Land Use—Reconciling Economics, Ethics, and Ecology.
Local planning for large livestock facilities
Bennett, J.
Corresponding author: Jim Bennett, USDA-NRCS, 1117 S Towne Ct,
Greenville, Ohio 45331
Phone: 937-548-1715 ext 3 Fax: 937-548-2925
Email: jim.Bennett@oh.usda.gov
As the number of livestock operations decrease in the United States, the number of animals per remaining operation(s) increases. The environmental and social issues associated with this phenomenon are causing many concerns within the agricultural and environmental communities. Local NRCS/SWCD Field Offices typically assist farmers in developing management plans that provide for the implementation of BMP’s. The traditional items of concern have been nutrient management, manure storage, soil test levels, and safe manure application. As livestock operations get bigger and in many cases, concentrated to one area, the ability to provide farmers and planners with sound planning and management advice becomes more difficult. Knowing how many animals are located in a given area; what the current soil test levels are; what types of manure storage are needed; the technical assistance necessary to construct storage facilities; and the economic value of these operations to the community; are the types of information needed to address the concerns created by large livestock facilities. Darke County, Ohio has traditionally raised large numbers of livestock. Currently, there are over 200,000 livestock animal units being raised by farmers in Darke County. The SWCD/NRCS and local Planning Commission Offices have collaborated in completing livestock inventories, gathering soil test information and economic data that helps officials develop TMDL plans, making siting recommendations, generate nutrient balances, and manage conservation engineering workloads. This poster will provide examples of the Darke County livestock inventory process, soil test programs, and the types of information included in CNMP’s developed for farmers.
Keywords: nutrient management, balance, CNMP, TMDL, planning, livestock inventory, large manure
Ecological campus planning: Connecting students with communities through ecological restoration
Bowers, K. and M. Lighthiser
Corresponding author: Keith Bowers
15 West Aylesbury Road, Timonium, MD 21093
Phone: 410-337-3659 Fax: 410-583-5678
Email: kbowers@biohabitats.com
As large landowners in metropolitan, suburban, and rural areas and as the educators of our country's future, colleges and universities confront a unique opportunity to include ecological conservation and restoration in their master planning efforts covering the next 10, 25, or possibly 50 years. This opportunity resonates in the ecological master planning efforts conducted by Biohabitats for such diverse campuses as Case Western Reserve University, the University of Maryland, and Towson University. Each campus possesses unique, natural gifts that are often neglected due to years of growth and utilitarianism. Through presentations such as this, Biohabitats hopes to foster a sense that master-planning efforts should include not only the buildings, associated parking, and walkways, but also a sense of the local ecology and its potential. These and other campus projects highlight the opportunities to apply watershed assessment, storm water management, water conservation, and the creation of green corridors to revitalize campuses and connect with communities, while providing living laboratories for students.
Keywords: ecological restoration, environmental conversation, campus planning, master planning, campus community, watershed assessment, storm water management, storm water BMPs
Planning and intensive livestock: Best management practices for municipalities
Caldwell, W. and M. Williams
Corresponding author: Wayne Caldwell
School of Rural Planning and Development, University of Guelph,
Guelph, ON N1G 2W1
Phone: 519-824-4120 Fax: 519-767-1692
Email: waynecaldwell@hurontel.on.ca
The intensification of the livestock industry has been a particular challenge for rural communities and rural planners. Across North America this issue has lead to the recent development of legislation. This poster will identify some of the key approaches to this issue—Conflict Resolution, Nutrient Management, Visioning, Public Consultation and various other Planning Tools. From these tools a selection of "Best Management Practices" for municipalities will be identified.
This poster draws upon a 10-module manual entitled Rural Planning and Nutrient Management developed by the University of Guelph School of Rural Planning and Development, the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs and the County of Huron. The Manual has received the Outstanding Planning Award for Communication and Education from the Ontario Professional Planners Institute.
Keywords: planning, livestock intensification, municipalities, rural
Understanding the landscape: A giant step towards sustaining ecological processes in non-federal lands
Gilgert, W. and K.B. Staley
Corresponding author: Wendell Gilgert
USDA-NRCS Wildlife Habitat Management Institute, 108 A Wager FWB, Colorado State University,
Fort Collins, CO 80523
Phone: 970-491-4340 Fax: 970-491-5091
Email: wgilgert@cnr.colostate.edu
The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, in partnership with Oregon State University and Colorado State University, announces a video-training course called Understanding the Landscape. This course is designed to help resource planners, conservationists, and land managers understand the connectivity of ecological processes in order to apply resource management principles to conservation planning and application in a more holistic and sustainable manner. The course will provide field personnel with the basic knowledge and skills needed to incorporate landscape considerations into conservation planning and to effectively communicate to land owners and managers how physical, biological, cultural and social components of landscape interact and function under different management regimes at local and watershed scales. Through a series of 12 lectures and 5 case studies, students will be introduced to key ecological, cultural and social components of landscapes. Course content includes key elements of ecological processes, elements of society and culture, and new technologies that are critical to sound conservation planning and practice. Case studies from diverse landscapes across the continental United States integrate principles highlighted in the lectures. Finally, a workbook of references, glossary and interactive classroom exercises is designed to reinforce student insights and knowledge gained from lectures as well as synthesize complex themes to solve hypothetical land management challenges. Through delivery of this training, NRCS encourages participants to fully implement the natural resource principles and concepts, build proficiency and share what they have learned. The course is an opportunity to extend knowledge of landscape ecology to a broad spectrum of citizens.
Keywords: landscape, education, conservation
Comprehensive conservation planning on National Wildlife Refuges in North Carolina and Virginia
Glennon, R.
