Modeling tile drainage

Representing agricultural management processes in the National Water Model

Collaborators: Fei Chen, Mike Barlage, Dave Gochis, Prasanth Valayamkunnath (NCAR) and Brian Cosgrove (NOAA/OWP)

Funded by NOAA OAR

tile and ditch — Creation of artificial drainage ways, including tiling and ditches, has had a significant impact on the natural hydrologic processes in Iowa and other predominantly agricultural regions with poorly drained soils. Most hydrologic models do not explicitly capture this process, leading to uncertainty in model results and river forecasts. In this project, a tile drainage component is added to the National Water Model and tested.