Assessing the efficiencies of alternative best management practices to reduce non-point source pollution for a sub-watershed in Louisiana, USA

Abstract

Alternative best management practices applied in an agricultural context are evaluated for cost effectiveness in a sub watershed in Northern Louisiana A GIS based watershed simulation model is coupled with a linear programming model to assess nine Best Management Practices BMPs based on implementation cost and phosphorus reduction The optimization model is conducted at varying target phosphorus reduction levels revealing the most cost effective combination of BMPs to achieve that level of reduction At lower levels of phosphorus reduction nutrient management is the most cost effective BMP As phosphorus reduction targets increase a combination of several BMPs is needed to achieve target reductions