Corresponding author: Robert Glennon, Natural Resource Planner
US Fish and Wildlife Service, 1106 W Queen St, Edenton, NC 27932
Phone: 252-482-2364 Fax: 252-482-3855
Email: bob_glennon@fws.gov
The US Fish and Wildlife Service is developing comprehensive conservation plans for its National Wildlife Refuges. The planning process is being conducted in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The process is involving local citizens and units of government in the plan development. In northeastern North Carolina and southeastern Virginia, they are kept involved with three rounds of public forums held throughout the planning process, news releases, newsletters, and a web site that is updated as the process progresses. The public forums invite input to the biological, public use, and land protection programs in the plan. The public's input helps the staff to incorporate local socioeconomic concerns into the plan.
The scoping meetings held for each refuge have been attended by a broad cross section of the public who use the refuge, who are neighbors to the refuge, and who are local officials affected by the refuge. Some voiced concerns about management of the game species they hunt. Others were more concerned about water quality monitoring and non-game wildlife populations. Many members of the public were genuinely worried about the refuge's ability to manage habitat for optimum wildlife populations. Others were more concerned about the effect of management on their safety. The majority of the forum participants wanted to make sure their hunting and fishing opportunities were maintained. A significant number were more interested in improvements in programs for wildlife observation and photography, environmental education, and interpretation.
Land protection will be the most contentious issue on most refuges as local officials are concerned with the local tax base.
Key Words: conservation planning, National Wildlife Refuges, North Carolina, National Environmental Policy Act public participation
Sustainable alternatives for livestock production
Hanks, M. and R. Martinek
Corresponding author: Mary Hanks
Minnesota Department of Agriculture, 90 W Plato Blvd, St Paul, MN 55107
Phone: 651-296-1277 Fax: 651-297-7678
Email: Mary.Hanks@state.mn.us
This poster will present information about some of the alternatives to traditional livestock production that producers in Minnesota are using.
In recent years, there have been increasing concerns about water quality and the potential for contamination by runoff from feedlots, manure storage sites and manure that is improperly applied on cropland. This has resulted in new, more stringent feedlot rules and regulations being implemented in Minnesota. Producers are increasingly looking for alternative ways to raise livestock, be profitable and at the same time protect or benefit the environment. This poster will highlight several of these methods.
Dairy and livestock producers use managed grazing or intensive rotational grazing to greatly improve the management and production of pastures. By using a rotational grazing system, they can make a profit from pastures without continual renovation, while improving the health of the animals, the quality of the grass and greatly reduce the potential for manure runoff. This also reduces or eliminates the need for expensive manure storage and handling facilities, reduces the problems and environmental concerns related to manure spreading, and reduces the amount of feedlot rules you need to comply with.
This poster will highlight connections between grazing animals and healthy streams, impact on water quality and lessons learned from this alternative approach to land use.
Composting of manure is another cost effective manure management alternative. It can also be effectively used for dead animal disposal. This poster will highlight economics and other direct and indirect benefits of this practice.
Manure digesters are being used to generate electricity on some Minnesota farms. This poster will present pros and cons of this alternative.
Keywords: managed grazing, rotational grazing, composting, manure digesters, feedlot rules, water quality, healthy animals, sustainable alternative land uses.
Out of the ashes: Emergency watershed protection after the Cerro Grande fire
Joubert, B. and P. Larr
Corresponding author: Patricia Larr
USDA-NRCS, 9608 HWY 62, Charlestown, IN 47111
Phone: 812-256-2330 x3 Fax: 812-2560362
Email: pat.larr@in.usda.gov
When a wildfire strikes, the after effects can be as threatening as the wildfire itself. Without emergency precautions and watershed treatments, a heavy rainstorm can result in further damage to life, property, and infrastructure. This was the situation that prompted the US Department of Agriculture's Natural Resources Conservation Service to engage its Emergency Watershed Protection (EWP) Program in Los Alamos, New Mexico, following the devastating Cerro Grande Fire of May 2000. Soils and vegetation in the watershed around the city were severely damaged, dramatically altering hydrologic conditions in the mountainous area. Denuded forestlands, hydrophobic soils, and the coming monsoon season set the stage for another potential disaster in the area.
Economics of restoring the watershed were virtually ignored as Federal officials appropriated millions of dollars in an attempt to make the community "whole". After all, the moral dilemma was rather simple—a Federal prescribed burn got out of control. Nearly 47,000 acres burned, and more than 260 homes and structures were damaged or destroyed. It was up to the Federal Government to try to make it right.
EWP provided $2 million in financial assistance and $700,000 in technical assistance for aerial seeding of 381,000 pounds of native grass and small grains on 20,000 acres; five debris barriers; eight trash racks; 350 feet of diversion; and raking, seeding, and mulching upstream of home sites. A temporary NRCS field office provided technical assistance to over 300 landowners. NRCS helped train and supervise 2,657 volunteers to rake, seed, and mulch 613 acres, fill and place 66,000 sand bags, and install straw bale check dams and silt fencing. Nearly 17,000 volunteer hours were donated.
Keywords: watershed restoration, wildfire, hydrophobic soils, hydrologic conditions, emergency
How to calculate estimates and standard errors for the NRI data
Lessard, V.
Corresponding author: Veronica Lessard
Natural Resources Inventory and Analysis Institute, USDA-NRCS,
1992 Folwell Ave, St Paul, MN 55108
Phone: 651-649-5130 Fax: 651-649-5140
Email: vlessard@fs.fed.us
The NRCS conducts the National Resources Inventory (NRI) on nonfederal land to monitor the status, condition, and trends of our Nation's soil, water, and related resources. Although the NRI is a rich source of information, many people find it difficult to use. A brief explanation of the NRI sampling design is given. Procedures and examples for calculating various types of estimates and standard errors are presented.
