentTwo Levels of Effects

Field-Level Effects (Onsite)– Productivity and sustainability Productivity and sustainability

enhancementenhancement

– Reduction of potential pollutants Reduction of potential pollutants leaving farm fieldsleaving farm fields

Off-Site Effects– Reduction in water quality impairmentReduction in water quality impairment– Reduction in air quality impairmentReduction in air quality impairment

Analytical Approach

Sampling and modeling approach – About 20,000 NRI cropland sample points and About 20,000 NRI cropland sample points and

about 12,000 NRI CRP sample points will be used about 12,000 NRI CRP sample points will be used to construct the modelto construct the model

Farmer Survey– National Agriculture Statistical Service (NASS) National Agriculture Statistical Service (NASS)

conducting voluntary farmer surveys at the 20,000 conducting voluntary farmer surveys at the 20,000 cropland sample points. cropland sample points.

Physical process model (APEX) Off-site water quality benefits

– obtained by incorporating field-level estimates into obtained by incorporating field-level estimates into a large-scale water quality model (HUMUS/SWAT).a large-scale water quality model (HUMUS/SWAT).

Modeling Strategy

1. Estimate a CEAP Baseline using farmer survey information

2. Construct an alternative scenario assuming “no practices”

Difference between these two scenarios represents the benefits of the accumulation of conservation practices currently in place.

Model Testing/Validation

Cropland Products

Preliminary reports based on first 2-years of sample data—Spring/Summer 2006

– Summary of NRI-CEAP Cropland Survey resultsSummary of NRI-CEAP Cropland Survey results– APEX model results for selected points—a micro analysisAPEX model results for selected points—a micro analysis– Onsite effects of conservation practices on cultivated croplandOnsite effects of conservation practices on cultivated cropland– Onsite effects of CRP enrollmentOnsite effects of CRP enrollment– Conservation treatment needsConservation treatment needs– APEX model testing, refinement, and validationAPEX model testing, refinement, and validation– Offsite water quality effects of conservation practicesOffsite water quality effects of conservation practices

Final reports--December, 2007– Final versions of all preliminary reportsFinal versions of all preliminary reports– Description of APEX model and history of applicationsDescription of APEX model and history of applications– Soil Quality and development of a soil quality degradation Soil Quality and development of a soil quality degradation

indicatorindicator– Synthesis with highlights from all reports and relevant findings Synthesis with highlights from all reports and relevant findings

from watershed studies from watershed studies

Wetlands Component

CEAP-WetlandsRegional Assessment Locations

Grazing Lands Component

Literature review on what is known and not known about the effects of grazing lands conservation practices

Currently establishing an interagency task force to define plan of work

Wildlife Component

Wildlife Component Approach

• Work collaboratively with others already engaged in relevant assessments

• Use existing data wherever possible

• Identify critical data gaps and take steps to fill them

• Based on regional priorities

WestWest

SoutheastSoutheast

MidwestMidwest NortheastNortheast

CEAP National Assessment Questions?

Numerous on-going and developing aspects…many more details…

www.nrcs.usda.gov/technical/nri/ceap

Robert L. Kellogg, USDA-NRCS (301) 504-2294

robert.kellogg@usda.gov