Comprehensive Studies Red River Basin Bibliography

Louisiana Conservation Partnership, 1997, Strategic Plan: Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry, Office of Soil and Water. Baton Rouge.

Red River Compact Commission, 1996, Report of the Red River Compact Commission, 1995, 136 pp. Provides information regarding Red River Compact activities during 1995 including approved budgets for fiscal years 96/97 and 97/98, minutes of annual meeting, and the compact itself. Includes stream flow gage data and water quality data. Text not available electronically. Copies available from member states - Arkansas Soil and Water Conservation Commission, Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development, Oklahoma Water Resources Board,and the Texas Natural Resources Conservation Commission.

Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board, 1991, A Comprehensive Study of Texas Watersheds and Their Impacts on Water Quality and Water Quantity: Temple, Texas.

US Department of Agriculture, Soil Conservation Service; US Department of Interior, Bureau of Reclamation; and US Department of Defense, Corps of Engineers, no date, Little River Basin: The Little River Basin is one of six basins included in the Red River Basin Comprehensive Study report. This section presents the results of studies conducted to address the water resources problems, needs, and opportunities within the Little River Basin and presents the details of the formulation and evaluation of alternative plans leading to the establishment of a plan of development of the water resources of the Little River Basin.

USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, 1993, Water Resources Five Year Plan of Operations: NRCS State Office. Alexandria.

USDA Soil Conservation Service, 1994, Water Resources Program, Long Range Plan 1995-1999: NRCS State Office, Little Rock, Arkansas.

USDA Soil Conservation Service, 1995, Water Resources Long Range Plan: NRCS State Office, Temple, Texas.

Secretary of the Army, 1968, Red River Below Denison Dam, Louisiana, Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Texas:Washington, U.S. Government Printing Office, 406 pp. An interim report on Red River Below Denison Dam, Louisiana, Arkansas, Oklahoma and Texas - Navigation and bank stabilization, requested by resolutions of the Committees on Public Works, United states Senate and House of Representatives, adopted September 12, 1958 and February 24, 1960. Text not available electronically.

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 1993, WATERSHED PROTECTION: Catalog of Federal Programs: EPA-841-B-93-002. Office of Water (WH-553). Washington, D.C.

United States Department of Agriculture, 1996, Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP): USDA, [Federal Register: October 11, 1996 (Volume 61, Number 199) Proposed Rules, Pages 53573-53589]. Contact: Jeffrey R. Loser, Conservation and Ecosystems Assistance Division, NRCS, P.O. Box 2890, Washington, D.C. 20013-2890. 202-720-1845. Fax: 202-720-1838. E-mail: Jeff.Loser@usda.gov. Available in print or electronically.

Cossatot River Watershed-Arkansas: The Cossatot River Watershed consists of approximately 325,000 acres of rolling forests and pastures. The major agricultural activities within the watershed include poultry, swine, and beef cattle. Water quality is of high concern in southwest Arkansas, and all activities proposed shall be centered around protection of this valuable resource. Nutrient and bacteria transport problems stem from poor land and nutrient management, the lack of conservation practices, and the lack of applied conservation plans to adequately address water quality concerns. With the proposed priority area, it is expected that 30 contracts will be prepared and will require $200,000 in EQIP funds for 1997. A high percentage of the landowners are limited resource farmers. Few of the landowners are minority. Resource management systems will be developed to improve pasture and hayland management, improved manure and nutrient management, and proper dead animal disposal utilizing various conservation practices.

Little Missouri River Watershed-Arkansas: The Little Missouri River watershed consists of approximately 256,000 acres of rolling forests and pastures. Excluding the timber industry, poultry, swine, and beef cattle are the major agricultural activities in the watershed. Water quality is of high concern in southwest Arkansas, and all activities proposed shall be centered around protection of this valuable resource. Nutrient and bacteria transport problems stem from poor land and nutrient management, the lack of conservation practices, and the lack of applied conservation plans written to address water quality concerns. Long term agreements with the limited resource farmers are an effective means to correct the problem. With this project, it is expected that various results will occur and account for approximately 30 contracts requiring $200,000 in EQIP funds for 1997. The overall project objective is to reduce nutrient and bacterial transport from agricultural sources to the Little Missouri River system, restoring beneficial stream ecosystem uses while maintaining economical and efficient farming activities, and protecting public health concerns as it relates to public water supplies, and water contact recreation.

