Graduate Exit Seminar - Caroline Wolfe

Plan to join Caroline Wolfe's graduate exit seminar on April 8, 2025, at 12:30 pm in Kottman Hall, Room 333C or via Zoom. Caroline will present, "On the ability of cascading waterways to reduce nutrient loads in agricultural runoff"

Abstract: Nutrient delivery is of concern in the Ohio Western Lake Erie Basin due to reemerging eutrophic conditions. Non-point source farmland runoff contributes to excess nutrient pollution and subsequent harmful algal bloom development. Cascading waterways are a relatively new conservation practice to address these water quality challenges in landscapes heavily dominated by agricultural production. These systems involve a consecutive series of descending water retention basins with vegetation between cells placed within traditional grassed waterways, designed to infiltrate and treat localized surface runoff. This study aims to quantify phosphorus (P) and nitrogen (N) concentrations and load reductions through four cascading waterways in northwest Ohio using chemical analysis of stormwater runoff and retention basin grab samples. Statistical analysis revealed significant differences between nutrient concentrations in runoff and grab samples, with surface runoff samples largely containing higher nutrient concentrations compared to grab samples from the retention basins. Across the four cascading waterway sites, promising reductions in nutrient loads were also documented. Total phosphorus (TP) loads were reduced by 64% to 95% and total nitrogen (TN) loads reduced by 75% to 91%. Phosphate (PO4-P) and nitrate (NO3-N) demonstrated similar load reductions of 68% to 96% and 87% to 99%, respectively. These findings underscore the potential of cascading waterways as an innovative approach for improving water quality and nutrient management in agricultural watersheds.

Advisor: Dr. Steve Lyon