Resources Cited

The scientific studies below provided equations and correlations relating land use, soil erosion, nutrient transport and precipitation for the Rock Your Watershed! game:


Cost effectiveness of conservation practices in controlling water erosion in Iowa. Zhou, X., M. Al-Kaisi, and M. Helmers. 2009. Soil & Tillage Research 106:71-78.

Enrichment ratios for water quality monitoring. Menzel, R. 1980. p.486-492. In W. Knisel (ed.) CREAMS: A field scale model for chemicals, runoff, and erosion from agricultural management systems. Vol. I. Model documentation. USDA Conservation Research Rep. 26. U.S. Gov. Print. Office, Washington, DC.

Expected climate change impacts on soil erosion rates: A review. Nearing, M., F. Pruski, and M. O’Neal. 2004. J. Soil and Water Conserv. 59(1):43-50.

Modeling phosphorus transport in an agricultural watershed using the WEPP model. Perez-Bidegain, M., M. Helmers, and R. Cruse. 2010. J. Environ. Qual. 39:2121-2129.

Nonpoint Source Nutrient Reduction Science Assessment in Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy. Prepared by Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, Iowa Department of Natural Resources and Iowa State University College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. Nov. 2012.

Phosphorus indexing for cropland: Overview and basic concepts of the Iowa phosphorus index. Mallarino, A., B. Stewart, J. Baker, J. Downing, and J. Sawyer. 2002. J. Soil Water Conserv. 57:440-447.

Awards and Recognition

Rock Your Watershed! received a national award of excellence in the 2013 American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers Blue Ribbon Educational Aids Competition.