Keywords: NRI, national inventory, estimation, standard errors, sampling design
An educational program for county officials to assist them in protecting natural resources while accommodating growth
McCormick, R. and B. Miller
Corresponding author: Robert McCormick
Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant College Program, Planning With POWER Project, Purdue University, 1200 Forest Products Building,
West Lafayette, IN 47907-1200
Phone: 765-494-3627 Fax: 765-496-6026
Email: rmccormick@fnr.purdue.edu
The Planning with POWER (Protecting Our Water and Environmental Resources) Project is a statewide educational program that links land use planning with watershed planning at the local level in Indiana. Planning with POWER is coordinated by Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant College Program (IISG) and Purdue Extension Service (CES). The project capitalizes on two successful, ongoing statewide education and technical assistance projects-Purdue’s Extension Land Use Team, made up of Extension educators who assist local communities on land use planning issues, and the Conservation Partnership, composed of the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), Soil and Water Conservation Districts (SWCD), the Indiana Department of Natural Resources (IDNR), and Cooperative Extension Service (CES) staff who assist local communities with natural resource management education and watershed planning.
Planning with POWER is a model program demonstrating that education of local county officials, supported by scientific technology, can become a catalyst for natural resource protection at the local level. This program empowers land use decision-makers and citizens to identify water and environmental resource risks their communities face and to develop strategies and policies that will protect those resources while accommodating growth in their communities. Planning With POWER helps decision-makers look holistically at all of a community’s environmental assets. Through a three-tiered strategy of 1) natural resource-based planning, 2) improving site design and using best management practices, and 3) remediation and maintenance, water and other natural resources can be protected while allowing for compatible economic growth.
New technologies and scientific data are used to identify a community’s water and other natural resource assets and to weigh land use change and policy options that will allow for growth but protect vital agricultural and environmental resources. Once armed with this knowledge, local officials are better able to incorporate natural resource protection into their everyday decisions. In addition, water quality concerns become a part of local debates on topics as different as road width and curbing, landscape and neighborhood design, farmland protection, and open space planning.
Illinois Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program
Meeker, S. and J. Tate
Corresponding author: Susan Meeker
727 Sabrina Dr, East Peoria, IL 61611
Phone: 309-694-7501 Fax: 309-694-7882
Email: meekers@mail.aces.uiuc.edu
The Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) is a voluntary Federal, State, and local program available to landowners in the Illinois River Watershed that provide technical assistance along with financial incentives. The program provides an opportunity for landowners to retire frequently flooded and environmentally sensitive land. It is important to preserve the Illinois River because it is a major international shipping route that provides valuable wildlife habitat and recreational benefits.
Illinois CREP program goals are to apply conservation practices that will reduce sedimentation and nutrients loading in the Illinois River. Improving water quality along with increasing populations of waterfowl, endangered species and native fish are some of the benefits from the program. Working together to enhance the Illinois River a grant between Illinois Department of Natural Resource, Illinois Environmental Protection Agency and University of Illinois Extension was formed. The grant enables the creation of educational information to promote CREP and watershed management. Educational information material consists of fact sheets, presentations, website, manual and other materials to create awareness and promote conservation and environmental stewardship.
Landowners in the Illinois River Watershed have chosen to enroll their land after carefully considering environmental benefits and financial incentives. The majority of landowners have elected to adopt the permanent easement option. Illinois has experienced an overwhelming enrollment in the CREP program. Interest sometimes exceeds the number of acres and money available. This session will discuss a general overview and any updates with the CREP program.
Keywords: CREP, government program, water quality, watershed, agencies, wildlife habitat, conservation
The environmental significance of cadmium and lead in contaminate soils
Saad, I.A.A., A.K. Arof, and A.H. Yahaya
Corresponding author: I.A.A. Saad
Institute of Postgraduate Studies and Research, University of Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur
The increased inputs of heavy metals from the widespread disposal of industrial wastes have created an increased attention to the issue of their fate, bioavailability and environmental significance. This study was carried mainly to study the chemical speciation and plant uptake of cadmium and lead in soils amended with Cd and Pb nitrate salts at rates of 5-20 mmol/kg for incubation time varied between 3-15 months. The speciation of metals in soils is essential in understanding their chemical and biological interactions in the soil environment. The solid phase speciation of Cd and in soils amended with such metals at rate of 5mmol/kg was estimated using ICP-MS after the soils were sequentially extracted with IM NH4OAc to remove the water soluble and the exchangeable metals, with 0.125 M Cu (OAc) 2 to remove complexed metals and with 1M HNO3 to dissolve the occulted precipitated and residual metal The soil solution chemistry of heavy metal is of great importance in assessing their bioavailability and estimates their toxicity. MINTEQA2 version 3.0 used to explore the speciation of the studied metals the solution of the three soils revealed the majority of metals as the free ionic Cd2+ and Pb2+, The speciation of the studied metals was greatly influenced by soil type and residence time. Greenhouse experiments were conducted to study Cd and Pb uptake by plant grown on soils amended with theses metals at levels from 0-20mmol/kgsoils, using Lettuce (Lactuce sativa) as bio-monitor. Significant positive correlations were obtained between the bioconcentration of Cd and Pb by plant and the metal amendments, exchangeable chemical fraction and residence time. The relative bioavailability of Pb is higher than that of Cd. The soil-plant-man exposure pathway is identified as the major exposure pathway to contaminants. The estimated plant- soil bioconcentration factor for Cd and Pb was found to be slightly elevated with the residence time of the contaminant. Thus the study concluded that amount of Cd and Pb contaminants available for human intake is subjected to gradual elevation in response to the metal mass loading and the length of time soil is exposed to the specific contaminant.
Managing Nonpoint Source Pollution Stochastic simulation of pesticide runoff from a watershed in rural Nebraska
Adelman, D. and T. Schemper
Corresponding Author: Don Adelman
Nebraska Department of Natural Resources, PO Box 94676, Lincoln, NE 68509-4676
Phone: 402-471-3960 Fax: 402-471-2900
Email: dadelman@dnr.state.ne.us
A subwatershed of Stevens Creek in Lancaster County, Nebraska, was modeled using AnnAGNPS. As part of the project, data was collected for an additional computer program based on the pesticide component of AnnAGNPS. This program stochastically simulates an atrazine concentration occurring at the outlet of a watershed. The objective of this project was to determine the risk of excessive atrazine levels at the outlet for different management and climatic parameters. Conditions in the watershed as of the 2001 growing season were assumed.
