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ARS Home » Northeast Area » University Park, Pennsylvania » Pasture Systems & Watershed Management Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #322079
Title: Closing the prediction gap between agricultural nutrient losses and riparian zone ecology

Author
item Veith, Tameria - Tamie
item Collick, Amy
item YETTER, SUSAN - Pennsylvania State University
item REGAN, CLAIRE - Pennsylvania State University
item NASSRY, MIKE - Pennsylvania State University

Submitted to: American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/15/2015
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: An interpetive summary is not required.

Technical Abstract: The ecological health of the Chesapeake Bay is an ongoing concern and, as the more obvious and direct contributors are mitigated, focus is moving upstream to the agricultural headwaters of the basin. TMDLs and Watershed Implementation Plans (WIPs) have been developed by all states in the basin to control nonpoint source pollution by applying nutrient- and sediment-reducing Best Management Practices. However, there is minimal work connecting nutrient losses from agricultural fields to biological stream quality. Except in the case of extreme events, the most direct connection between nutrients and stream health is the health concern to infants from stream nitrogen levels greater than 10ppm and the increased risk of algal blooms under high levels of phosphorus. This study compares modeled and monitored nutrient data with biological index scores and trends. Correlations among various sites and ranges of land management will be analyzed to improve our understanding of the connection between agricultural nutrient losses and the ecological health of the receiving riparian zone.