Research Projects - Edge-of-Field

2025

Evaluating Phosphorus Retention in Saturated Riparian Buffers

Investigators:

Wenjuan Huang, Tom Isenhart, Gabriel Johnson, Bill Crumpton

Uncovering Soil and Sediment Properties to Inform Saturated Buffer Design

Investigators:

Tom Isenhart, Keith Schilling, Gabriel Johnson, Matthew Streeter, Jennifer Merryman

2024

How Long Will Corncobs Improve Nitrogen Removal in Bioreactors?

Investigators:

Michelle Soupir, Iowa State University

Two-stage Agricultural Channels in Iowa's Drained Landsape to Improve Water Quality and Long-term Resilience

Investigators:

Sara Winnike McMillan, Iowa State University, Antonio Arenas, Iowa State University, Peter Moore, Iowa State University , Keith Schilling, Iowa Geological Survey, Johnathon Swanson, Polk County Conservation , Amanda Brown, Polk County Conservation

2023

An integrated assessment framework to evaluate conservation practices and environmental and economic benefits: A case for central Iowa

Investigators:

Phillip Gassman, Tássia Mattos Brighenti , Yongjie Ji

Co-benefits and possible unintended consequences of restoring wetlands for nutrient reduction

Investigators:

Charlie Loewen

Linking agricultural practices to water quality improvement: The importance of spatial scale in accurately characterizing nonpoint source nutrient loads in Iowa stream systems

Investigators:

David Green, William Crumpton, Sara McMillan, Tom Isenhart, Peter Moore

2022

Evaluating the effectiveness of stacked practices: Utilizing modified blind inlets at terrace sites for N and P load reductions

Investigators:

Matthew Streeter , Keith Schilling

Extending saturated buffers to additional landscape positions

Investigators:

Tom Isenhart , Keith Schilling

Unlocking the bioreactor microbiome for nutrient management and water quality

Investigators:

Adina Howe, Steven Hall, Michelle Soupir, Jaejin Lee, Lindsey Hartfiel

2021

Continued assessment of corncobs as an alternative carbon source to enhance bioreactor performance for improved water quality

Investigators:

Michelle Soupir, Tom Isenhart, Ji Yeow Law, Natasha Hoover

Developing design criteria to test a new saturated waterway conservation practice

Investigators:

Keith Schilling, Antonio Arenas-Amado

Influence of bank stabilization on floodplain sediment and phosphorus storage

Investigators:

Peter L. Moore , Thomas Isenhart

2020

Dam! Impacts of Beaver Dams on Surface and Groundwater Quality

Investigators:

Billy Beck, Thomas Isenhart, Keith Schilling, Peter Moore, Richard Schultz, Tyler Groh

Reducing Phosphorus Export through Farmed Pothole Surface Inlets with P Filters and Blind Inlets

Investigators:

Amy Kaleita, Michelle Soupir, Chad Penn

Soil Organic Carbon Controls on Nitrate Removal in Saturated Riparian Buffers

Investigators:

Thomas Isenhart, Steven Hall

2019

Evaluating the Water Quality Benefits of Reconstructed Multi-purpose Oxbows

Investigators:

Keith Schilling, Anthony Seeman, Karen Wilke, Clay Pierce, Chris Jones

Watershed-scale Phosphorus Inputs from Streambanks

Investigators:

Peter Moore, Thomas Isenhart, Keith Schilling

2018

Before the Streams: Modeling the Effectiveness of In-Field and Edge-of-Field Practices in Reducing Nitrogen Loads

Investigators:

Chaoqun Lu, Tom Isenhart, William Crumpton, Matthew Helmers, Dan Jaynes, Morgan Davis, Tyler Groh

Corn Cobs as an Alternative Carbon Source to Enhance Bioreactor Performance for Improved Water Quality

Investigators:

Michelle Soupir, Ji Yeow Law, Thomas Isenhart, Morgan Davis, Tom Moorman, Gary Feyereisen

Evaluation of Saturated Buffers as a Conservation Drainage Practice for Treating Agricultural Subsurface Drainage

Investigators:

Chris Rehmann, Michael Perez, Cassandra Rutherford, Tom Isenhart, Dan Jaynes

2017

Total Phosphorus Loads in Iowa Rivers and Estimation of Stream Bank Phosphorus Contribution

Investigators:

Keith Schilling, Calvin Wolter, Tom Isenhart

Woodchip Bioreactors for Improved Water Quality 2017

Investigators:

Michelle Soupir, Natasha Hoover, Thomas Moorman, Thomas Isenhart

2016

Establishment and Monitoring of Saturated Buffers

Investigators:

Thomas Isenhart, Dan Jaynes

Evaluating the Nutrient Processing Capacity of Roadside Ditches

Investigators:

Keith Schilling, Matthew Streeter, Laura Jackson, Marty St. Clair

Phosphorus Contributions from Eroding Iowa Stream Banks

Investigators:

Peter Moore, Thomas Isenhart, John Thomas, Keith Schilling, Calvin Wolter, John Kovar, Richard Schultz, Jason Palmer

Potential Monomethylmercury Production in Bioreactors and Wetlands Intercepting Elevated Nitrate Loads in Iowa

Investigators:

William Crumpton, Michelle Soupir, Casey Judge

Woodchip Bioreactors for Improved Water Quality 2016

Investigators:

Michelle Soupir, Natasha Hoover, Thomas Moorman, Thomas Isenhart

2015

Identifying and Quantifying Nutrient Reduction Benefits of Restored Oxbows

Investigators:

Keith Schiling, Nathan Young, Christopher Jones, Keegan Kult, Karen Wilke

Woodchip Bioreactors for Improved Water Quality 2015

Investigators:

Michelle Soupir, Natasha Hoover, Tom Moorman, Thomas Isenhart

2014

Prairie Seed Mixes for Contour Buffer Strips: On-Farm Demonstration and Workshops

Investigators:

Daryl Smith

2013

Bioreactor Research and Assessment of Woodchip Tile Denitrification Bioreactors: Optimal Design/Performance and Experimental Bioreactor Installation and Study

Investigators:

Michelle Soupir, Roger Wolf

Establishment and Monitoring of Saturated Buffers within High–Priority HUC–12 Watersheds

Investigators:

Dan Jaynes, Thomas Isenhart

Phosphorus Transport in Iowa Streams: Importance of Stream Bed and Bank Erosion

Investigators:

Thomas Isenhart, John Kovar, Keith Schilling, Richard Schultz, Michael Thompson, Mark Tomer