Three pesticide fate and transport processes were modeled with the program. Degradation was simulated using first order kinetics. Absorption/desorption was modeled assuming a linear soil/water-partitioning coefficient. Advection was based in part on the NRCS curve number method.
The fate and transport processes for atrazine were modeled using inputs that included degradation half-life, soil-water partitioning coefficient, and watershed curve number. These inputs were all assumed to follow normal distributions and, therefore, were made random with a first order Markov Chain. A rainfall event was simulated 50 times with a Monte Carlo simulation. After each simulation the pesticide runoff concentrations were compared to the atrazine Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) of 3 micrograms/liter. The concentrations that exceeded the MCL were converted to a risk percentage. This risk was computed for 15 combinations of application rate and time between application and rainfall event. Results show that the risk correctly increases as the application rate increases and the degradation time between application and rainfall decreases.
Water infiltration as influenced by stiff-stemmed grass hedges
Rachman, A., P. Los, S.H. Anderson, C.J. Gantzer, and E.E. Alberts
Corresponding author: Steve Anderson
University of Missouri, 302 ABNR Bldg, Columbia, MO 65211
Phone: 573-882-6303 Fax: 573-884-5070
Email: AndersonS@missouri.edu
The ability of grass hedge systems to reduce runoff is critical to their effectiveness in controlling nonpoint source water pollution. The reduction in runoff depends on the infiltration properties of soil managed with hedges. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of stiff-stemmed grass hedges on water infiltration and soil hydraulic properties. The experiment was conducted on a site that had been managed with switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) hedges for ten years at the USDA-ARS research station near Treynor, Iowa. The soil was classified as Monona silt loam (fine-silty, mixed, mesic Typic Hapludolls). Ring infiltrometers (250 mm diam.) were used to measure water infiltration. Three positions were sampled: within the grass hedges, within the deposition zone 0.5 m upslope from the grass hedges, and within the row crop zone 5 m upslope from the hedges under soybean (Glycine max) production. Intact soil samples (76 mm x 76 mm) were also taken from the three positions at four depths (100 mm increments) to measure saturated soil hydraulic conductivity. Water infiltration within the grass hedges was found to be nearly 10 times higher than within the row crop zone and 20 times higher than within the deposition zone. The saturated conductivity values for the first and second depths within the grass hedges were significantly higher (p>0.01) than measurements in the row crop and deposition zones. Grass hedges were found to enhance water infiltration compared to conventional row crop management. Grass hedges are recommended for decreasing nonpoint source water pollution.
Keywords: infiltration rate, stiff-stemmed grasses, soil hydraulic conductivity
Low cost tools for precision farming
Aschmann, S.G. and R.M. Caldwell
Corresponding author: Stefanie Aschmann
c/o NAC, UNL-East Campus, Lincoln, NE 68583-0822
Phone: 402-437-5178 Fax: 402-437-5712
Email: saschman@unlserve.unl.edu
Precision farming has the potential to help reduce nonpoint source pollution, but many farmers currently lack financial resources to invest in technologies traditionally associated with precision farming. Inexpensive and widely available tools such as soil surveys, aerial photographs, topographic maps, oral histories and direct observation can be used to enhance site-specific management in lieu of, or in addition to Global Positioning Systems (GPS) or Geographic Information Systems (GIS). A simple record keeping kit and procedure are being designed to help farmers manually document manageable variability on their land to enhance site-specific management decisions. The kit consists of an aerial photograph of the farm or field, enlarged to an appropriate scale, and containing two or more identified reference points. The photograph is overlain by a series of clear sheets. Each sheet is used to document observations such as weed patches, crop growth characteristics, slope changes, eroded areas, and/or wet areas. Farmers can overlay the sheets to identify spatial patterns and relationships without a GIS and at a nominal cost. This system may be as effective as sophisticated equipment in identifying areas that will respond favorably to site-specific treatment.
Keywords: precision farming, record keeping, low-cost, site-specific, variability, GIS
Estimating the variation in soluble phosphorus losses from U.S. cropland
Atwood, J.D., R.L. Kellogg, S.R. Potter, and D.W. Gross
Corresponding Author: Jay D. Atwood
USDA, NRCS, 808 East Blackland Road, Temple, TX 76502
Phone: 254-770-632 Fax: 254-770-6561
Email: jatwood@brc.tamus.edu
In the US, livestock feeding and other cropland management practices have resulted in the build up of soil phosphorus (P) in some situations to the point that runoff and leaching of soluble P has caused water quality concerns. Federal, state, and local policy makers have been hampered in addressing these concerns by a lack of adequate information about the effect of climate, soil, and management factors on soluble P movement. The National Nutrient Loss Database project addresses this data gap by simulating the detailed environmental effects of current nutrient management practices for the US This is accomplished by applying the EPIC simulation model with data developed from the Soil Survey, the Census of Agriculture, the Cropping Practice Survey, the Crop Residue Management survey, and the National Resources Inventory. Since not every US cropland field could be individually simulated, statistical clustering techniques were used to define approximately 30,000 cropland model units that capture the variability in soil, weather, irrigation method, and conservation practices that are expected to effect P losses. For each of the cropland units, simulations were made of prevalent combinations of three tillage systems and various nutrient treatments characterized by application timing, frequency, and rate (on average, 20 different fertilizer treatments per cropland unit). As expected, the variation in soluble P runoff and leaching losses were great, with selected situations having per-acre loadings several orders of magnitude above local averages.
