reducing nutrients
DESCRIPTION
69th SWCS International Annual Conference July 27-30, 2014 Lombard, ILTRANSCRIPT
Presented to:
69th SWCS International Annual ConferenceJuly 27-30, 2014
Westin Lombard Hotel, Lombard, Illinois 60148, USASoil and Water Conservation Society
Reducing nutrients, fecal coliform, and sediment concentrations in the Lower
Mississippi River Sub-Basin
Presented by:
D.D. Poudel, Ph.D. Professor and Coordinator, Environmental Science Program
School of Geosciences University of Louisiana at Lafayette, Louisiana, USA
Coulee Baton Microwatershed Project design Water quality monitoring locations
and field installation Water quality monitoring Results and discussion Conclusions Acknowledgement
Coulee Baton Microwatershed in Louisiana, USA
The Coulee Baton Microwatershed is in Mermentau River Basin and drains into the LA-050702 waterbody description of GIWW from the Mermentau River to the Leland Bowman Locks.
Crowley silt loam (Cw), Frost silt loam (Fo), Mowata silt loam (Mt), and Patoutville silt loam (Pa -0-1%slope, and
Pb 1-3% slope), W = water.
• Sugarcane 1,456 acres
• Rice/Crawfish 2,033 acres
• Pasture 973 acres
• Idle lands 640 acres
• Miscellaneous 442 acres
Courtesy: NRCS
Planned Intervention Microwatershed Approach (PIMA)
Scaling-up of the field-plot BMP results to a watershed levelTexas Institute for Applied Environmental Research (TiAER) at Tarleton State University, Texas developed the PIMAMicrowatershed is defined as anywhere between 3,000 – 20,000 acres with identifiable hydrologic boundariesLanduse variables can be reduced and sources of pollutant loads can be easily identifiedPromotes local ownerships of the programCommunity-friendly approachCost-effective, collaborative, and stakeholders involvement
Project planning and design meetings- began in 2004
Cooperating Partners
Louisiana Department of Agriculture and ForestryUSDA-NRCSAcadiana RC&DLouisiana Department of Environmental QualityLSU AgCenterLouisiana Cooperative Extension ServiceTexas Institute for Applied Environmental Research (TiAER)University of Louisiana at Lafayette, LouisianaUSDA Farm Service AgencyCoulee Baton Gravity Drainage DistrictVermilion Parish Police JuryGulf of Mexico ProgramLocal agricultural enterprises and businessesLouisiana Department of Natural ResourcesVermilion Soil and Water Conservation District
Implementation of BMPs in the microwatershed
Vermilion Soil and Water Conservation Districts and USDA-NRCS developed a plan for voluntary implementation of BMPs
4 contracts under EQIP covering 229 acres signed in 2006-2007 and BMPs installed included:
Irrigation Land LevelingGrade Stabilization StructuresIrrigation Water ConveyanceFencingHeavy Use Protection, andWater well
Septic systems replacement cost-share program
VSWCD together with Acadiana RC&D Council and LDEQ through cost-share program
Repair or replacement of failing or aging home septic systems (80 systems installed out of 230 homes) in the microwatershed
Homeowner education, field day, and demonstration of three ER systems:
Spray Irrigation SystemRock Plant Filter System, andGravel Field line
“This project could be replicated in any small watershed that is predominately residential. The challenge of such replication lies not in technology transfer or information transfer, but in motivating homeowners to participate. Reaching and convincing individual homeowners was the most difficult and least predictable task of this project. Some understand their role in water protection and readily accepted the opportunity to bring their systems into compliance with DHH regulations. Others were unconvinced that their systems were problematic and seemed suspicious and wary of the process. Proper education is necessary in order to motivate individuals to action, but vary rarely will education and outreach garner a voluntary response of 100%.”
http://www.acadianarcd.com/cms-assets/documents/29044-170831.final-report-rev1.pdf
Coulee Baton Microwatershed water quality monitoring locations identified in 2009.
The Coulee Baton Microwatershed is in Mermentau River Basin and drains into the LA-050702 waterbody description of GIWW from the Mermentau River to the Leland Bowman Locks.
Site 7
Site 6Site 5
Site 4
Site 1
Site 3Site 2
Monitoring Locations
Field Instrumentation
6712 ISCO sampler, 4230 ISCO Bubble Flow meter, Rain gauge with tipping 674 bucket
Floating Suction StrainerStationary Suction Strainer
Two types of suction strainer systems designed
Water Quality Sampling and analysis
Field parameters – YSI Sonde
Laboratory determination
Sampling began on September 24, 2009 and ended on August 9, 2011
Water quality monitoring
ResultsResults and discussion
Overall surface water quality of Coulee Baton Microwatershed in southwestern Louisiana (September 2009 – August 2011)
0100200300400500600700
Site 1Site 2Site 3Site 4Site 5Site 6Site 7
mg
L-1
Average TS, TDS, and TSS for seven sites
TS
TDS
TSS
0
0.5
1
1.5
2
2.5
Site1
Site2
Site3
Site4
Site5
Site6
Site7
mg
L-1
Average TKN, nitrite, and nitrate for seven sites
TKN
Nitrite
Nitrate
0
0.1
0.2
0.3
0.4
0.5
0.6
Site 1 Site 2 Site 3 Site 4 Site 5 Site 6 Site 7
mg
L-1
Average TP and SRP for seven sites
TP
SRP
Average concentrations of TS,TDS, TSS, nitrogen and phosphorus for the seven monitoring locations in Coulee Baton Microwatershed
Fecal coliform counts for the seven monitoring locations
0
2,000,000
4,000,000
6,000,000
8,000,000
10,000,000
12,000,000
14,000,000
16,000,000
18,000,000
Site 1
Site 2
Site 3
Site 4
Site 5
Site 6
Site 7
Fecal Coliform(MPN/100 mL)
Septic system project ends
Seasonal fluctuations of turbidity, total solids, nitrate and SRP
Conclusions
Sediments, nutrients, temperature, and fecal matters are the major cause of nonpoint source pollution in Coulee Baton microwatershed.
Fecal coliform concentration has declined recently following the repair or replacement of home septic systems, but still very high.
Low level of implementation of BMPs and difficulties in motivating homeowners in repair or replacement of old septic systems.
Seasonal fluctuations of nonpoint source pollutants especially suspended solids and nutrients relate to agricultural activities.
The PIMA promise more focused, coordinated, and effective approach for nonpoint source pollution control.
I would like to acknowledge the LDEQ and EPA Region VI for funding this project through the 319 grant program. Thanks to LDEQ staff Mr. Cortez Rankin, Mr. Reggie Coleman, Mr. Max Forbes, Ms. Christy Rando, and Ms. Stephine Morrel for their support in this project. Also, many thanks to UL faculty, staff, and students, including Mr. Brian Kibbe, Mr. Will Bernard, and Ms. Colette Anzalone for field work, field instrumentation, and other help. The support from LSU Ag Center by lending ISCO samplers and flowmeters is much appreciated.
Special thanks to the Vermilion Soil and Water Conservation District (VSWCD) for leading this initiative for building a collaborative partnerships for the Coulee Baton Microwatershed. Similarly, special thanks to Dr. Ernest Girouard, Vermilion SWCD and LSU Ag Center, Mr. Sheryll, Vermillion SWCD, Ms. Mitzie Dohrman and Mr. Justin Meaux at Vermilion SWCD, and Mr. Dexter Sapp, NRCS, and Acadiana RC&D staff for their help and participation in various meetings. Active participations of local communities, governmental agencies, and other stakeholders in the project planning meetings is highly appreciated.
Acknowledgements
Thank you for your attention!