EPA-GMPO: Evaluation of innovative, low-technology water management structures as important tools in nutrient reduction strategies
Research Associate: Dr. Sam Pierce
This project is to be started in August 2010 and is expected to be completed in July 2013. This project operates in close collaboration with the MASGC project as this is the watershed implementation of the associated best management practices, how well they work, how do they work in series or in concert, and how can be alter them through adaptive management to make them operate more effectively for nutrient reductions.
This project is being implemented in the Upper Yazoo and Big sunflower HUC 8 watersheds, priority watershed outlined in the MRBl by NRCS and USDA
This projects main objective is to evaluate at a watershed and BMP scale, water control structures such as slotted pipes, and low-grade weirs as low-technology, innovative drainage management structures in primary aquatic systems associated with agriculture for nutrient reductions to downstream receiving systems. Implementation of drainage structures, monitoring of nutrient loads /concentrations and biogeochemical circumstances will highlight the effectiveness of structures for water quality improvement, and demonstrate how local innovative nutrient reduction strategies will decrease source nutrient contributions to coastal ecosystems.
The goal of this proposal is to evaluate the contribution slotted pipes, and low-grade weirs, innovative, cost effective drainage management techniques, play in reducing source nutrient concentrations and loads to coastal ecosystems. The rationale that underlies this proposed research program is that understanding the intricate complexity between hydrology, nitrogen and phosphorus inputs and dynamics within managed aquatic ecosystems within the agricultural landscape is expected to lead to new knowledge of the contribution innovative drainage management systems make to nutrient loads to downstream aquatic ecosystems (i.e., coastal ecosystems). This, in turn, is expected to lead to new models, adaptive management of drainage structures and better strategies for preventing nutrient contamination and impairment from source production agriculture to receiving coastal systems. Innovative drainage management techniques addresses specifically the action in the Gulf of Mexico Alliance Governors'' Action Plan that aims to reduce nutrient inputs to sustain productive Gulf aquatic ecosystems. This project has successfully been completed. The final project report has been sent to Delta F.A.R.M and MDEQ, and a manuscript has been successfully published.
Check out these links about this project
Outputs
- Kröger, R. 2011. Wolf and Broad Lake Watershed Restoration Project Completeion Report.
- Kröger, R., E.D. Dibble, J.B. Brandt, J.P. Fleming, T. Huenemann, T. Stubbs, J.D. Prevost, T. Tietjen, K.A. Littlejohn, S.C. Pierce, M. Spickard. 2011 Spatial and temporal changes in total suspended sediment concentrations in an Oxbow Lake from implementing agricultural landscape management practices. In Press—Rivers Research and Applications. Download
- Kröger, R., M. Moore. 2011. Innovative best management practices for improving nutrient reductions in agricultural landscapes. Oral Presentation at the International Congress of Society of Wetland Scientists, Prague Czech Republic.
- Mississippi State University of Starkville, Mississippi receives $672,617 for nutrient reduction structure study in Delta. News Release.
Sponsors
Gulf of Mexico Research
- Gulf of Mexico Research
- MASGC - Decreasing nitrate-N loads to coastal ecosystems with innovative drainage management strategies in agricultural landscapes
EPA-GMPO:
Evaluation of innovative, low-technology water management structures as important tools in nutrient reduction strategies- Monitoring for short term success of BMP structures in the Harris and Porters Bayou 319 watersheds for altering hydrology and reducing sediment and nutrient concentrations.
- Understanding nitrate delivery within the Big Sunflower River, Mississippi: implications for nutrient loads to the Gulf of Mexico
- Scientific valuation of best management practices towards improving nutrient management
- Denitrification in agricultural drainage ditches under various hydrologic management regimes
- Understanding the influence of Annamox and denitrification in agricultural drainage ditch sediments in potential nitrogen removal
- Review of best management practice efficiencies in the Lower Mississippi Alluvial Valley
- Integrative Aquatic Research on Southfarm
Other Water-Related Research
- Hill Country Aquaculture
- Sport Fisheries Restoration in Puerto Rican Reservoirs - Water Quality
- Soil media compositions for water quality improvements and stormwater management in urban flow-through facilities
- Oxbow lake fisheries and water quality
