An Integrated Riparian Management System to Control Agricultural Pollution and Enhance Wildlife Habitat

PACIFIC NW POLLUTION PREVENTION RESEARCH CENTER
POLLUTION PREVENTION RESEARCH PROJECTS DATABASE

Project Title: An Integrated Riparian Management System to Control Agricultural Pollution and Enhance Wildlife Habitat

Date Last Updated: 9/96

Project Summary: The overall objective of this project was to develop a riparian managment system (RiMS) to rehabilitate riparian zones in agricultural ecosystems and transfer this information to relevant parties. The RiMS should help reduce agricultural pollution. An integrated RiMS was developed along a central Iowa stream to demonstrate the benefits of properly functioning riparian zones in the heavily row-cropped Midwestern US. The system consisted of three components: a multi-species riparian buffer strip (MRBS), soil bioengineering technologies for streambank stabilization, and a constructed wetland to intercept and process non-point source pollutants in agricultural drainage tile water.

The general MRBS layout consists of three zones with different types of vegetation; the design is important as the trees and shrubs provide perennial root systems and long-term nutrient storage close to the stream while different grasses slow the movement of surface runoff from adjacent cropland. Water and chemical movement through this system was closely monitored using a combination of instruments.

Several streambank stabilization methods were demonstrated, and proved effective. A small wetland was constructed to intercept and process agricultural chemicals contained in tile drainage. Nitrate loss per sq. meter of wetland sediment are comparable to those observed in experimental wetlands and are dependent upon temperature and residence time of the pollutant laden water. Is it expected that the nitrate removal capacity of the wetland will increase as the wetland matures and accumulates a layer of dead plant material.

This project has ended, however, the researcher has received additional funding to continue this type of research. The current project is also listed in the PPRC Research Projects Database. It is entitled: "An Integrated Riparian Management System to Control Non-Point Source Pollution and Enhance Wildlife Habitat."

Project Keywords: sustainable agriculture, non-point source pollution, water quality, artificial wetlands, stream, buffer strip

Organization Performing Research: Iowa State University

Primary Research Contact:
Dr. Richard C. Shultz
Department of Forestry
Iowa State University
251 Bessey Hall
Ames, IA 50011
phone: (515) 294-7602
fax: (515) 294-2995
e-mail: rschultz@iastate.edu

Date Research Started/Completed: 9/93 - 10/95

Publications Based on Research: none reported

Approximate Project Budget: $250,000

Primary Project Funder: North Central Region Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education / Agriculture in Concert with the Environment Program

Funder Contact:
Steve Waller, Regional Coordinator
13-A Activities Building
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Lincoln, NE 68583-0840
phone: (402) 472-7081
fax: (402) 472-0280
e-mail: sare001@unlvm.unl.edu