Red Cedar River high bank stabilization
Burgdorf, D.W.
Corresponding author: David W. Burgdorf, Plant Materials Specialist
3001 Coolidge Road, Ste 250, East Lansing, MI 48823
Phone: 517-342-5242 Fax: 517-324-5171
Email: dave.burgdorf@mi.usda.gov
The Red Cedar River is located in Michigan’s Lower Peninsula, running primarily from east to west as a tributary to the Grand River which outlets into Lake Michigan. The watershed is comprised of agricultural, urban and small home sites adjacent to the riverbank. As with similar streams, soil erosion and sedimentation from eroding streambanks have considerable impacts on the water quality, fisheries and wildlife habitat. This project centered around a home site located on an outside curve of the Red Cedar River, 25 to 30 feet from the river on a 50-foot high eroding streambank. The bank itself was vegetated with species native to the stream corridor and site location. Some non-native landscape species, which had been planted on the upper slope near the home, were also present. Several tall, large diameter trees were on the slope and leaning toward the river. The soils consisted of fine sands with clay and gravel lenses at the toe of the slope and the river slope interface. Large diameter tree stumps were present near the base of the slope along with a hard maple tree, which recently fell and pulled a large amount of soil out of the bank, degrading the severely eroded bank further.
Project Goals: Establish a stable slope utilizing natural materials and native plants in a manner causing minimal site disturbance and that would evolve and blend into the existing river corridor vegetation. The result would lessen the sedimentation contribution to the stream and protect against further degradation of the high bank, which would have ultimately compromised the home site.
Project Installation: The Soil Bioengineering techniques of brush mattress, fascines, live cribwall, slope grid, brush layers, erosion mats, live stakes and native plant seedlings of shrubs, grasses and forbes were used in combination on the project. Black Locust (Robinia pseudoacacia) (rot resistant species) ten inch in diameter and twenty feet long were used to construct a live cribwall at the toe of the slope. The cribwall was interplanted with native willow cuttings. Large diameter fascines were placed upstream of the cribwall along the lower undercut bank and staked into place. The bank was then cut off into the fascines to a gentle slope, seeded mulch, netted and staked with live stakes. The cribwall was backfilled with soil and compacted after placement of live brush layers as the wall was constructed up the slope. The cribwall rose up the slope from five to eight feet along the length of the project. Above the cribwall and up the steep slope 10 inch diameter black locust poles were anchored at the bottom into the cribwall and cut into the bank at the top. The cribwall and the slope poles were all connected using half inch reinforcing rod cut to desired lengths. Eight foot by 15 foot, six inch square concrete reinforcing netting with coco fiber affixed to it was then placed and attached to the black locust slope poles using split locust and reinforcing rods. File material was then placed behind the slope poles and grid material to fill the void, which resulted from prior erosion on slope. The fill material was compacted as it was placed and brush layers were installed. This process continued until the slope was filled to the top. Native shrubs and grass seedlings were planted on the slope face. Switchgrass, a native warmseason grass, was the broadcast over the slope and straw mulch applied. Down stream of the eroded high bank and the cribwall slope grid construction a brush mattress was installed about 15 feet in length and 8 foot up the slope. An old footpath leading from the top of the slope at an angle across and down to the river was also redone. Large live willow posts were placed down slope along the entire length of the path. A live fascine was placed on the up slope side of the posts with small diameter black locust poles laid on top. Soil cut from the slope above the path was then placed in and around the fascine and compacted. Because of the steepness of the path, steps were placed half way down the path to the rivers edge using black locust logs cut and split to length.
The project was lead by Beat Schueter, Landscape Planner, Designer and Installer from Belp, Switzerland and David W. Burgdorf, Plant Materials Specialist, Natural Resources Conservation Service. The crew was comprised of eight individuals from the United States, Switzerland, Mexico and Croatia and completed the project in ten days, beginning September 25 and ending on October 5, 2000.
Keywords: soil bioengineering, live cribwall, slope stabilization, brush layers
Improving nutrient management implementation by facilitating leadership among custom manure applicators
Erb, K., T. Bay, J. Clark, and D. Cook
Corresponding author: Kevin A. Erb
UW Extension NPM, 1150 S Bellevue St, Green Bay, WI 54302
Phone: 920-391-4652 Fax: 920-391-4617
Email: kevin.erb@ces.uwex.edu
More than a quarter of the dairy manure produced in Wisconsin is applied by a for-hire manure applicator. Acceptance of nutrient management planning principals by this rapidly growing industry is crucial to meeting state and federal nutrient management planning goals.
Recognizing this, University of Wisconsin-Extension's Nutrient Management Team facilitated the formation of a statewide professional association of these hauling firms. In less than two years, these manure applicators have taken an active role in ensuring the success of nutrient management planning. In it's first year, the association has explored using environmental spill liability insurance as a way to increase standards and safety, taken an active role in the state 590 re-write process and reached out to form partnerships with haulers in five surrounding upper Midwest states. They have opened a dialog with regulatory agencies, nutrient management planners and farmers, with the goal of greater understanding of production, environmental, and operational issues surrounding nutrient management.
Impacts in just the first year include applicators developing spill response plans, collaboration to assist farmers with emergency situations (manure storages almost overflowing) and technological innovation adoption (remote transloading stations to reduce tanker traffic on roads, equipment for lower application rates). Applicators are also encouraging lower application rates in sensitive areas and facilitating manure-trading agreements between farmers.
This session will provide the opportunity to ask manure applicators about their business, how to write a plan to make implementation easier and how local agencies can work with the industry.
