Billy Lawton, Agriculture and Natural Resources Program Leader at the Cooperative Extension Program (CEP), and Ripendra Awal, Research Scientist, and Post-Doctoral Researcher Haimanote Bayabil, both from the Cooperative Agricultural Research Center (CARC), visited a flood-prone farm in Somerville, Burleson County, on September 13, 2016. The team discussed flooding and drainage issues on the farm with the owner who indicated that his farm frequently floods after heavy rainfall. The team observed that the farm is located at a lower elevation compared to surrounding areas and lacks a drainage outlet. In addition, lack of appropriate drainage ditches along nearby roads bordering the farm was also discussed as a contributing factor for the frequent flooding of the farm. CARC’s scientists started working on developing a drainage map for the farm using the national digital elevation model (10 m resolution), available for that area.
Ali Fares, Ph.D.
Interim Associate Director, Cooperative Agricultural Research Center
alfares@pvamu.edu
(936) 261-5019