Evaluation of flood management practices in the Cedar River Watershed

In recent decades, the Cedar River Watershed has experienced devastating floods triggered by heavy rainfall, and these intense storms are expected to become more frequent and severe in the future. To address this escalating challenge, this study examines strategies to reduce the volume of runoff that quickly flows over the landscape and into rivers during flood events. The approaches evaluated include converting agricultural land to native tall-grass prairie to enhance soil absorption, planting cover crops to increase water retention in the soil, and using ponds to capture and gradually release runoff. The findings revealed that converting farmland to prairie was the most effective method for reducing peak streamflow, followed by the use of cover crops and, lastly, the implementation of ponds. Overall, restoring native prairies in the Cedar River Watershed emerges as the most promising solution for managing flood risks. However, the cost of each method and loss of agricultural productivity must also be considered. Keeping this in mind, the use of cover crops is likely the most effective method at providing a viable solution for managing river flows in the region.