Agricultural conservation practices in Iowa watersheds: comparing actual implementation with practice potential

The paper compares actual implementation and potential placement of agricultural conservation practices (e.g., grassed waterways, ponds/wetlands, and water and sediment control basins (WASCOBs) in three Iowa HUC-12 watersheds using two GIS-based tools: the Iowa Best Management Practices Mapping Project (IBMP) and the Agricultural Conservation Planning Framework (ACPF). It finds that grassed waterways are widely implemented (at least 78% of the potential) across all three watersheds. At the same time, existing ponds are generally much smaller than the nutrient reduction wetlands sited by ACPF, reflecting a shift from field-scale to watershed-scale water quality solutions. WASCOB implementation was significant only in one watershed, driven by local preferences and funding, while ACPF analysis shows a high potential for greater adoption in all study areas. Overall, coupling the IBMP and ACPF provides a stronger basis for watershed planning by highlighting where current practices align with or diverge from modeled potential, supporting more precise and effective conservation investments.