AnnAGNPS-MODFLOW integration for evaluation of agricultural practice impacts on surface and groundwater resources

The Lower Mississippi River Alluvial Plain, referred to as the Delta, is an important agricultural region in the southeastern United States. Recent trends in crop type conversion and higher crop yields resulted in increased irrigation demand for surface and groundwater, which can lead to aquifer levels dropping. Estimates of continued increased irrigation adoption are compounded by future climatic estimates suggesting hotter summers with higher unpredictability in precipitation amounts. In these conditions, the long-term sustainability of this system depends on understanding complex surface-groundwater flow interactions at different temporal and spatial scales, and the impacts of agricultural conservation practices on water use. In this study, a description of the development of the integrated AnnAGNPS-MODFLOW technology is provided. The proposed system was evaluated in the Upper Sunflower River watershed, located in the Delta region of Mississippi, to characterize existing conditions through comparison with observed streamflow and well water levels. Additionally, the system was used to evaluate the impact of alternative irrigation and management strategies on water levels in the aquifer at field and watershed scales. The proposed technology provides a management tool critical to understanding and evaluating the impact of agricultural practices, irrigation, and aquifer recharge strategies that are important to sustaining Delta water resources in a changing climate.