Flat River/Red Chute Watershed-Louisiana: The Flat River/Red Chute watershed consists of approximately 145,720 acres of cropland, pasture/hayland, forestland and urban land. The major resource concern is diminished water quality in the Flat River and Red Chute Bayou and their tributary associated with intensive row crop agriculture. Project implementation will have the following environmental effects: Reduction in suspended solids, reduced levels of nutrients and pesticides entering waterbodies and less turbidity. The application of various conservation measures based on available staff time in FY 97 will reflect treatment of only 12% of the total treatment needs.

Bayou Pierre Watershed-Louisiana: The Bayou Pierre watershed consists of approximately 395,715 acres of cropland, pasture/hayland, forestland and urban land. The major resource concerns are diminished water quality in Bayou Pierre and its tributary associated with intensive row crop agriculture and/or confined animal operations. Project implementation will have the following environmental effects: reduction in suspended solids, reduced levels of nutrients and pesticides entering waterbodies, less turbidity, reduced build-up of soil nutrients and a reduction in improper disposal of dead birds. The application of various conservation measures based on available staff time in FY 97 will reflect treatment of only 15% of the total treatment needs.

Cane River Watershed-Louisiana: The Cane River watershed consists of approximately 74,223 acres of cropland, pasture/hayland, forestland, and urban land. The major resource concerns are diminished water quality entering into the lower portion of Cane River, Little River, Old River, and eventually Red River associated with intensively cropped agriculture lands which contribute sediment, nutrients, and pesticides in resultant surface water runoff. The Geographic Priority Area contains a federally recognized culture resource area which is being degraded by excess erosion, agrichemical contamination of surface runoff, deposition of sediment into wetlands, local bayous, creeks and streams. Project implementation will have the following environmental effects: reduction in excessive erosion, organic enrichment, suspended solids, agrichemical contamination of surface waters, and reduced degradation of significant cultural resources. The application of various conservation measures based on available staff time in FY 97 will reflect treatment of only 20% of the total treatment needs.

Lower Rigolette Watershed-Louisiana: The Lower Rigolette watershed consists of approximately 159,810 acres of cropland, pasture/hayland, forestland, and urban land. The major resource concern is diminished water quality in Bayou Rigolette and their tributary associated with intensive row crop agriculture. Project implementation will have the following environmental effects: reduction in suspended solids, pathogen indicators, organic enrichments and less turbidity. The application of various conservation measures based on available staff time in FY 97 will reflect treatment of only 20% of the total treatment needs.

Southeast Environmental Concerns-Oklahoma: The Southeast Environmental Concerns resource area covers a total of 7,403,108 acres that includes cropland, hayland, pastureland, rangeland, forestland, wildlife habitat, environmentally sensitive land, urban land, wetland, riparian land, otherlands, and water. The major resource concern is diminished water quality associated with the high number of county gravel and dirt roads, along with logging roads and trails, overgrazed pasture and rangeland, confined animal feeding operations, and the use of agricultural chemicals on cropland including alternative crops. The application and maintenance of various conservation measures would aid in addressing environmental effects in the area.

Washita Valley Priority Area-Oklahoma: The Washita Valley Priority area covers Caddo, Custer, Grady, Kiowa and Washita counties in southwest Oklahoma. The major resource concerns in the area are soil, water, grazing lands, fish and wildlife habitat and other factors. Factors causing resource degradation include the erosive nature of the soil type, intensive rainfall at certain times, and limited rainfall during the spring. It is suggested that environmentally friendly management practices be applied to address the resource concerns.

Big Pasture Priority Area-Oklahoma: The Big Pasture Priority area consists of approximately 1,000,000 acres including grazing land and cropland in southwest Oklahoma. The major resource concerns include soil, water and grazing lands. Extreme concern has been expressed about the sedimentation of the waterbodies in Cache Creek Watershed Basin. This area can show success by reducing soil loss on cropland and grazing lands. The primary management practices that will be successful in sediment reduction are: 1) Conservation Cropping Rotations and Tillage Management, 2) Grassland Management and 3) Riparian Area Management. The best performance measurement will be in the reduction of sediment in Cache Creek and its tributaries, stable streambanks, and a long lasting supply of quality water in the Big Pasture geographical area.

