Edge-of-Field Nutrient and Sediment Monitoring in the Genesee River Watershed, New York

Session: Great Lakes Tributaries: Connecting Land and Lakes (6)

Andrew Kowalczk, U.S. Geological Survey, [email protected]
Carvin Rebecca, U.S. Geological Survey, [email protected]
Matthew Komiskey, U.S. Geological Survey, [email protected]

Abstract

The Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI), an interagency effort, seeks to accelerate ecosystem restoration in the Great Lakes by addressing the science needs of the watershed. The Genesee River, a tributary to Lake Ontario, has been identified as one of the priority watersheds targeted for restoration because of the high density of agricultural land use, associated nonpoint source pollution, and clearly identified ecosystem impairments. The U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and the U.S. Geological Survey have partnered to conduct edge-of-field monitoring in the watershed on privately owned farms applying agricultural conservation practices. Edge-of-field monitoring is designed to determine the effectiveness of reducing nutrient losses from agricultural fields using: a) winter cover crops on tiled, low-slope fields, and b) grassed waterways on non-tiled high-slope fields. Low-slope fields primarily drain through tile drains with most of the nutrient losses from these fields observed as dissolved species. Conversely, nutrient losses observed from high-slope fields primarily occur as particulate species adsorbed to sediment.