Keywords: nutrient management, nonpoint source, dairy manure, manure application, custom manure application
Land use and sediment load in the Mississinewa watershed, Central Indiana
Winner, W., M. Guebert, E. Squiers, J. Reber, and J. Sweeten
Corresponding author: Michael Guebert
Earth and Environmental Science, Taylor University, 236 Reade Ave,
Upland, IN 46989-1001
Phone: 765-998-5332 Fax: 765-998-4976
Email: mcguebert@tayloru.edu
The Mississinewa watershed, located on the heavy clay soil of the central till plain of Indiana, ranks among the highest levels of impact of agricultural runoff potential in the state. Restoration of this disturbed aquatic ecosystem must begin with detailed information on the status of water quality and ecological habitat within the region, followed by careful analysis of the effects of land use, and concluded by implementation of sound remediation practices. Therefore, our first goal in this study is to identify the relationship between specific land use practices and sediment loading in the Mississinewa River watershed. A Geographic Information System (GIS) is utilized to integrate geo-spatial data—soils, topography, land use, hydrology, and biology—and to aid in evaluation of several nonpoint source sediment erosion models. The chosen models are validated through field collection of storm-event hydrologic, biologic and sediment data for two sub-watersheds. Our second goal is to extrapolate the model data to the Mississinewa watershed and to prioritize the sub-watersheds by contribution of sediment to the river and thereby identify the areas in which remediation would have the greatest impact on improving water quality of the river. Our final goal is to make recommendations of best management practices (BMPs) for specific locations that will substantially reduce sediment loading and improve the health of the aquatic ecosystem. We will promote these BMPs through outreach activities such as public meetings, field days, and educational publications. This is a status report of this Indiana Department of Environmental Management, Section 319 grant.
Keywords: nonpoint source pollution, sediment, water quality, erosion, model, land use, GIS
Hawaii's Nonpoint Source Pollution Program
Kubo, S. and J. Peppler
Corresponding author: Susan Kubo
USDA-NRCS, PO Box 50004, Honolulu, HI 96850
Phone: 808-586-7525 Fax: 808-586-4352
Email: skubo@hi.nrcs.usda.gov
Challenges are ahead for Hawaii’s nonpoint source pollution managers. Regulation, litigation, and loss of funding loom in spite of accomplishments that have been made through information, education, grass root, and incentive efforts. The Hawaii Polluted Runoff Control Program, rebounding from two years of staffing issues, has surfaced to face issues relating to law and funding.
The uniqueness of Hawaii’s nonpoint problems adds complexity to the challenge. Rainfall intensity, short and steep watersheds, an island environment, a large percentage of the world’s endangered species, and the demands on the environment by the tourism industry require creative and cost efficient solutions.
In the last year, Hawaii has instituted a number of new efforts in response to program needs and concerns and actions by the State Attorney General’s Office and the US Environmental Protection Agency. This paper discusses these efforts from staff training and reorganization, to the establishment of more effective project and contract development and administration procedures, to coordination with Total Maximum Daily Load and Nonpoint Source rule efforts. Provided will be examples of projects developed which attempt to enhance project success and be more cost effective.
Keywords: polluted runoff control, nonpoint source pollution, Hawaii Department of Health, water quality, Hawaii, solutions, management
Soil and water quality indices as affected by tillage systems
Licht, M.A. and M. Al-Kaisi
Corresponding author: Mark A. Licht
Iowa State University, 2104 Agronomy Hall, Ames, IA 50010
Phone: 515-294-3907 Fax: 515-294-9985
Email: lichtma@iastate.edu
The major objectives of the study are to evaluate the effect of tillage systems (strip tillage, chisel plow, and no-tillage) on soil quality indices and time of nitrogen application and tillage systems on ground water quality and use efficiency. The study started with fall tillage in 2000 at two locations, with the 2001 being the first growing season. Soil samples were collected for 0-15, 15-30, 30-60, 60-90, 90-120 cm before tillage each fall. Total carbon, total nitrogen, total phosphorus, and nitrate nitrogen was determined for the 0-15 cm depth increment; the lower depths were only analyzed for nitrate nitrogen. Soil temperature and soil compaction were recorded using a watchdog soil moisture logger and a CP-20 Rimik Penetrometer. Surface and profile soil moisture were determined volumetrically with a TRIME-FM, which uses time domain reflectometry technology. Water samples were collected from a 1.2 meter suction lysimeter. Plant samples were collected for V6, V12, VT, and R6 stages and analyzed for total carbon and total nitrogen. Plant emergence was determined for 10 days following planting, while harvest population and yield was also determined. Grain samples were then analyzed for total carbon and total nitrogen. Preliminary data showed no differences in corn yield at the Nashua location and a small advantage to chisel plowing at the Ames location.
Keywords: strip tillage, water quality, soil quality
The use of fluvial processes to design self-maintaining agricultural drainage ditches in Northwest Ohio
McCall, R.D., A. Ward, D. Mecklenburg, and L. Brown
Corresponding author: Robert D. McCall
Ohio State University, 1219 West Main Cross, Ste 202, Findlay, OH 45840-2349
Phone: 419-422-6106 Fax: 419-422-7595
Email: mccall.57@osu.edu
Highly modified channels drain extensive portions of the USA In these productive agricultural areas, most natural channels have been deepened and straightened to facilitate the flow of water from subsurface drainage tiles and to maximize conveyance. Habitat modification, largely related to drainage improvement, is now the leading cause of aquatic life use impairment in Northwest Ohio. An understanding of fluvial processes can be used to make drainage ditches more self-maintaining and also enhance the ecology of these watersheds. Maintenance practices include removing deposited sediment and killing vegetation from the ditches. Short-term benefits due to improved conveyance are often offset by cycles of bank failures, accelerated scours, and the need to place rip-rap along the toe of the embankments. This poster provides results of a study that tests the usefulness of river process concepts as a tool to understand drainage ditch design. Drainage ditch pattern (bends and meanders), dimension (width, depth and shape), and profile (bed slope) have been measured on ditches exhibiting different levels of maintenance. Regression techniques were used to relate these properties to drainage area, channel slope, ditch width, and bed material particle size. A statistical analysis of precipitation data and regional stream discharges was used to determine the frequency of events associated with the formation of a small meandering main channel within the confines of the ditch, as well as benches, small floodplains, riffles and pools. The dominant main channel and benches are formed by flows that occur more frequently than discharges associated with natural channels.
