Modeling nutrient removal using watershed-scale implementation of the two-stage ditch

Christopher, S. F.; Tank, Jennifer L.; Mahl, Ursula H.; Yen, Haw; Arnold, Jeffrey G.; Trentman, Matt T.; Sowa, Scott P.; Herbert, Matthew E.; Ross, Jared; White, M.H.; Royer, Todd V.

doi:10.1016/j.ecoleng.2017.03.015

Cited by 32 publications

(21 citation statements)

References 62 publications

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“…Christopher et al. () applied what is known about P movement in 2‐S systems to a model to estimate the potential retention power of the 2‐S within a watershed. However, there is uncertainty in these types of estimates, given that most P retention values have not been measured directly and are applied to watersheds currently without 2‐S ditches.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Two‐Stage Agricultural Ditch Sediments Act as Phosphorus Sinks in West Michigan

Kindervater

Steinman

2019

J American Water Resour Assoc

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Phosphorus (P) and sediment inputs from agricultural drainage contribute to the development of hypereutrophic conditions in lakes across the world. Two‐stage (2‐S) ditches, an agricultural best management practice gaining acceptance in the Midwestern United States, increase floodplain area within drainage ditches to help capture nutrients and sediment. While denitrification has been shown to increase on 2‐S benches, less is known about their P retention ability. This study assessed the abiotic and biotic P retention of two separate 2‐S ditches compared to their corresponding traditional reaches directly upstream within the Macatawa watershed, located in West Michigan. Soluble reactive P export was significantly reduced in 2‐S baseflow of both ditch systems. Equilibrium P concentration values suggest retention of P within the 2‐S sediment. P was bound within stable fractions in both 2‐S and traditional reaches. An analysis of P stock within the ditches revealed sediment held over 96% of total P (TP) within each reach compared to <4% in bench vegetation and periphyton combined. Turbidity, but not TP, was reduced in one study ditch, whereas TP, but not turbidity, was reduced in the other study ditch. Geomorphic stability may have been responsible for differing P retention between ditches. Ability to retain P appears to be impacted by physical as well as biogeochemical characteristics; hence, structure and age of 2‐S reaches influence P retention.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Two‐Stage Agricultural Ditch Sediments Act as Phosphorus Sinks in West Michigan

Kindervater

Steinman

2019

J American Water Resour Assoc

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“…; Christopher et al . ). Field experiments involved aquatic ecologists, agricultural engineers, resource managers, and farmers, who collaborated in the development, implementation, and quantification of the environmental benefits of the paired methods at the watershed scale (Figure , Question C).…”

Section: Dimensions Of Te From the Fieldmentioning

confidence: 97%

“…In a related case study, a research team from the University of Notre Dame collaborated with farmers to test and improve the effectiveness of two BMPs, one of which is applied to the landscape (winter cover crops) and one that was implemented in adjacent waterways (inset floodplain construction via a two-stage ditch; Figure 6). Although cover cropping has long been used successfully in Indiana and other Midwest states, the two-stage ditch is a relatively new approach that simulates the erosionreduction and nutrient-retention benefits of natural floodplains (Roley et al 2012;Davis et al 2015;Mahl et al 2015;Christopher et al 2017). Field experiments involved aquatic ecologists, agricultural engineers, resource managers, and farmers, who collaborated in the development, implementation, and quantification of the environmental benefits of the paired methods at the watershed scale ( Figure 5, Question C).…”

