Potential Implications of Implementing River Diversion Systems on Soil Productivity

Current changes in climate are leading to increased deposition of water and snow, which increases the concerns of flooding in agricultural soils. One way to help avoid flooding of urban areas is the implementation of river diversion system. Although the practice of river diversion alleviates the potential for flooding in a specific area, it increases the potential for flooding in other areas. In many cases agricultural areas end up receiving the diverted water and flooding of agricultural soils happens. A cascade of events can take place when agricultural areas are flooded, which can significantly alter the productivity and even land-use potential of the areas receiving the diverted waters. This literature review has three separate sections: (i) the first section reviews manuscripts published in scientific journals relating the impact of flooding on soil properties; (ii) then the information gathered from the literature review is used to evaluate the potential impacts that flooding would have on agricultural land located within the area affected by a river diversion system; (iii) the third section information is presented for potential management practices that can be used to help determine if the land is being impacted and management practices that could be used to help in problem mitigation. This manuscript provides a general overview of potential implications of flooding and does not indicate with 100% certainty that the potential issues raised would happen at any given field used for agricultural production. Rather, this report provides what can potentially happen at any given field that is flooded in general. Specific site issues should be investigated individually for a more thorough assessment.