Southwest Great Plains Priority Area-Oklahoma: The Great Plains Priority area consists of approximately 1,833,000 acres of cropland (49%) and grassland (51%) which covers the counties of Beckham, Greer, Harmon and Jackson that lie within the Rolling Red Plains Resource Area which is now the Southwest Great Plains Priority Area. Included in the cropland is 109,000 acres of row-watered and sprinkler-irrigated land. Irrigation water is supplied from groundwater located in water bearing sand and gypsum caverns and also, from surface reservoirs, ponds and streams through canals and irrigation water pumps. Soil resources, as they relate to cropland and grassland, are of primary concern to the Southwest Great Plains. Water and wind erosion lead to water quality problems, whether it be in streams, ponds or lakes. Water quality suffers whether for drinking, irrigation or recreation. Water resources in a limited rainfall area is another primary concern for the area. Quality and quantity of water to support life and grow crops can never be over emphasized. Wise use of available irrigation water is very important not only to the resource base, but the economic well being of the communities.

Southern High Plains Geographic Priority Area-Texas: The Southern High Plains Priority area covers approximately 30,494,379 acres that includes cropland of which 4,809,000 acres are irrigated and grazing lands of which 14,448,200 acres are irrigated. Additionally, 3,070,000 acres are currently enrolled in the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP). The primary resource concerns include excessive wind erosion, limited supply of available water from a declining Ogallala aquifer, low irrigation system efficiencies and inadequate irrigation water management systems on cropland; brush encroachment and lack of plant diversity on grazing land; loss of plant diversity on wetlands; and the loss or fragmentation of native habitats for fish and wildlife. Associated resource concerns are water erosion; poor soil tilth; and potential contamination of water resources from sediment, nutrients, pesticides and fecal cloriform from runoff on cropland. On grazing lands associated concerns are wind erosion, low health and vigor of plants, low productivity, and lack of adequate livestock water supplies. Potential sedimentation of wetlands; decreasing critical habitat, inadequate water and lack of plant diversity on CRP fields dominated by monoculture species are also associated concerns. The proposed actions will reduce erosion to levels which would permit soil sustainability, improve soil quality, protect water quality and improve air quality. Declining water levels in the Ogallala Aquifer would be reduced, grazing land productivity would increase, critical habitat for wildlife would be improved and wetlands would be protected and enhanced.

Central Texas Geographic Priority Area-Texas: The Central Texas Priority area consists of approximately 10,029,368 acres of cropland of which 141,500 acres are irrigated and grazing lands. The primary resource concerns of the area are water erosion, excessive nitrates in groundwater and fecal coliform in runoff from confined feeding operations (dairy) and animal waste disposal areas, invasion of brush species; inadequate plant diversity for livestock; and loss of plant diversity for wildlife species of concern. Associated concerns are sediment, nutrients and pesticides in runoff from cropland and grazing land, low productivity; low plant cover, health and vigor and a lack of adequate water facilities. The proposed actions will reduce erosion to levels which would permit soil sustainability, protect the quality of surface and ground water resources, increase grazing land productivity and improve wildlife habitat.

North East Texas Geographic Priority Area-Texas: The North East Texas Priority area consists of approximately 11,363,108 acres of cropland, grazing land and woodland. The primary resource concerns are contamination of soil resources excess phosphorus, fecal coliform in runoff from confined feeding operations (dairy and poultry), inadequate dead animal disposal systems and animal waste disposal areas from dairy and poultry operations; inadequate plant diversity for livestock; loss of forest cover; and loss of plant diversity for wildlife. Associated concerns are invasion of brush and weed species on grazing land and woodland; low productivity on grazing lands; low plant cover, health and vigor; lack of adequate water facilities and inadequate number of trees per acre for forest management. The proposed actions will reduce erosion to levels which would permit soil sustainability, protect the quality of surface water resources, increase grazing land and woodland productivity and improve wildlife habitat.

Blackland Geographic Priority Area-Texas: The Blackland Priority area consists of approximately 10,339,882 acres of cropland and grazing land. Also, the area includes the major metropolitan area of Dallas/Fort Worth. The primary resource concerns are excessive water erosion on cropland, invasion of brush species on grazing lands, inadequate plant diversity for livestock and loss of plant diversity for wildlife species. Associated concerns are low productivity of cropland and grazing land; low plant cover, health and vigor of grazing land; lack of adequate water facilities for livestock and wildlife; potential for sediment, nutrients and pesticides in runoff from cropland and grazing land and flooding. The proposed actions will reduce erosion to levels which would permit soil sustainability, protect the quality of surface water resources, increase grazing land productivity and improve wildlife habitat.

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