Enhanced infiltration systems to improve nitrate removal
Background:
• As rain and snowmelt travel over the land surface, it can carry pollutants (pathogens and nutrients) associated with livestock manure and related activities into nearby waterbodies. This pollution can cause eutrophication of surface waters and threatens human health.
• Enhanced infiltration techniques - now in widespread use on developing lands throughout the Northeast - seek to enhance infiltration and reduce the extent of overland flow. By enhancing infiltration, the volume of polluted runoff from heavy use livestock areas is reduced.
Our Goal:
The overall goal of this new project (funded by NRCS) is to stimulate the development and adoption of enhanced infiltration/bioretention practices to augment the set of current animal waste treatment practices promoted by NRCS-RI. The project will adapt innovative bioretention methods used in controlling urban nonpoint pollution for use in heavy use livestock areas.
Our Objectives:
• Develop a pilot study on horse paddocks to refine and demonstrate the efficacy and capacity of enhanced infiltration for reducing polluted runoff.
• Based on lessons learned from the pilot study and the insights of NRCS personnel in the Northeast working on related projects, we will initiate the development of an NRCS assessment tool to evaluate the site suitability of enhanced infiltration practices in heavy use livestock areas.
Results from this project will be incorporated into URI Cooperative Extension’s small acreage livestock education program.
Art Gold gave a talk entitled "Bio-Infiltration and Bio-reactors: New Water Quality BMPs for Agricultural Applications in Southern RI?" at the Souther New England Chapters of the Soil and Water Conservation Society in February 2007.
