Skip to main content
ARS Home » Southeast Area » Oxford, Mississippi » National Sedimentation Laboratory » Water Quality and Ecology Research » Docs » Mississippi Delta MSEA Volume 2, Issue 3, Page 1
Mississippi Delta MSEA Volume 2, Issue 3, Page 1
headline bar
MISSISSIPPI DELTA

MSEA

REPORTER

Volume 2, Issue 3, Page 1, Third Quarter 1996

Page 2
Page 3
Page 4
Page 5
MSEA Reporter Archive


Delta Council Meeting

I was asked recently to discuss MSEA on a Discussion Panel of Water Resources for the annual Delta Council Soil and Water Resources Committee Meeting in Stoneville, Mississippi. I gave a brief project overview and spent my allotted time on 1996 progress and 1997 plans. Other panelists discussed low flow problems, ground water chemical contamination, surface and ground water distribution problems and NAWQA (USGS). The EPA panelist did not attend. I am including abbreviated MSEA concepts below:

1996 Accomplishments

  • BMPs have been constructed and/or implemented on Deep Hollow and Beasley watersheds.
  • Nine surface runoff and over 20 shallow ground water sampling sites have been installed.
  • Several field days helped demonstrate project goals.
  • All MSEA lakes have been instrumented to monitor water quality changes over the course of the project. Dissolved oxygen, pH, conductivity, and temperature are measured hourly at three sites on each of the three lakes. An automated sampler will take daily water samples for sediment analysis and plankton. These sampling stations are solar powered and require servicing once every two weeks.
  • All MSEA lakes have undergone renovation and will be re-stocked beginning late October and completed in early spring. All rough fishes (gar, carp, bullheads etc.) have been removed and will be replaced with bass and bluegill.
  • Monitoring stations have been established in the riparian area on Beasley Lake and will be used to track the degradation of pesticides through the riparian zone. This research may lead to recommendations concerning the use of riparian vegetation as a BMP.
  • Twenty-two well sites (3 wells/site at 5',10', & 15') for collecting and determining shallow ground water quality were established in the 3 watersheds. Results from 100+ shallow ground water samples indicate essentially no pesticide transport in shallow ground water. Only 3 pesticide detections, all at sub-ppb levels.
  • An incidental benefit of rotenone application was realized on the MSEA Lakes. Suspended sediments in all lakes declined significantly following application of rotenone.

Southern Weed Science Lab

  • Characterized spatial variability of biological, chemical, and physical properties of cotton soils at Deep Hollow and Beasley. (see newsletter article)
  • Characterized soils to evaluate effects of soil characteristics on herbicide dissipation.
  • Surveyed cotton production areas to determine the spatial variability of weed distribution to evaluate effects of BMPs and soil properties on weed shifts and weed population dynamics.
  • Monitored populations of bacteria and algae in lake water to study potential correlation with BMPs. (see newsletter article)

Application and Production Technology Research Unit

  • Savings with the sensor sprayer averaged 75% in cotton and 62% in soybeans over the season compared to conventional applications w/hooded sprayer. (see newsletter article)

Baton Rouge

  • Adapted the National weather Service 7-day forecast for use in the study area.
  • Developed analytical procedures for insecticides in runoff.

Top
Page 2
Page 3
Page 4
Page 5
MSEA Reporter Archive