Keywords: drainage tiles, drainage ditches, fluvial processes, habitat modification
Evaluating cover crops for the control of runoff phosphorus losses
Salon, P.R., P. Kleinman, and M. van der Grinten
Corresponding author: Paul R Salon
USDA-NRCS, Big Flats Plant Materials Center, 3266A Rt 352, Corning, NY 14830
Phone: 607-562-8404 Fax: 607-562-8516
Email: paul.salon@ny.usda.gov
Concern over the contributions of agriculture to eutrophication due to nonpoint source phosphorus (P) losses has focused attention on the development of management practices that reduce P loss from manure-amended soils. This study examines the effect of cover crop species (red clover, white clover, and perennial ryegrass) established at time of corn planting, on runoff P losses before and after manure application. In 2000, a cover crop trial was initiated in the Town Brook Watershed, part of the New York City Watershed. The use of an imidazolinone resistant corn hybrid allows for the use of herbicides to suppress the cover crop while controlling the weeds. Corn yields with the red clover cover crop were the same as the control 18 tons/ac.
In May 2001, a National P Project rain simulator was used to generate runoff from paired 1 X 2 m runoff boxes established in the cover crops and a control site (corn stubble only), to assess spring time runoff P losses. Rain simulations were first conducted on unamended plots, and then repeated following the addition of either 100 kg P/ ha or 50 kg P/ ha, representing N and P based manure application rates, respectively. The cover crops reduced runoff volume by 50% or greater compared to the corn without the cover crops. Total P was reduced by the cover crops due to the reduction in erosion and sediment transport. Total P runoff load, a function of P concentration and runoff volume was 3x higher in the plots without the cover crops before the manure application and 2x higher with the 100kg P/ha manure application rate. Dissolved P losses will be discussed.
Keywords: cover crops, corn silage, phosphorus, runoff, phosphorus losses, manure, rain simulator
The Nebraska experience: Organizing to manage animal waste
Speidel, D.R.
Corresponding author: David R. Speidel
USDA-NRCS, 1909 Vicki Lane; Ste 103, Norfolk, NE 68701
Phone: 402-371-5350 Fax: 402-371-8930
Email: david.speidel@ne.usda.gov
One Federal agency's unique approach of developing partnerships to address nonpoint pollution from AFO (Animal Feeding Operations) concentrated in watersheds provides several lessons.
The Nebraska NRCS (Natural Resource Conservation Service) organized a resource management team consisting of specialists in engineering, agronomy and biology to assist producers with the design and planning of LWCF (Livestock Storage Waste Facilities) and CNMP (Comprehensive Nutrient Management Plans) for control of nonpoint water pollution. The unique aspect of the Team has been the partnerships developed between the state, federal, and local agencies focusing efforts on specific watersheds with streams and lakes identified as impaired due to levels of Ag-chemicals and nutrient enrichment. This cooperation resulted in better service to producers in learning best management practices and the implementation of practices to manage manure as a resource.
The project area was selected with high concentrations of livestock within the hydrologic boundaries of five Natural Resource Districts. This region received the focused support of the Team to provide producers with engineering plans and implement best management practices (BMP) for animal waste. A pilot information and training program to teach producers to develop their own CNMP’s and how to receive assistance from the USDA was organized with the combined resources of the Districts, Cooperative Extension and NRCS. USDA Service Centers provide producers with local contacts to receive assistance from the Team. This training concept is now being expanded to the rest of the state. To date, in the project area, over 100 producers have received site assessments, 34 developed CNMP’s, six completed LWCF’s and another seven are waiting design.
Keywords: AFO (Animal Feeding Operation), LWCF (Livestock Storage Waste Facilities), CNMP (Comprehensive Nutrient Management Plans), ag-chemicals, nutrient
Status of nutrient management plans in Nebraska 2001
Shapiro, C., D. R. Speidel, and R. Wozniak
Corresponding author: David R. Speidel
USDA-NRCS, 1909 Vicki Lane; Ste 103; Norfolk, NE 68701
Phone: 402-371-5350 Fax: 402-371-8930
Email: david.speidel@ne.usda.gov
Nutrient management plans are being developed by the Nebraska Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in cooperation with local Natural Resource Districts and the University of Nebraska (UNL) Cooperative Extension to improve water quality in the state. Recent emphasis has been put on nutrient management associated with Animal Feeding Operations. A pilot multi-agency information program to improve producer awareness and the quality of practices and methods used was initiated in 1999 and plans are currently being made to expand into a statewide program. In FY 01 the Nebraska NRCS developed 71,370 acres of nutrient management plans for Non Animal Feeding Operations in 47 counties and over 14,000 acres of nutrient management plans in 23 counties for producers with Animal Feeding Operations. To help meet the local water quality resources requirements identified by each of Nebraska’s 23 Natural Resource Districts (NRDs) the NRCS provided the nutrient management planning standards. Producers operating in watersheds with existing high levels of nitrates are required to implement more stringent measures by NRDs based on NRCS standards to control potential contamination.
Keywords: nutrient management, nitrates
The POWER of Alliances: Working together for profitability and conservation
Towery, D. and D. Schertz
Corresponding author: Dan Towery
CTIC, 1220 Potter Dr, Ste 170, W Lafayette, IN 47906
Phone: 765-494-6952 Fax: 765-494-5969
Email: towery@ctic.purdue.edu
The poster presentation will focus on the Conservation Technology Information Center’s Core 4 Conservation initiative promoting alliances to achieve improved farm profitability while protecting the environment. The track record shows that when the public/private sector comes together as a partnership united around specific issues and goals, the stage is set for major accomplishments.