Section: Shatto Ditch Watershed Indianamentioning

confidence: 99%

Building translational ecology communities of practice: insights from the field

Lawson

Hall

Yung

et al. 2017

Frontiers in Ecol & Environ

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Translational ecology (TE) prioritizes the understanding of social systems and decision contexts in order to address complex natural resource management issues. Although many practitioners in applied fields employ translational tactics, the body of literature addressing such approaches is limited. We present several case studies illustrating the principles of TE and the diversity of its applications. We anticipate that these examples will help others develop scientific products that decision makers can use "off the shelf" when solving critical ecological and social challenges. Our collective experience suggests that research of such immediate utility is rare. Long-term commitment to working directly with partners to develop and reach shared goals is central to successful translation. The examples discussed here highlight the benefits of translational processes, including actionable scientific results, more informed policy making, increased investment in science-driven solutions, and inspiration for partnerships. We aim to facilitate future TE-based projects and build momentum for growing this community of practice. T ranslational ecology (TE) emphasizes the social and decision-making context in which an ecological question is posed, with the goal of producing actionable science to address complex environmental problems Wall et al. 2017). define TE as "an approach in which ecologists, stakeholders, and decision makers work together to develop research that addresses the sociological, ecological, and political contexts of an environmental problem", and state that TE is distinct from conventional ecological research in that it seeks "to link ecological knowledge to decision making by integrating ecological science with the full complement of social dimensions that underlie today's complex environmental issues" . To succeed in helping society address the many challenges that require an understanding and application of ecological knowledge, TE-based projects must build communities of practice.Communities of practice have a common sense of purpose and shared methods for learning and innovation (Wenger 1998). These communities are more likely to be successful over time if they develop and communicate clear mechanisms for engagement, resolution of differences, and knowledge exchange. The field of TE brings together two types of communities of practice, as identified by Amin and Roberts (2008): epistemic communities (researchers), which focus on the creation of new knowledge, and professional communities, which focus on land and natural resource management, typically in partnership with stakeholders. In the context of improving the use of sound science in environmental decision making, these two communities share a common sense of purpose, yet they work, learn, teach, and innovate differently. To fuse these groups into a common community of practice, we need to share detailed stories about TE processes, which motivate participation and provide evidence of positive outcomes (Probst and Borzillo 2008). Furthermore, the me...

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“…Denitrification response remains uncertain when NO 3 − concentrations are saturating or drivers such as labile organic carbon limit the process (Faust et al., ; Soana, Balestrini, Vincenzi, Bartoli, & Castaldelli, ; Wu et al., ). Sensitivity of denitrification to NO 3 − has significant implications for water quality, and thus a better understanding of the saturation kinetics and the complex interplay among rate‐limiting factors is needed in upscale models that extend experimental measurements to large spatial scales (Christopher, Tank, Mahl, & Royer, ; Mulholland, Helton, Poole, & Dodds, ; Soana et al., ). Such models represent useful predictive tools to optimize restoration, design, and management of aquatic ecosystems aimed at boosting conditions suitable for denitrifying communities.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…for water quality, and thus a better understanding of the saturation kinetics and the complex interplay among rate-limiting factors is needed in upscale models that extend experimental measurements to large spatial scales (Christopher, Tank, Mahl, & Royer, 2017;Mulholland, Helton, Poole, & Dodds, 2008;Soana et al, 2019). Such models represent useful predictive tools to optimize restoration, design, and management of aquatic ecosystems aimed at boosting conditions suitable for denitrifying communities.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Nitrate availability affects denitrification in Phragmites australis sediments

et al. 2020

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Understanding relationships between an increase in nitrate (NO3−) loading and the corresponding effects of wetland vegetation on denitrification is essential to designing, restoring, and managing wetlands and canals to maximize their effectiveness as buffers against eutrophication. Although Phragmites australis (Cav.) Trin. ex Steud. is frequently used to remediate nitrogen (N) pollution, no information is available on how NO3− concentration may affect plant‐mediated denitrification. In the present study, denitrification was measured in outdoor vegetated and unvegetated mesocosms incubated in both summer and winter. After spiking the mesocosms with NO3− concentrations typical of agricultural drainage water (0.7−11.2 mg N L−1), denitrification was quantified by the simultaneous measurement of NO3− consumption and dinitrogen gas (N2) production. Although denitrification rates varied with vegetation presence and season, NO3− availability exerted a significant positive effect on the process. Vegetated sediments were more efficient than bare sediments in adapting their mitigation potential to an increase in NO3−, by yielding a one‐order‐of‐magnitude increase in NO3− removal rates, under both summer (743−6007 mg N m−2 d−1) and winter (43−302 mg N m−2 d−1) conditions along the NO3− gradient. Denitrification was the dominant sink for water NO3− in winter and only for vegetated sediments in summer. Nitrification likely contributed to fuel denitrification in summer unvegetated sediments. Since denitrification rates followed Michaelis–Menten kinetics, P. australis‐mediated depuration may be considered optimal up to 5.0 mg N L−1. The present outcomes provide experimentally supported evidence that restoration with P. australis can work as a cost‐effective means of improving water quality in agricultural watersheds.

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Modeling nutrient removal using watershed-scale implementation of the two-stage ditch

Cited by 32 publications

References 62 publications

Two‐Stage Agricultural Ditch Sediments Act as Phosphorus Sinks in West Michigan

Two‐Stage Agricultural Ditch Sediments Act as Phosphorus Sinks in West Michigan

Building translational ecology communities of practice: insights from the field

Nitrate availability affects denitrification in Phragmites australis sediments

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