Modeling post-CRP land use for optimum environmental benefits

Abstract

Scope and Method of Study: Modeling of the Conservation Reserve Program tracts to maintain environmental benefits in Texas County, Oklahoma by using GIS.

Findings and Conclusions: I used a Geographic Information System to study the effects of the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) in Texas County Oklahoma. The CRP has brought change to the Texas County landscape resulting in a 16% increase in mean patch size, a 13% reduction in the number of patches, and a 10% reduction in total edge. The CRP has targeted areas important for natural resource conservation. This is illustrated by reduction in area of small grains (17%) and row crops (64%). Some fallow fields (42%) and wetland (19%) have also been placed under the CRP. However, conversion of agricultural land to the CRP has resulted in loss of habitat for some native species.

In terms of post-CRP land management, about 22% of total CRP tracts were identified as suitable to return to row cropping, 70% retained as wildlife habitat, and 8% managed as pasture. Some tracts were identified as being highly vulnerable to soil erosion by water (25%), and wind erosion (0.3%). About 13% of the CRP tracts should be monitored for groundwater quality and about 62% for surface water quality. Modeling results show that all the CRP tracts can be cultivated profitably with marginal soil loss through soil erosion by water.

My conclusion is that environmental benefits of the CRP can be maintained by limiting the amount of land returned to production agriculture. I recommend that most of the retiring CRP tracts should be devoted to wildlife habitat and pasture. I propose that about 22% of the CRP tracts can be returned to row crop production 50% should be retained as wildlife habitat; 8% managed as pasture, and 20% for other uses including conservation programs like the Grassland Reserve Program (GRP) and the Conservation Reserve Enhanced Program (CREP). There should be a policy change in the CRP to allow for commercial usage of conservation lands (e.g. the GRP) and tax incentives should be a component of future conservation policy.