Overall scenario research design

Three prospective scenarios have been designed for the two study watersheds. ( Walnut Creek, Story Co. and Buck Creek, Poweshiek Co.) As noted by the design team, these scenarios are distinguished from one another "by the relative emphasis placed on short-term agricultural production, biodiversity, and water quality as public concerns and policy."

In the next phase of the project, these scenarios will be compared and evaluated against base conditions for these same watersheds (1994 landcover) with respect to effects of changes in landcover and management on biodiversity and water quality in the watersheds using spatially explicit, GIS-based models. We also have the opportunity to compare these future scenarios against pre-settlement conditions based on GLO landcover and/or pre-settlement landcover as predicted by current soils in the ISPAID data base.