Quantifying Runoff and Erosion Response to Conservation Practices at Fort Hood, Texas

Military training lands suffer environmental impacts and erosion problems due to heavy vehicle operation; monitoring storm runoff is useful for quantifying water mediated erosion and evaluating Best Management Practice (BMP) effectiveness. We measured precipitation, runoff, sediment concentration, and the sediment mass lost during 60 storm events in the Shoal Creek watershed at Fort Hood, Texas. Precipitation, storm runoff, and sediment losses were compared between the pre and post BMP implementation periods. Mean storm runoff was reduced by 61 percent, mean sediment concentration was reduced 71 percent, and mean sediment load was reduced greater than 90 percent. We further evaluated BMP effectiveness with a "No Practice Scenario" using the Agricultural Policy Extender (APEX) model. Model predictions of runoff and sediment loads were within 9 percent of measured field values.