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AN ASSESSMENT OF THE QUALITY OF AGRICULTURAL BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES IMPLEMENTED IN THE JAMES RIVER BASIN OF VIRGINIA

Published by the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers, St. Joseph, Michigan www.asabe.org

Citation:  Pp. 281-290 in Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) Environmental Regulations–II Proceedings of the 8-12 November 2003 Conference (Albuquerque, New Mexico USA), Publication Date 8 November 2003.  .(doi:10.13031/2013.15573)
Authors:   J. H. Cunningham, B. L. Benham,K. M. Brannan, S. Mostaghimi, T. A. Dillaha, J. W. Pease
Keywords:   Agriculture, Assessment tools, Best management practices, BMP, Quality, Performance, Virginia

Survey-like assessment tools were developed to quantify the quality of agricultural best management practices (BMPs). BMP quality is defined as the adherence to design, site selection, implementation, and maintenance criteria as specified by state and federal agencies promoting BMP implementation. Quality assessments made with the tools are based upon visual observations of BMPs rather than traditional assessment methods such as water quality monitoring. BMP quality scores have the potential to be used as a surrogate measure for BMP performancewithout the extensive water quality monitoring associated with performance quantification. The tools presented here are part of a proof of concept study that involved assessment tool development and preliminary testing. Statistical analyses indicate that there is no strong significant difference (p<0.05) in quality between cost-shared and non cost-shared practices sampled.

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