Progress 06/15/08 to 06/14/09
Outputs
OUTPUTS: This progress report highlights research activities conducted through the Red River Water Management Consortium (RRWMC) during the period beginning June 15, 2008, and ending June 14, 2009. An annual work plan is developed based on member-specific needs and input. Focus area research topics including Water Reuse Opportunities, Emerging Contaminants, and Water Quality Modeling are prioritized as well. Results of these activities are disseminated through semiannual RRWMC meetings and presentations at regional, national, and international conferences. A growing population, increased irrigated agriculture, and new industry have put added stress on traditional water supplies in the Red River Basin (RRB). Water reuse is often overlooked as an option to help mitigate the severity of short-term water shortages. Examples of water reuse include irrigation of golf courses using sugar beet refinery wastewater effluent, upgrading secondary effluent from a municipal wastewater treatment plant for use as process water at an ethanol plant, recovery of rainwater from building rooftops for use as toilet flush water, and isolated storm water reuse. No legislated rules/regulations regard water reuse, and reuse is typically considered by state agencies on a case-by-case basis. This activity investigated water reuse regulatory requirements in the RRB; documented water quantity and quality of treated municipal and industrial wastewaters, storm water, and rainwater in the RRB; and compiled and assessed water reuse projects that could be implemented in the RRB. In the RRB, approximately 12.5 BGY of municipal effluent and 2.4 BGY of industrial effluent could be utilized for reuse opportunities. Emerging contaminants have been found in municipal water supplies in the RRB. Typical sources are medications, agricultural chemicals, and cleaning products. Discussions with citizens, hospitals, and nursing care facilities in the RRB revealed that a common practice was to dispose of medications or unwanted chemicals in toilets or sinks, resulting in discharge to municipal wastewater treatment plants that are not designed to treat them. Many pass through the treatment plant unchanged and are discharged to a receiving body. Some prescribed medications are not absorbed by the human body and end up in receiving waters. This project developed a public education campaign to recycle unused medications and/or adopt recommended disposal techniques. The Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) is a watershed-scale hydrologic model predicting the amount of water, sediment, and nutrients transported through a watershed system. SWAT models were developed and calibrated to compare sediment and phosphorus loadings in the Forest and Snake River watersheds located adjacently along the Red River. Despite being similar in size, shape, and geography, results indicated significant differences in the sediment and phosphorus erosion from these two watersheds. The results highlighted the utility of using SWAT to identify and address water quality issues in complex agricultural watersheds and to target areas for implementation of best management practices. PARTICIPANTS: The RRWMC is a partnership with the USDA, key stakeholders in the Red River of the North Basin, and the Energy & Environmental Research Center (EERC) that provides practical stakeholder-driven technical input for the development of long-term water management strategies focusing on water quality and quantity in a politically complex, multijurisdictional, transboundary watershed. Regional supporters of the RRWMC include American Crystal Sugar Company, Cass County Government, City of East Grand Forks, City of Fargo, City of Grand Forks, City of Moorhead, Grand Forks County Commission, Grand Forks County Water Resource District, J.R. Simplot Company, Manitoba Water Stewardship, Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, Nelson County Pigs Cooperative, North Dakota Department of Health, North Dakota Pig Cooperative, North Dakota State Water Commission, Red River Basin Commission, U.S. Department of Agriculture, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 8, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and Xcel Energy. TARGET AUDIENCES: Not relevant to this project. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.
Impacts
The RRWMC Program is succeeding as originally envisioned, with membership comprising vested stakeholders within the RRB. The RRWMC continues to address the critical water management issues of its members from a basinwide perspective. Municipal, industrial, and other interested parties benefit from RRMWC efforts to provide a forum for the open exchange of issues and ideas and from the development of strategies to resolve water management issues. Coordinated, cooperative water management in the RRB is becoming a reality through these partnerships and spin-off activities developed by the RRWMC and is afforded by the financial support of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Over 120 individual projects have been conducted during the 13 years of the program. Although not required, the RRWMC is supported through nonfederal financial contributions from stakeholder members and other nonfederal complementary project funding. In addition to $4.3 million in funding provided through the USDA, member contributions have totaled $919,000 and complementary funding exceeds $1.97 million. Total program funding is over $7.2 million.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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