Watershed Achievements Report

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Statewide Watershed Achievements Report 2015 Phosphorus and Water Balance Tools for TMDL Plans Most efforts to reduce nonpoint source (NPS) phosphorus (P) inputs to water are based on the idea of trapping particles in structural BMPs. This has not been effective at reducing P loads in the Mississippi River basin, so new approaches are needed. In this study, we developed a P balance calculator tool that will allow watershed managers to think in terms of P balances, seeking to reduce inputs (fertilizer, feed, human food, etc.) or increase deliberate outputs (crops, animal products, biosolids) to reduce accumulation in the watershed. For our case study agricultural watershed in the Albert Lea, Minnesota region, the P balance revealed a negative balance – more P was brought into the watershed that was deliberately exported, a condition that would reduce P accumulation and eventually reduce stream P. Our urban P balance revealed that the largest flux of P was in animal bones – an outcome associated with having a large meat-packing plant in the watershed. Results that count • We developed detailed P balances for the agricultural watershed and the City of Albert Lea. • We developed a “biogeochemical diagnostics” toolkit to guide BMP selection. • We developed a User’s Manual and associated spreadsheet P balance calculator tools. Financial information Funding type: Section 319 Grant amount: $294,868 Matching funds: $73,215 Final in-kind: $170,851 Contact information Kevin McKoskey University of Minnesota 450 McNamara Alumni Center, 200 Oak Street Minneapolis, MN 55455 612-624-5066 MPCA Project Manager: Greg Johnson We also developed “biogeochemical diagnostic” tools that can help watershed managers tailor BMPs to be most effective across hydrologic settings varying from mostly groundwater inputs to mostly overland runoff. In our agricultural study site we learned that P loads were dominated by soluble P, which came from both groundwater and overland flow. To translate research into practice, we developed Urban and Agricultural P Balance Calculators, both simpleto-use, open-source, Excel spreadsheets that embeds extensive knowledge acquired in this project. We also developed a complete P balance for the Albert Lea region – the city and its industries, along with upstream agricultural watersheds, to enable local governments to envision new directions in P management that utilize “P balance thinking.” Goals • Develop detailed P balances for the agricultural watershed and the City of Albert Lea, Minnesota. • Develop hydrologic tool to improve selection of BMPs. • Develop a guidance manual that embeds knowledge from the above goals. Agricultural drainage ditch in the Albert Lea Lake watershed, Minnesota Minnesota Pollution Control Agency www.pca.state.mn.us 34
Statewide Watershed Achievements Report 2015 Planning Tool for Watershed Scale Surface Water Nutrient Reduction The University of Minnesota previously developed a spreadsheet tool for estimating watershed nitrogen reductions to surface waters when combinations of BMPs are adopted, referred to as the “Watershed Nitrogen Reduction Planning Tool” or NBMP.xlsm. This project developed a similar spreadsheet tool for estimating watershed phosphorus reductions to surface waters when one or more BMPs are adopted, along with making improvements in the previously-developed nitrogen tool. The new tool is referred to as the “Watershed Phosphorus Reduction Planning Tool” or PBMP.xlsm. The BMPs incorporated into PBMP.xlsm include: 1) reducing P fertilizer rates on six major crops to target rates; 2) applying P fertilizer as close to planting as possible; 3) using reduced tillage; 4) installing riparian buffers near streams; 5) planting cover crops; 6) adopting controlled drainage and alternatives to open tile inlets; and 6) injecting or immediately incorporating manure. Geological information System (GIS) analysis was used to determine suitable acreage for each BMP. The reduction in P load and costs to adopt each of the BMPs are calculated in the spreadsheet based on user-defined adoption rates and various research-based assumptions and parameters. (increased) the estimate of manure in the current sheet to be more consistent with other estimates. Revised the riparian buffer suitable acres data with new data that accounts for land currently in buffers. Also, changed the default assumption for land shifted from fall N application to spring or sidedressed, to assume that that acreage also has the rate reduced, even if the rate reduction adoption is less than the acreage shift adoption rates. Fixed a bug in the perennial crop value calculations. Financial information Funding type: Section 319 Grant amount: $67,002 Final in-kind: $22,501 Contact information Judy Krzyzek University of Minnesota 450 McNamara Alumni Center, 200 Oak Street Minneapolis, MN 55455 612 624 5599 krzyzek@umn.edu MPCA Project Manager: Dave Wall Goals • Add a phosphorus reduction BMP spreadsheet component to the NBMP tool. • Improve the nitrogen load reduction estimates in the current NBMP tool. Results that count • A draft version of the PBMP.xlsm spreadsheet has been developed and is undergoing review and refinement. • Added N inhibitor and saturated buffers as BMPs. Added more detail on the overlap between suitable acres of riparian buffers, wetlands, and perennial crops. Made many other small changes. Revised the documentation. Refined the estimates of corn yield reductions under current and BMP N rates and different rainfall scenarios. Fixed a bug in the manure crediting calculations that affects the individual watershed loading calculations. Also changed Minnesota Pollution Control Agency www.pca.state.mn.us 35
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