Edge-of-Field Monitoring

Transcription

1 Edge-of-Field Monitoring Karma Anderson Water Quality Specialist National Water Quality and Quantity Team NRCS Edge-of-Field Monitoring NRCS WQ monitoring first introduced in 2010 as Interim CPS 799 in the MRB Moratorium on funding Based on input from other agencies and private consultants, NRCS developed two Conservation Activity Standards: Edge-of-Field Water Quality Monitoring Data Collection and Evaluation (201) Edge-of-Field Water Quality Monitoring System Installation (202) 1

2 NRCS s Water Quality Monitoring Activity Standards Objectives: 1) Evaluate conservation system performance; 2) Validate and calibrate NRCS models, and 3) Help the farmer make the best conservation investments possible. 3 NRCS Water Quality Monitoring Activity Standards Data Collection and Evaluation (201) Monitoring Design and Monitoring Plan Quality Assurance Project Plan (QAPP) Semiannual and annual reporting requirements Required constituents for monitoring: Nitrogen Phosphorous Sediment 4 2

3 NRCS Water Quality Monitoring Activity Standards System Installation (202) Defines equipment specifications to ensure: Right data is collected Adequate power source and shelter Communications device (cell phone, radio) Defines reporting requirements to ensure correct data is collected in the same way 5 Where the Activity Standards Apply When the pollutant is tied to agriculture The pollutant is a significant water quality concern of the receiving water body There is a need to evaluate Conservation Practices The Activities only apply to edge-offield scenarios, not to in-stream monitoring Activities may be paired with other instream monitoring efforts, where appropriate 6 3

4 Potential Monitoring Projects Surface runoff Drain Tile Outlets Not Groundwater Practices that avoid, control or trap runoff of nutrients and sediment Cover crops Nutrient Management Filter Strips Buffers 7 Typical Set up 8 4

5 EOF Costs Highly variable, several practice scenarios Generally: Equipment ~ $20k System Installation ~ $50k Monitoring ~ $20k/yr Existing contracts range from ~ $50k to $250k for 9 years. 9 Challenges NRCS EOF monitoring activities are a convergence of Farm Bill Programs and scientific monitoring Funded through EQIP Farm Bill EQIP payment limitation of $450k Data confidentiality The farmer has to keep the specified crop rotation for up to 9 years. Baseline monitoring often must be extended due to unusual weather events. 10 5

6 The Process National Bulletin Released treatment monitoring Baseline monitoring begins NRCS State offices identify appropriate watersheds & submit request to WQMT WQMT approves watersheds Spring This is not your average conservation practice Installation Producer and MP develop QAPP, submit to WQMT for approval NRCS State Offices offer funding in approved watersheds NRCS, producer and monitoring partner develop a monitoring plan and EQIP application Fall NHQ approves funding WQMT reviews applications NRCS State Offices rank applications Late summer 11 NRCS has existing AS 201/202 projects in AR, IN, MS, MO, NY, OH, VT, WA, and WI. Since 2013, NRCS has funded 34 projects for approximately $5.4M. 6

7 Common Monitoring Questions: What is the effect of nutrient management and Irrigation Water Management on a rice/soybean rotation in the Mississippi River Basin? Do cover crops reduce nutrient runoff in a corn/soybean rotation? Do grassed waterways reduce nutrient runoff? Is the Phosphorus Removal System effective in removing phosphorous from tile drainage? Can preferential flow of soluble phosphorous in no-till scenarios be reduced with light surface scarification? 7

8 Most projects are still in the baseline monitoring stage Baseline monitoring is required for a minimum of 2 years Some projects have been delayed by unforeseen circumstances (extreme weather events) and had to extend baseline monitoring. It will be years before we have sufficient data to analyze trends AR - One study is showing at least a 20% increase in water efficiency when using irrigation water management MO (799 & 201/202) A winter cover crop can reduce nutrient and sediment approximately 30% on runoff collected during the following spring, summer, and fall. VT (799 & 201/202) Runoff of dissolved phosphorous (TDP) on hay fields is higher than expected. TDP in runoff from annually cropped fields can also be high (25 64 percent). Mass loading of phosphorus (TP) from hayfields can be as high, or higher, than some annually tilled fields. 8

9 Who participates? Leaders, confident in their operations Those concerned about third party lawsuits Why do NRCS EOF monitoring? It tests our assumptions about the effectiveness of a particular conservation practice at the field level It is confidential It actively engages the farmer in water quality improvement efforts, and provides him/her direct feedback on the best ways to manage fields to reduce nutrient and sediment runoff. From a conservation perspective, it is the direct link between the planning process and subsequent adaptive management. 9

10 Questions? 10