Reducing Nutrient Export at Various Scales

Title: Quantifying Nutrient Load Reduction Practices and Export at Field and Landscape Scales.

Location: Two main Iowa locations: Site Near Reinbeck and site Near West Branch.

Time Period: 2023- 2025.

Research Team: Keith Schilling, Matthew Streeter, Elliot Anderson, Joe Honings.

Project Description: The Iowa Geological Survey (IGS) will be conducting several concurrent projects during the 2023-2024 reporting period focused on quantifying nutrient load reduction practices and nutrient export at field and landscape scales across Iowa. A new saturated waterway practice will be designed, installed and monitored at a farm site in eastern Iowa. A new grass waterway tile system will be installed to direct a portion of drainage water into drainageway sediments for nitrate load reduction. At two other field sites in eastern Iowa, IGS will characterize pre-BMP conditions and monitor new saturated buffer installations. At one site, monitoring will focus on quantifying multiple systems installed along a single stream reach and at the other site, monitoring will be conducted to assess installation of a saturated buffer downgradient of surface inlets. In addition to IGS-led field projects, IGS scientists will provide geological services to other INRC researchers, including monitoring well installations, geophysics and groundwater monitoring activities, as requested. Along with field projects, IGS will conduct desktop analyses on two aspects of nutrient export occurring at the Iowa landscape scale. In one study, IGS will quantify the speciation of N (nitrate, organic nitrogen, and ammonium) and P (particulate phosphorus and orthophosphate) loads at approximately 60 locations within the state’s ambient monitoring network. Spatial and temporal patterns of nutrient speciation will be evaluated. In a second desktop study, IGS will quantify the impact of Iowa’s large flood-control reservoirs (Red Rock, Saylorville, and Coralville) on riverine N and P loads. Mass balance results will be used evaluate opportunities to increase nutrient loss occurring in large reservoirs. Overall, the concurrent field and desktop projects conducted by IGS researchers advance INRC interests to quantify nutrient reductions at field and landscape scales across Iowa.

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Disclaimer: These are active research sites, please contact Keith Schilling (keith-schilling@uiowa.edu) prior to planning any site visits.