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Nicki Devanny Utah State University, MS Watershed Science Adviser: Nancy Mesner

Determining the effectiveness of best management practices to reduce nutrient loading from cattle grazed pastures in Utah. Nicki Devanny Utah State University, MS Watershed Science Adviser: Nancy Mesner. Water Pollution Management.

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Nicki Devanny Utah State University, MS Watershed Science Adviser: Nancy Mesner

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  1. Determining the effectiveness of best management practices to reduce nutrient loading from cattle grazed pastures in Utah NickiDevanny Utah State University, MS Watershed Science Adviser: Nancy Mesner

  2. Water Pollution Management • Nonpoint source pollution: difficult to identify, monitor and treat • Recommended best management practices (BMPs) • Effective? Point source pollution: easily identified, monitored, and treated

  3. Objectives • Develop local, field scale nutrient loading coefficients and evaluate the effectiveness of best management practices (BMPs) on cattle grazed pastures

  4. Objectives • Develop local, field scale nutrient loading coefficients and evaluate the effectiveness of best management practices (BMPs) on cattle grazed pastures • Build a model with the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) for field sites to predict current and potential loads of other fields within the watershed

  5. Objectives • Develop local, field scale nutrient loading coefficients and evaluate the effectiveness of best management practices (BMPs) on cattle grazed pastures • Build a model with the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) for field sites to predict current and potential loads of other fields within the watershed • Develop outreach tools

  6. Current site management About 200 acres Flood irrigated pasture with cattle access to stream About 180 head of cattle from May-September

  7. Existing Impairments at Field Site Channelized stream Extreme bank erosion Loss of irrigation diversions Cattle access to stream Lack of riparian vegetation

  8. Best Management Practices • Mitigate stream velocity • Reduce erosion potential • Remove stressors • Filter return tailwaters

  9. Objectives • Develop local, field scale nutrient loading coefficients and evaluate the effectiveness of best management practices (BMPs) on cattle grazed pastures

  10. 2014 2015 Control Impact Instream Water Sample Collection berm Runoff Water Sample Stream Restoration BMPs

  11. 2014 2015 Control Impact Collection ditch Runoff Water Sample Instream Water Sample Stream Restoration BMPs Shallow Wells

  12. Water Sample Analysis • USU Aquatic Biogeochemistry Lab • Phosphorus: TP, DTP, SRP • Nitrogen: TN, DTN, Ammonium, Nitrate/Nitrite • Total Suspended Solids • E. Coli

  13. Nutrient Loading Coefficient • Calculate load for each chemical component • Chemical Concentration (mg/L) * Flow (f3/s) • kg/day • Calculate average loading coefficient for each chemical component • Load (kg/day) * Area (ha) • kg/ha/yr • From this calculate nutrient ratios and changes

  14. Objectives • Develop local, field scale nutrient loading coefficients and evaluate the effectiveness of best management practices (BMPs) on cattle grazed pastures • Build a model with the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) for field sites to predict current and potential loads of other fields within the watershed

  15. Soil and Water Assessment Tool • Used extensively to calculate impairment reductions for TMDL reports. • Can be used for multiple scales • Subbasins • Reaches • Impoundments • Point source

  16. SWAT Input Watershed dimensions Climate Hydrologic cycle Sediment Nutrients Pesticides Bacteria Plants Management Channel processes Impoundment processes

  17. SWAT Output • Runoff flows • Surface, Lateral, Groundwater • Nutrient Loads (kg/ha/yr) • Total N • Ammonia • Nitrate • Organic N • Total P • Soluble P • Organic P • Annual Averages (kg/ha) • Total N • Ammonia • Nitrate • Organic N • Total P • Soluble P • Organic P

  18. Objectives • Develop local, field scale nutrient loading coefficients and evaluate the effectiveness of best management practices (BMPs) on cattle grazed pastures • Build a model with the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) for field sites to predict current and potential loads of other fields within the watershed • Develop outreach tools

  19. USU Water Quality Extension Fact Sheet

  20. Input Output Soils Land Cover and Slope Cattle Density Load Allocation: (kg/ha/yr) total, reduction Climate Irrigation Practices Water Access

  21. Conclusions Provide locally relevant nutrient runoff coefficients Determine if BMPs implemented in cattle grazed pastures will significantly decrease the nutrient load within one year Provide SWAT analysis of nutrient loading at a field scale Scale up results to check the assumptions of predicted TMDL load reductions Provide outreach materials to educate land owners and managers on nutrient loading potential

  22. Thank you… Questions? My committee Nancy Mesner, Dr. Niel Allen, Dr. Sarah Null, as well as the Ashton family, Jeff Dunn, Dr. Neil Hansen (BYU), Sandy Wingert, Daniel Gunnell, and AudreeVanValkenberg

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