The overall goals of the proposed project are to assess the greenhouse gas emissions reductions potential resulting from conversion of agricultural lands in the klamath basin to wetlands and…

The overall goals of the proposed project are to assess the greenhouse gas emissions reductions potential resulting from conversion of agricultural lands in the klamath basin to wetlands and estimate the potential income in the voluntary carbon market resultant from wetland restoration.tasks to be performed include the following.1. Field data collection. We propose to collect soil samples in selected areas. Based on soil survey data from the USDA ssurgo database these areas have elevated soil organic matter content and probably elevated GHG emissions which can be reduced upon conversion to wetlands. The depth to groundwater will also be determined. 2. Laboratory analysis. The organic matter content of soil samples will be determined by a commercial laboratory. Hydrofocus will determine bulk density for samples collected with a bulk density core sampler. 3. Data analysis. Results of the field data collection efforts laboratory soils analysis bulk density available data for soil temperature and depth to groundwater measurements will be used as inputs to the subcalc model to estimate baseline carbon emissions associated with oxidation of the organic soils by area. We shall use the baseline and wetland literature data to estimate the net carbon benefit. Potential benefits. Participation in the carbon market which can help fund conversion of agricultural lands to wetlands can provide multiple ecological benefits.