Hydraulic Shortcuts Increase the Connectivity of Arable Land Areas to Surface Waters

Abstract

Abstract. Surface runoff represents a major pathway for pesticide transport from agricultural areas to surface waters. The influence of man-made structures (e.g. roads, hedges, ditches) on surface runoff connectivity has been shown in various studies. In Switzerland, so-called hydraulic shortcuts (e.g. inlets and maintenance manholes of road or field storm drainage systems) have been shown to influence surface runoff connectivity and related pesticide transport. Their occurrence, and their influence on surface runoff and pesticide connectivity have however not been studied systematically. To address that deficit, we randomly selected 20 study areas (average size = 3.5 km2) throughout the Swiss plateau, representing arable cropping systems. We assessed shortcut occurrence in these study areas using three mapping methods: field mapping, drainage plans, and high-resolution aerial images. Surface runoff connectivity in the study areas was analysed using a 2 × 2 m digital elevation model and a multiple-flow algorithm. Parameter uncertainty affecting this analysis was addressed by a Monte Carlo simulation. With our approach, agricultural areas were divided into areas that are either directly connected to surface waters, indirectly (i.e. via hydraulic shortcuts), or not connected at all. Finally, the results of this connectivity analysis were scaled up to the national level using a regression model based on topographic descriptors. Inlets of the road storm drainage system were identified as the main shortcuts. On average, we found 0.84 inlets and a total of 2.0 manholes per hectare of agricultural land. In the study catchments between 43 and 74 % of the agricultural area is connected to surface waters via hydraulic shortcuts. On the national level, this fraction is similar (54 %). These numbers suggest that transport through hydraulic shortcuts is an important pesticide flow path in a landscape where many engineered structures exist to drain excess water from fields and roads. However, this transport process is currently not considered in Swiss pesticide legislation and authorisation. Therefore, current regulations may fall short to address the full extent of the pesticide problem. Overall, the findings highlight the relevance of better understanding the connectivity between fields and receiving waters and the underlying factors and physical structures in the landscape.

A conceptual model-based sediment connectivity assessment for patchy agricultural catchments

“…This represents a situation in which the drainage system acts as a hydrological shortcut, transferring sediments from fields into surface waters (i.e. 'roads as shortcuts') (see Schönenberger and Stamm, 2020). As in the original model formulations (see Notebaert et al, 2006), the third scenario assigned very high transport capacity to roads and infrastructure, so that no deposition would take place (i.e.…”

“…Moreover, the capacity of roads to connect runoff and sediments from arable land to surface waters in Switzerland was extensively described by Alder et al (2015) and Schönenberger and Stamm (2020).…”

“…via the road and drainage networks) connected to surface waters. In particular, Schönenberger and Stamm (2020) mapped the location of drainage inlets in multiple small catchments of the Swiss Plateau. Accordingly, these authors identified the road drainage system as the main hydrological shortcut connecting fields to water courses, as most drainage inlets discharge into surface waters (87%), and only a small proportion of them flow into wastewater treatment plants or depositional areas.…”