NRCS and Edge of Field Water Quality Monitoring

NRCS and Edge of Field Water Quality Monitoring

Edward Henry and Rebecca DoneganNRCS-NY

Purposes

• Evaluate Conservation Practice (BMP)Effectiveness

• Field Scale Model Calibration• Adaptive Management

Data Collection and Evaluation (201)• Monitoring

Design and Monitoring Plan

• Quality Assurance Project Plan

• Reporting Requirements

System Installation (202)

• Equipment Specifications

• Reporting Requirements

Don Meals, Stone Environmental, Inc.

What are we monitoring?• Surface • Irrigation surface• Drain Tile Outlets• Denitrifying Bioreactors• NOT Groundwater• Minimum Analysis Requirements

– Nitrogen– Phosphorus– Sediment Slide 5

Willsometer

Where are we monitoring?

Chesapeake BayWatershed

Lake ChamplainWatershed

Monitoring Design: Paired Watershed Approach

• Baseline Period Same initial

conditions monitor for one crop rotation cycle

Station A

Control

Figure 4-4 National Water Quality Handbook, USDA-NRCS, 2003.

Station B

Treatment

Slide 8

Monitoring Design: Paired Watershed Approach

Figure 4-4 National Water Quality Handbook, USDA-NRCS, 2003.

Station A Station B

Slide 9

WQ Monitoring Period-Apply practice(s) to the treatment site -Monitor for two crop rotation cycles

Control

Baseline Period -Same initial conditions -Monitor for one crop rotation cycle

Monitoring Design: Above and Below Approach

- Same conditions apply

Slide 10

Edge-of-Field Site Selection Criteria• Well-defined drainage pattern with single

outlet• Receive no runoff input from adjacent land• Drain ≥ 3 ac, within ±5 ac in size• Ensure land control for contract term • Make sure accessible in wet weather• Equipment should not interfere with farming

operations• Blends into the landscape (reduce

vandalism) Slide 11

Support Practices

• What participants can do to treat their site enrolled in this programs:

• - Cover Crop, Nutrient Management, Diversion, Filter Strip, Riparian Buffer, Residue Management, Grassed Waterway.

Funding

• NY is eligible for:– A part of the $1M pool for Lake

Champlain, which includes VT and NY.– A part of the $1M pool for

Chesapeake Bay watershed, which includes MD, PA, VA, WV, NY, DE

Critical Dates for Sign-up• Applications accepted through June

14, 2013• Applications ranked by July 5, 2013• Application selected for funding July

26, 2013• Contracts obligated by August 26,

2013• *All eligibility requirements for EQIP

apply

NRCS ContactsBecky Donegan, EQIP Program

Managerrebecca.donegan@ny.usda.gov315-477-6508

Jan Surface, ASTC-Water Resourcesjan.surface@ny.usda.gov607-865-7090