Title: Economic and Environmental Implications of Alternative Landscape Designs in

In recent years, the impact of agricultural production on biodiversity and water quality has come forward. The Midwest has been particularly singled out due to its highly productive farmland and extensive agricultural production. The environmental degradation in the Midwest stems primarily from non-point source pollution such as soil erosion and agricultural chemical runoff and leaching. Another source of pollutants is from the runoff of fecal matter from confinement livestock operations. To address these pollution problems, a team of landscape architects created three alternative landscape designs for the Walnut Creek Watershed in Iowa. The three alternatives represent landscapes that might be seen in the year 2025, as a result of different pohcy choices. The three future scenarios differ in the priority given to commodity production, water quahty improvements, and restoration of biodiversity. In scenario 1, priority is given to commodity production. The number of farmsteads decreases, field sizes increase, and conservation tillage methods are widely adopted as a best management practice. In scenario 2, the enhancement of water quality takes priority, resulting in establishment of riparian buffers, changes in crop rotations,