ASABE Technical Library - Abstract
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Development of Environmental Approaches to Rural Watershed Management
Published by the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers, St. Joseph, Michigan www.asabe.org
Citation: Paper number 022206, 2002 ASAE Annual Meeting . (doi: 10.13031/2013.9848) @2002Authors: Dr. Galina Borisova, Olga Konistyapina
Keywords: Rural watersheds, agrolandscapes, agricultural activity, diffuse runoff, water bodies pollution, standardization of anthropogenic loads, permissible impacts on water bodies, watershed state evaluation, evaluation criteria, summarized indicators, natural conditions, anthropogenic impact
Negative impacts of agricultural activity on water bodies cause the necessity to
regulate anthropogenic loads by means of water protective measures implementation at
watersheds. The measures should be aimed at supporting the balance between the natural
stability potential and the level of anthropogenic impact. Identification of permissible impacts on
watersheds and water protective measures selection should be preceded by watershed state
evaluation.
The method of evaluation of rural catchment areas state both in terms of anthropogenic
environmental impact and geo-ecological stability has been developed. Summarized indicators
reflecting the most significant natural conditions and specialities of economic activities at
catchment areas are proposed as the principle criteria for the evaluation. The method was
testing using the results of field investigations conducted in rural watersheds various in terms of
anthropogenic impact and natural characteristics. Correlations between parametres of nutrient
delivery into water bodies and summarized indicators were obtained. Usage of this method will
help to estimate the degree of rural impact on surface water quality and elaborate ecologically
optimal management of economic activities at rural watersheds to protect water bodies.