Evaluation of Simulation Models for Fields with Subsurface Drainage to Wetlands in North Dakotanot correlate as well to measured water table depths compared to results from the model applications at the other two study areas.The SPAW and DRAINMOD model applications at the three study areas in southeast North Dakota adequately simulated the hydrologic processes for fields with subsurface drainage that are connected to adjacent wetlands. However, more measured data would be needed to fully evaluate the models throughout the range of possible climatic conditions.
Study Area DescriptionsThree study areas were selected for analysis that had fields with a wetland or several wetlands adjacent to a field with subsurface drainage in Barnes, Dickey, and Sargent Counties (study areas B, D, and S, respectively). The areas are in the Northern Glaciated Plains of the Prairie Pothole Region in central to southeast North Dakota (Omernik and Griffith, 2014;Tangen and Finocchiaro, 2017). The Prairie Pothole Region is characterized by millions of isolated wetlands interspersed among a landscape mosaic of agricultural fields and grasslands (Dahl, 2014). Increased crop demands in the last 15 years have led to a rapid expansion of land-use conversion from grassland to cropland and the expansion in use of subsurface drainage in the eastern portions of North and South Dakota (Tangen and Finocchiaro, 2017). This expansion has been associated with changes in cropping practices and greater use of wetland catchments and other low-production agricultural areas. On average , precipitation near the three study areas is about 21 inches per year (measured at climate site precip7, fig. 1). During the model period , annual precipitation ranged from 15 inches in 2006 to 28 inches in 2010 (fig. 2). Generally, more precipitation falls in May, June, and July, and less precipitation falls in January and February (High Plains Regional Climate Center, 2020).
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