Core 4 Conservation alliances are relatively new and are built on the lessons learned from the Crop Residue Management Alliances from the early 1990s and the Know Your Watershed partnerships of the late 1990s. The approach is very open and flexible enough to allow for multiple objectives to be achieved. It focuses on the process and empowering key stakeholders in identify resource concerns and the core conservation practices that need to be applied as a system.
The poster presentation will outline the benefits in organizing an alliance, the critical players who should be involved, the steps involved in organizing a steering committee, scale of the organization, organizational structure and size of the board, developing a common vision and mission statement, developing an action plan and measuring success. It also will outline the importance of marketing as an important part of the technology transfer.
Keywords: alliances, resource concerns, core practices, Core 4 Conservation, profitability, environment, public/private partnership
Ohio NRCS program to certify 3rd party vendors to provide conservation technical assistance
Widman, N.
Corresponding author: Norman Widman, Agronomist
USDA-NRCS, 200 North High St, Rm 522, Columbus, OH 43215
Phone 614-255-2467
Email: norm.widman@oh.usda.gov
The demand for technical assistance to apply needed conservation on the land far outweighs the government sector's ability to deliver. The technical assistance demand is especially strong for nutrient management and comprehensive nutrient management plans (CNMPs). The 2002 Farm Bill Policy creates even a stronger demand for conservation technical assistance so land users can advantage to government programs to address the conservation needs on their land.
Although NRCS and Soil and Water Conservation Districts can add some additional staff to address the technical assistance needs of the land users, this will not be sufficient to meet the needs of the producers nor the environmental and production goals of the Farm Bill.
Producers already have established relationships with many private and other public sector service providers to address their farm management technical assistance needs. These service providers possess the core expertise to address the additional environmental concerns on the farms. To capitalize on the service area, Ohio NRCS has developed a certification program for the traditional farm sector service providers to become certified to provide technical assistance that meets NRCS technical standards.
The Ohio NRCS 3rd Party Certification Program presently focuses on nutrient management and CNMPs, but soon will also address conservation planning, pest management, residue management, and engineering certifications.
The Ohio certification program involves providing the additional training to private sector providers so they can properly assess environmental and production concerns and plan the appropriate measures to address those needs that meet NRCS technical standards and the producers’ goals.
A statewide assessment of NPS pollutant sources in Virginia for 2002
Yagow, G., K. Huber, J. Davis-Martin, T. Dillaha, and S. Mostaghimi
Corresponding author: Gene Yagow
BSE Dept., Virginia Tech, 307 Seitz Hall, Blacksburg, VA 24061-0303
Phone: 540-231-2538 Fax: 540-231-3199
Email: eyagow@vt.edu
Every state is required to perform an assessment of NPS pollution as part of its biennial water quality assessment [305(b)] report to EPA and Congress. The Commonwealth of Virginia chose a modeling approach for this assessment in the current biennium using the GWLF model calibrated to edge-of-stream loadings from the Chesapeake Bay watershed model that covered a portion of the state. This calibration was performed in order to maintain consistency between NPS programs related to the Bay Program and those related to the entire Commonwealth. The model was calibrated for 36 Bay modeling segments from 271 state hydrologic unit watersheds, and then the calibrated model run separately on each of the state’s 493 hydrologic unit watersheds. Results will be presented for the 11 pollutant source categories and the NPS pollutants – sediment, dissolved N and P, and total N and P. These will be further analyzed and ranked by the larger source categories of agriculture, urban, and forestry for sediment, total N, and total P.
Keywords: watershed, modeling, sediment, nutrients
Land cover analysis for the Green River CREP (Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program): A spatial GIS assessment of forested corridors
Zourarakis, D.P. and S.A. Coleman*
Corresponding Author: Demetrio P. Zourarakis, GIS Specialist
Kentucky Division of Conservation, 663 Teton Tr, Frankfort, KY 40601
Phone. 502-564-3080 Fax: 502-564-9195
Email: demetrio.zourarakis@mail.state.ky.us
The installation of riparian buffers and associated Best Management Practices (BMPs) is a key element in Kentucky’s Green River Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP). On-the-ground evaluation of needs for such a large area is cost-prohibitive. An alternative approach is to provide candidate stream reaches, based on geospatial analysis of classified, remote sensed data. The recent release of statewide GAP Analysis Project (GAP) data, the pre-existing USGS land cover classification, together with satellite and aerial photography (SPOT panchromatic, and DOQQs) allows for an integrated analysis and on-screen utilization of these data. Applications to participate in the CREP program can be located in relation to existing streamside riparian regions.
Keywords: CREP, Green River Basin, Kentucky, riparian, conservation easements, nutrient management, sediment control, buffer zones, best management practices, state cost share
Measuring Conservation Progress Impact of nitrogen and tillage management on soil carbon dynamics
Al-Kaisi, M. and W. Dittmer
Corresponding author: Mahdi Al-Kaisi
Iowa State University, 2104 Agronomy Hall, Ames, IA 50010
Phone: 515-294-1923 Fax: 515-294-9985
Email: malkaisi@iastate.edu
The increase in atmospheric carbon over the last century has lead to an increased interest in soil carbon dynamics and soil carbon sequestration. Soil carbon pools are affected by many factors related to microbial activities, and management practices. The focus of our study is on nitrogen management and cropping systems impact on soil carbon dynamics. The objective is to investigate the carbon-nitrogen relationship in high yield environments and the impact on carbon dynamics. In order to understand this relationship, short-term and long-term changes in the soil carbon status were evaluated. Soil samples were taken to a depth of60 cm in increments of 5, 15 and 30 cm for soil total carbon, total nitrogen, and particulate organic matter estimations of the different soils types. During the growing season carbon dioxide (CO2) flux was measured under different nitrogen rates of 0, 90, 180, and 225 kg N per hectare. These sites contained different soil types and tillage
