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NRCS and Edge of Field Water Quality Monitoring Edward Henry and Rebecca Donegan NRCS-NY
NRCS and Edge of Field Water Quality Monitoring
Edward Henry and Rebecca DoneganNRCS-NY
Purposes
• Evaluate Conservation Practice (BMP)Effectiveness
• Field Scale Model Calibration• Adaptive Management
Data Collection and Evaluation (201)• Monitoring
Design and Monitoring Plan
• Quality Assurance Project Plan
• Reporting Requirements
System Installation (202)
• Equipment Specifications
• Reporting Requirements
Don Meals, Stone Environmental, Inc.
What are we monitoring?• Surface • Irrigation surface• Drain Tile Outlets• Denitrifying Bioreactors• NOT Groundwater• Minimum Analysis Requirements
– Nitrogen– Phosphorus– Sediment Slide 5
Willsometer
Where are we monitoring?
Chesapeake BayWatershed
Lake ChamplainWatershed
Monitoring Design: Paired Watershed Approach
• Baseline Period Same initial
conditions monitor for one crop rotation cycle
Station A
Control
Figure 4-4 National Water Quality Handbook, USDA-NRCS, 2003.
Station B
Treatment
Slide 8
Monitoring Design: Paired Watershed Approach
Figure 4-4 National Water Quality Handbook, USDA-NRCS, 2003.
Station A Station B
Slide 9
WQ Monitoring Period-Apply practice(s) to the treatment site -Monitor for two crop rotation cycles
Control
Baseline Period -Same initial conditions -Monitor for one crop rotation cycle
Monitoring Design: Above and Below Approach
- Same conditions apply
Slide 10
Edge-of-Field Site Selection Criteria• Well-defined drainage pattern with single
outlet• Receive no runoff input from adjacent land• Drain ≥ 3 ac, within ±5 ac in size• Ensure land control for contract term • Make sure accessible in wet weather• Equipment should not interfere with farming
operations• Blends into the landscape (reduce
vandalism) Slide 11
Support Practices
• What participants can do to treat their site enrolled in this programs:
• - Cover Crop, Nutrient Management, Diversion, Filter Strip, Riparian Buffer, Residue Management, Grassed Waterway.
Funding
• NY is eligible for:– A part of the $1M pool for Lake
Champlain, which includes VT and NY.– A part of the $1M pool for
Chesapeake Bay watershed, which includes MD, PA, VA, WV, NY, DE
Critical Dates for Sign-up• Applications accepted through June
14, 2013• Applications ranked by July 5, 2013• Application selected for funding July
26, 2013• Contracts obligated by August 26,
2013• *All eligibility requirements for EQIP
apply
