February 24, 2003

A new study, released by the Soil and Water Conservation Society, determines that policy and practice will need to change to protect water quality and soil resources under a changing climate. The report lists three steps to help ensure that water quality is protected and soil is preserved: 1) make correct climate projections; 2) get a handle on the actual damage due to climate change and why; and 3) transform the approach to conservation planning to risk-based management instead of planning for average climate occurrences.

The likelihood of more intense rainfall is larger than has been simulated in global climate change models, particularly since 1970, the study says. It is to the point that-if widespread-soil erosion could reverse much of the progress that has been made in reducing soil degradation and water pollution from cropland.

For the millions of U.S. citizens concerned about water quality, how water is filtered through agriculture land does have an impact on them, according to the study. Precipitation miles away may be the water available from the tap the following day.

We need a better idea of the actual damage that will result from climate change. Different landscapes, timing, moisture content of the soil before the storm-all of these affect the level of risk to the agricultural land exposed to a storm event. Craig Cox, executive director for the Soil and Water Conservation Society that is releasing the report says, "In general, the risk to agricultural land increases at a greater rate than precipitation amount or intensity increases."

Currently, decisions on which conservation practice to employ on a piece of land depend on an estimate of average climate, according to the report. What needs to change is conservation planning. Change conservation planning so it is risk-based and focuses on how to manage natural resources during a storm event, the report suggests.

The Soil and Water Conservation Society's "Conservation Implications of Climate Change: Soil Erosion and Runoff from Cropland," was released at the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) annual conference in Denver, CO. The release of the report is in conjunction with a Soil and Water Conservation Society led symposia at the AAAS conference.

A PDF of the report is on the society's website at www.swcs.org/t_advocacy_action.htm. Copies will also be sent out if requested by emailing pubs@swcs.org or calling (515) 289-2331.