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ARS Home » Midwest Area » Columbus, Ohio » Soil Drainage Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #63840
Title: MARKETING WETLANDS FOR PROFIT

Author
item CZARTOSKI, B - MAUMEE VALLEY RC&D
item BROWN, LARRY - THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY
item Fausey, Norman
item BRATE, A - USDA NRCS
item BELCHER, HAROLD - MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY
item Cooper, Richard

Submitted to: Versatility of Wetlands in the Agricultural Landscape Conference Proceeding
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/17/1995
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Interfacing agricultural and ecological systems to help protect natural resources and sustain agricultural production is the challenge of the future. This innovative demonstration project was recently initiated to illustrate how construction and management of wetlands coupled with subirrigation can be economically profitable for farmers. The overall objective is to stimulate adoption of wetlands and to reduce adverse impacts of agricultural runoff. Project focus is to link constructed wetlands with water supply reservoirs for corn and soybean production using subirrigation. Wetlands will be constructed on prior-converted cropland to receive drainage from adjacent cropland, resulting in zero-discharge from those fields directly to streams. Agricultural runoff and subsurface drainage will recharge the constructed wetland seasonally. A deep water pool in the two-stage wetland will serve as a supplemental water supply for subirrigating corn and soybean crops in adjacent fields. Cooperative efforts between Maumee Valley RC&D, USDA-NRCS, USDA-ARS, The Ohio State University, Michigan State University, and others will construct 3 to 4 wetland/reservoirs to be linked with subirrigation systems, or retrofitted subsurface drainage systems during 1995. Technology transfer is a major component of the project, using tri-state subirrigation conferences and field days to teach farmers, technical and regulatory agency personnel, and non-agricultural citizens the benefits of interfacing wetlands with modern agricultural production.