The Mississippi Soil and Water Conservation Commission (MSWCC) engaged Waggoner to lead a series of priority watershed assessments aimed at improving water quality and supporting sustainable agricultural practices in Mississippi. Funded by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) through the National Water Quality Initiative (NWQI) and the Mississippi River Basin Healthy Watersheds Initiative (MRBI), this project aligns with NRCS and US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) efforts to identify and restore impaired water bodies using voluntary, science-based conservation.

Waggoner’s environmental services for this project included:

• Watershed-Level Data Collection and Analysis: Comprehensive geospatial and hydrologic data collection established baseline conditions for each watershed, characterizing pollutant loads, water quality, and hydrologic response to inform targeted conservation strategies.
• Critical Source Area Assessments and Resource Analysis: Identifying priority areas for intervention, Waggoner analyzed critical source areas and developed strategies for source water protection, helping to focus conservation efforts on zones with the greatest potential for impact.
• Pollutant Load Reduction Modeling: Using mass balance models and sediment delivery budgets, Waggoner estimated nutrient load reductions achievable through best management practices (BMPs), directly supporting Mississippi’s water quality goals and providing a science-backed framework for sustainable land management.
• Targeted Education and Outreach: In collaboration with local stakeholders, Waggoner developed education and outreach plans that used project insights to encourage best practices and conservation awareness, building community support for water quality goals.
• Interim Metrics for Progress Tracking: Establishing interim metrics, Waggoner provided tools for continuous monitoring of water quality improvements and BMP efficacy, creating a pathway for adaptive management and long-term environmental resilience.

The project’s approach not only addressed agricultural runoff impacts but also integrated environmental education and outreach, empowering local stakeholders to play an active role in protecting Mississippi’s water resources.