Reducing nutrients

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!