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Enhancing Denitrification in Rural Streams:Washington County

Enhancing Denitrification in Rural Streams:Washington County. Joshua Cockroft Johanna Nifosi Robert Johnson Geldar Matungwa Louise Yazzie. Washington County has Agriculture, Forest and Urban Land Use. Washington County is Largely Agriculture. County Ordinance

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Enhancing Denitrification in Rural Streams:Washington County

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  1. Enhancing Denitrification in Rural Streams:Washington County Joshua Cockroft Johanna Nifosi Robert Johnson Geldar Matungwa Louise Yazzie

  2. Washington County has Agriculture, Forest and Urban Land Use

  3. Washington County is Largely Agriculture • County Ordinance • Agriculture accounts for 114,065 acres in 2007 • Located in the Upper Potomac

  4. Nitrogen Content is Directly Related to Agriculture Land Use Only Nitrogen Loads and Concentration with Land Use Nitrogen Loads and Concentration

  5. Types of Permits for N mitigation measures • General permits • Individual permits

  6. Federal and State Agency Roles on Wetland Permits • US. Army Corp of Engineers • US. Environmental Protection Agency • National Marine Fisheries Service • Maryland Department of the Environment • Maryland Department of Natural Resources

  7. Three Creeks with High Levels of Nitrogen Load and Concentration Little Conocheague Creek Meadow Brook Troupe Run

  8. Legume Cover Crops Reduce N Fertilizer Use

  9. Additional Benefits of Cover Crops • Herbicide reduction • Reduction in insect and nematode control costs • Protection of ground water • Increased water infiltration • Increased soil health.

  10. Maryland Government Supports Water Quality Programs in Washington County • The Maryland Agricultural Water Quality Cost-Share program (1984) provides grants. • $257,648 given to the winter cover crop program in Washington County. • 5,786 acres of the county planted cover crops in 2008-2009.

  11. Cover Crops Significantly Reduce Nitrogen Load • Majority of crops in Washington County in 2007 were Corn and Wheat • In studies, corn/wheat combo found 76% reduction • Significant potential decrease in nitrogen loads, but not below 10,000 kg/m3*yr

  12. Floating Wetlands denitrifies

  13. Floating Wetlands also significantly decrease nitrogen loads • Contain nutrient consuming wetland plants, they host a nitrifying and denitrifying bacteria on their roots that grow down through the water column. • 47% nitrogen removal in agro lands. • Low cost • Need between 9-13 mats in 1 creek

  14. Pros/Cons of Cover Crops • Pros • Cover crop program already in place • Increased benefits for farmers • Privately run and operated • Cons • Not as efficient • Costs for Farmers to plant • Cover crop program appears to have had not had significant reduction in loads since inception

  15. Pros/Cons of Floating Wetlands • Pros • Low Cost • More Efficient • Not on farmland • Cons • Regulation Permits • Program not in place

  16. References • Maryland Department of Agriculture.2009. Providing grants to help farmers. Accessed from http://www.mda.state.md.us/pdf/macsbrochure07.pdf • Maryland Agricultural Water Quality Cost-Sharing program. 2009 Annual report. Accessed on Nov 6, 2010 from http://www.mda.state.md.us/pdf/macsar09.pdf • Washington County Government. 2010. Accessed on Nov 6 2010 from http://www.washco-md.net/washco.shtm

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