HaukosDavid A.

3 items:

Ecosystem services provided by playas in the High Plains: potential influences of USDA conservation programsEcosystem services provided by playas in the High Plains Playas are shallow depressional wetlands and the dominant wetland type in the non-glaciated High Plains of the United States. This region is one of the most intensively cultivated regions in the Western Hemisphere, and playas are profoundly impacted by a variety of agricultural activities. Conservation practices promoted through Farm Bills by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) that influence playas and surrounding catchments impact ecosystem functions and related services provided by wetlands in this region. As part of a national assessment, we review effects of agricultural cultivation and effectiveness of USDA conservation programs and practices on ecosystem functions and associated services of playas.... Categories: Publication; Types: Citation
Loss of Playa Wetlands Caused by Reclassification and Remapping of Hydric Soils on the Southern High Plains Historically, playas in the Southern High Plains (SHP) were identified by the presence of hydric soils. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has begun a reclassification and remapping of upland and depressional soils for the playa region of Texas. For eight counties in Texas, we compared the occurrence of playas, as indicated by soils designated as hydric in original soil surveys, to designations in remapped soil surveys. We estimate a 65% decrease in playa numbers and 50% decrease in area as defined by the presence of hydric soil. Anthropogenic impacts, resulting in an altered hydrology and masking of hydric soil are proposed as primary factors responsible for reduction in playa numbers. Other potential... Categories: Publication; Types: Citation
Influence of land-use and conservation programs on wetland plant communities of the semiarid United States Great Plains Depressional wetlands are predominant surface hydrological features providing critical societal ecosystem services in the semiarid United States High Plains. Critical wetland properties may be threatened because this 30 million ha short-grass prairie largely was converted from grassland to cropland. Further, the United States Department of Agriculture enrolled marginal cropland into the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP). CRP reduces topsoil erosion by planting permanent cover on croplands. In the High Plains, introduced tall-grasses primarily were planted in CRP, possibly reducing precipitation runoff, an important hydroperiod driver in wetlands. We assessed land-use influence on important wetland processes (wetland... Categories: Publication; Types: Citation

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