Conservation Effects Assessment Project
Encyclopedia
The Conservation Effects Assessment Project (CEAP) was established in 2002 to quantify the environmental impact of the United States Department of Agriculture
's (USDA) conservation program. The project focuses on how watersheds
are affected. CEAP monitored fourteen benchmark watershed
sites. The CEAP's vision is to enhance "natural resource
s and healthier ecosystem
s through improved conservation effectiveness and better management of agricultural landscapes". The goal is "to improve efficacy of conservations
practices and programs by quantifying conservation effects and providing the science and education base needed to enrich conservation planning, implementation, management decisions,and policy."
. It is a river basin
scale model used to quantify the impact of land management practices in large watersheds. This tool is located in Grassland, Soil and Research Laboratory in Temple, Texas.
Additional partners
United States Department of Agriculture
The United States Department of Agriculture is the United States federal executive department responsible for developing and executing U.S. federal government policy on farming, agriculture, and food...
's (USDA) conservation program. The project focuses on how watersheds
Drainage basin
A drainage basin is an extent or an area of land where surface water from rain and melting snow or ice converges to a single point, usually the exit of the basin, where the waters join another waterbody, such as a river, lake, reservoir, estuary, wetland, sea, or ocean...
are affected. CEAP monitored fourteen benchmark watershed
Drainage basin
A drainage basin is an extent or an area of land where surface water from rain and melting snow or ice converges to a single point, usually the exit of the basin, where the waters join another waterbody, such as a river, lake, reservoir, estuary, wetland, sea, or ocean...
sites. The CEAP's vision is to enhance "natural resource
Natural resource
Natural resources occur naturally within environments that exist relatively undisturbed by mankind, in a natural form. A natural resource is often characterized by amounts of biodiversity and geodiversity existent in various ecosystems....
s and healthier ecosystem
Ecosystem
An ecosystem is a biological environment consisting of all the organisms living in a particular area, as well as all the nonliving , physical components of the environment with which the organisms interact, such as air, soil, water and sunlight....
s through improved conservation effectiveness and better management of agricultural landscapes". The goal is "to improve efficacy of conservations
Water conservation
Water conservation refers to reducing the usage of water and recycling of waste water for different purposes such as cleaning, manufacturing, and agricultural irrigation.- Water conservation :Water conservation can be defined as:...
practices and programs by quantifying conservation effects and providing the science and education base needed to enrich conservation planning, implementation, management decisions,and policy."
Soil Water Assessment Tool
Soil Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) is supported by the USDA Agricultural Research ServiceAgricultural Research Service
The Agricultural Research Service is the principal in-house research agency of the United States Department of Agriculture . ARS is one of four agencies in USDA's Research, Education and Economics mission area...
. It is a river basin
Drainage basin
A drainage basin is an extent or an area of land where surface water from rain and melting snow or ice converges to a single point, usually the exit of the basin, where the waters join another waterbody, such as a river, lake, reservoir, estuary, wetland, sea, or ocean...
scale model used to quantify the impact of land management practices in large watersheds. This tool is located in Grassland, Soil and Research Laboratory in Temple, Texas.
Sustaining the Earth's Watersheds-Agricultural Research Data System
Sustaining the Earth's Watershed-Agricultural Research Data Systems (STEWARDS) was created by a group called the Watershed Assessment Studies a team within the CEAP. STEWARDS is a system that consists of a database to allow users to search and analyze various watershed conditions. The anticipated benefits include data preservation, faster data access, and improved ability to collaborate research between watersheds.Watersheds affected
- Mahantango Creek Experimental Watershed in Pennsylvania
- Reynolds Creek Experimental Watershed in Idaho
- Little River Experimental Watershed in Georgia
- Little Washita River Experimental Watershed in Oklahoma
- Walnut Gulch Experimental Watershed in Arizona
Partnerships
Lead USDA agencies- Natural Resources Conservation Services (NRCS) which works to reduce soil erosion while also enhancing water supplies and improving water quality.
- Agricultural Research ServiceAgricultural Research ServiceThe Agricultural Research Service is the principal in-house research agency of the United States Department of Agriculture . ARS is one of four agencies in USDA's Research, Education and Economics mission area...
which is the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)'s research department. - National Institute of Food and AgricultureNational Institute of Food and AgricultureThe National Institute of Food and Agriculture is a U.S. Federal government body whose creation was mandated in the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008. It is intended to consolidate all federally-funded agricultural research, and will be subordinate to the Department of Agriculture...
another section of the USDA. - Farm Service AgencyFarm Service AgencyThe Farm Service Agency is the USDA agency into which were merged several predecessor agencies, including the Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Service . The ASCS was, as the FSA is now, primarily tasked with the implementation of farm conservation and regulation laws around the country...
(FSA), a government agency that equal serves farmers, ranchers and agricultural partners through agricultural programs that benefit all Americans. - U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)is an impartial science organization that provides the public with information on the ecosystems and environment.
- United States Fish and Wildlife ServiceUnited States Fish and Wildlife ServiceThe United States Fish and Wildlife Service is a federal government agency within the United States Department of the Interior dedicated to the management of fish, wildlife, and natural habitats...
a bureau with in the Department of the Interior their goal is to conserve and enhance fish, wildlife, and plants. - USDA Economic Research Service (ERS) is the primary source for economic information and research with in the USDA.
- USDA Forest Service manages national forests and public grasslands.
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)'s mission is to protect the environment as well as human health. They ensure that federal laws to ensure human and environmental health are implemented and enforced.
- U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM), makes sure that the water in the watersheds is clean and that there is an adequate supply.
- National Oceanic and Atmospheric AdministrationNational Oceanic and Atmospheric AdministrationThe National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration , pronounced , like "noah", is a scientific agency within the United States Department of Commerce focused on the conditions of the oceans and the atmosphere...
(NOAA), focuses on the conditions of the oceans and the atmosphere, it is a federal agency.
Additional partners
- International Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies is the point place for state fish and wildlife agencies. The represent the state agencies on Capitol Hill on important conservation and management policies.
- Soil and Water Conservation SocietySoil and Water Conservation SocietyThe Soil and Water Conservation Society is a professional and scientific membership society. The mission of the organization is to foster the science and art of natural resource management for sustainability. The society was formed in 1943 and changed its name from the Soil Conservation Society of...
(SWCS) is a nonprofit scientific and educational organization. They advocate for science-based practice, programs, and policy and conservation professionals. - The Nature ConservancyThe Nature ConservancyThe Nature Conservancy is a US charitable environmental organization that works to preserve the plants, animals, and natural communities that represent the diversity of life on Earth by protecting the lands and waters they need to survive....
protects the land and water in order to preserve the plants, animals, and natural communities. - The Wildlife SocietyThe Wildlife SocietyFounded in 1937, The Wildlife Society is an international non-profit scientific and educational association dedicated to excellence in wildlife stewardship through science and education...
addresses national and international issues that effect current and future North American wildlife. The society is made up of professional wildlife conservationists. - Land Grant Colleges and Universities