Two‐Stage Ditch Floodplains Enhance N‐Removal Capacity and Reduce Turbidity and Dissolved P in Agricultural Streams

Mahl, Ursula H.; Tank, Jennifer L.; Roley, Sarah S.; Davis, Robert T.

doi:10.1111/1752-1688.12340

Cited by 70 publications

(75 citation statements)

References 67 publications

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“…Mahl et al . () found that a two‐stage ditch decreased turbidity, as compared to the conventional design, by 15‐82%. They concluded that this decrease is likely due to less sediment transport during floodplain inundation.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Improvements in Fluvial Stability Associated with Two‐Stage Ditch Construction in Mower County, Minnesota

Krider

Magner

Hansen

et al. 2017

J American Water Resour Assoc

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Water quality and stream habitat in agricultural watersheds are under greater scrutiny as hydrologic pathways are altered to increase crop production. Agricultural drainage ditches function to remove water quickly from farmed landscapes. Conventional ditch designs lack the form and function of natural stream systems and tend to be unstable and provide inadequate habitat. In October of 2009, 1.89 km of a conventional drainage ditch in Mower County, Minnesota, was converted to an alternative system with a two‐stage channel to investigate the improvements in water quality, stability, and habitat. Longitudinal surveys show a 12‐fold increase in the pool‐riffle formation. Cross‐sectional surveys show an average increase in bankfull width of approximately 10% and may be associated to an increased frequency in large storm events. The average increase in bankfull depth was estimated as 18% but is largely influenced by pool formation. Rosgen Stability Analyses show the channel to be highly stable and the banks at a low risk of erosion. The average bankfull recurrence interval was estimated to be approximately 0.30 years. Overall, the two‐stage ditch design demonstrates an increase in fluvial stability, creating a more consistent sediment budget, and increasing the frequency of important instream habitat features, making this best management practice a viable option for addressing issues of erosion, sediment imbalance, and poor habitat in agricultural drainage systems.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Improvements in Fluvial Stability Associated with Two‐Stage Ditch Construction in Mower County, Minnesota

Krider

Magner

Hansen

et al. 2017

J American Water Resour Assoc

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“…Two-stage ditches, in which miniature floodplains are constructed alongside existing conveyances [132], can significantly reduce concentrations of phosphorus and other nutrients, turbidity, and total suspended sediments [133,134]. Their nutrient removal efficiency compares well with, and can complement, other farmland best practices, like planting cover crops [90].…”

Section: Planning and Constructionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Artificial Aquatic Ecosystems

Clifford

Heffernan

2018

Water

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Abstract:As humans increasingly alter the surface geomorphology of the Earth, a multitude of artificial aquatic systems have appeared, both deliberately and accidentally. Human modifications to the hydroscape range from alteration of existing waterbodies to construction of new ones. The extent of these systems makes them important and dynamic components of modern landscapes, but their condition and provisioning of ecosystem services by these systems are underexplored, and likely underestimated. Instead of accepting that artificial ecosystems have intrinsically low values, environmental scientists should determine what combination of factors, including setting, planning and construction, subsequent management and policy, and time, impact the condition of these systems. Scientists, social scientists, and policymakers should more thoroughly evaluate whether current study and management of artificial aquatic systems is based on the actual ecological condition of these systems, or judged differently, due to artificiality, and consider resultant possible changes in goals for these systems. The emerging recognition and study of artificial aquatic systems presents an exciting and important opportunity for science and society.

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“…We based our N removal rates on a literature review of the practices, as well as our own data on N removal in two-stage ditches [28,56]. We restricted our review to studies completed in the Corn Belt, to keep the N removal rates within a realistic range.…”

Section: Cost-effectivenessmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…For the two-stage ditch, we estimated annual N removal rates, based on hydrology and seasonal denitrification measurements in 6 two-stage ditches in IN, OH, and MI [28,56]. First, we identified the annual number of floodplain inundation days, based on continuously collected stream stage data from each ditch site.…”

Section: Cost-effectivenessmentioning

confidence: 99%

How cost-effective are cover crops, wetlands, and two-stage ditches for nitrogen removal in the Mississippi River Basin?

Roley

Tank

Tyndall

et al. 2016

Water Resources and Economics

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Excess nitrogen (N) causes numerous water quality problems, and in the upper Mississippi River Basin, much of the excess N results from landscape modifications necessary for row crop agriculture. Several conservation practices reduce N export, but cost estimates for these practices are often lacking, which can inhibit decisions by farmers and policy-makers. Many practices are eligible for cost-share funds from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), but these programs do not usually cover the full cost, and so farmers need to be able to approximate their share of costs. In addition, cost estimates may help the USDA to set priorities and make programmatic decisions. We address lack of cost information by estimating the direct implementation costs and USDA program costs for three agricultural conservation practices: wetlands, cover crops, and two-stage ditches, over 10 and 50 year time horizons. We then compare these costs to the N removal effectiveness of each practice, in $ kg N −1 removed. Wetlands were the most cost-effective practice (in $ kg N −1 removed) over both time horizons. Over 50 years, the two-stage ditch ranked second in cost-effectiveness and cover crops were least cost-effective, while over 10 years, cover crops were second and two-stage ditches were least cost-effective. Finally, we note that these practices need not be used in isolation, but can be implemented simultaneously to maximize N removal. Overall, our analysis suggests that careful implementation can cost-effectively mitigate N pollution. a b s t r a c t Excess nitrogen (N) causes numerous water quality problems, and in the upper Mississippi River Basin, much of the excess N results from landscape modifications necessary for row crop agriculture. Several conservation practices reduce N export, but cost estimates for these practices are often lacking, which can inhibit decisions by farmers and policy-makers. Many practices are eligible for cost-share funds from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), but these programs do not usually cover the full cost, and so farmers need to be able to approximate their share of costs. In addition, cost estimates may help the USDA to set priorities and make programmatic decisions. We address lack of cost information by estimating the direct implementation costs and USDA program costs for three agricultural conservation practices: wetlands, cover crops, and two-stage ditches, over 10 and 50 year time horizons. We then compare these costs to the N removal effectiveness of each practice, in $ kg N À 1 removed. Wetlands were the most cost-effective practice (in $ kg N À 1 removed) over both time horizons. Over 50 years, the two-stage ditch ranked second in cost-effectiveness and cover crops were least cost-effective, while over 10 years, cover crops were second and two-stage ditches were least cost-effective. Finally, we note that these practices need not be used in isolation, but can be implemented simultaneously to maximize N removal. Overall, our analysis suggests that careful i...

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Two‐Stage Ditch Floodplains Enhance N‐Removal Capacity and Reduce Turbidity and Dissolved P in Agricultural Streams

Cited by 70 publications

References 67 publications

Improvements in Fluvial Stability Associated with Two‐Stage Ditch Construction in Mower County, Minnesota

Improvements in Fluvial Stability Associated with Two‐Stage Ditch Construction in Mower County, Minnesota

Artificial Aquatic Ecosystems

How cost-effective are cover crops, wetlands, and two-stage ditches for nitrogen removal in the Mississippi River Basin?

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