MODELING FOR TMDL DEVELOPMENT, AND WATERSHED BASED PLANNING, MANAGEMENT AND ASSESSMENT

• Sponsoring Institution: National Institute of Food and Agriculture
• Project Status: COMPLETE
• Funding Source: HATCH
• Reporting Frequency: Annual
• Accession No.: 0225385
• Multistate No.: S-1042
• Project Start Date: Oct 1, 2008
• Project End Date: Sep 30, 2013
• Program Code: [(N/A)]- (N/A)

Recipient Organization
AUBURN UNIVERSITY
108 M. WHITE SMITH HALL
AUBURN,AL 36849

Performing Department
Biosystems Engineering

Non Technical Summary
This project will develop tools that will guide the use of these policies such that stakeholders can understand what practices are available and why they should implement practices to reduce nonpoint pollution sources.

Animal Health Component

(N/A)

Research Effort Categories

Basic

(N/A)

Applied

(N/A)

Developmental

(N/A)

Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)	Subject of Investigation (SOI)	Field of Science (FOS)	Percent
112	0320	2050	50%
112	0320	2020	50%

Knowledge Area
112 - Watershed Protection and Management;

Subject Of Investigation
0320 - Watersheds;

Field Of Science
2020 - Engineering; 2050 - Hydrology;

Keywords

tmdl

watershed model

sediment

nutrients

Goals / Objectives
Develop, improve and evaluate process based models and geospatial tools for watershed based planning and management. Develop tools (standards, framework, or protocol) to link the physical modeling with the economic aspects of watershed planning and management. Develop tools with social scientists and other project partners to help accelerate implementation of watershed planning and management through behavior change. Facilitate usability of watershed management planning models.

Project Methods
The goal of this objective is to improve the ability of models to assess the impact of agricultural practices on in-stream water quality. Needs for specific data, parameters and criteria, and computer-compatible data formats will be mutually developed. As the result of this objective, model evaluation and development and data collection responsibilities for the participating states/locations will be established. Results will be shared as the research progresses. These activities will be summarized with all project participants at the annual technical committee meeting. Develop tools (standards, framework, or protocol) to link the physical modeling with the economic aspects of watershed planning and management. Controlling water pollution can be achieved by several alternative processes. Economics has an important, if not vital, role to play in identifying policy strategies that can enhance water quality at least cost to landowners and taxpayers. An economic framework can coordinate policy formulation among different levels of government and help to unify policies across regions. Economics also helps determine the optimal level of water quality protection that balances public's desire for improved water quality and the public's willingness to pay for improved water quality. Society does not benefit from overly stringent or costly water quality goals. Measuring the benefits of water quality protection in economic terms is difficult, since many benefits occur outside the easily observable market conditions. Even where water quality impacts on markets are observed, it can be difficult to ascertain just how water pollution affects the ability of a resource to provide economic goods and services. Nevertheless, information on costs and benefits is essential to developing socially optimal water quality protection policies (Ribaudo et al., 1999). The ultimate goal of this objective is to convey societal costs (benefits, costs, and equity) associated with current TMDL Programs (development and implementation), and societal costs associated with recommended improvements to the overall TMDL Program. Current TMDL development models are used to assess the impact of agricultural practices on in-stream physical, chemical, and to a limited extent, biological water quality. However, data limitations are reducing the efficacy of such tools. In fact, data limitations are generating significant additional costs to water quality management efforts by misdirecting resources to ineffective management alternatives.

Progress 10/01/08 to 09/30/13

Outputs
Target Audience: Water managers Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? Three semester long courses: Natural Resource Conservation Engineering, Nonpoint Source Pollution/Ecological Engineering, and Watershed Modeling/Nonpoint Source Pollution Modeling were taught. Following students were trained through this project: (1) Vaishali Sharda (completed Ph.D.), (2) Suresh Sharma (completed Ph.D.), (3) Golbahar Mirhosseini (completed Ph.D.), (4) Subhasis Mitra (working on Ph.D.), (5) Nafiul Islam (working on M.S.), (6) Sarmistha Singh (working on Ph.D.), (7) Nischal Mishra (working on M.S.), Jasmeet Lamba (completed M.S.), and Rewati Niraula (completed M.S. degree) How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? Yes, through peer-reviewed publications and presentations are regional, national, and international conferences. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Nothing Reported

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? We explored the effect of lumped calibration of the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) on locations of sediment and nutrient critical source areas (CSAs). Two watersheds in Alabama, USA, with differing size, topography, hydrology, and land use/cover characteristics were used to study the variations in locations of sediment, total phosphorous (TP), and total nitrogen (TN) CSAs identified by calibrated and uncalibrated SWAT models. Identified CSAs for sediment, TP and TN were mostly the same with and without the calibration of the model in both watersheds. This study thus concluded that lumped calibration of the SWAT model using data at the watershed outlet has little effect on the locations of CSAs. Thus, based on the results from these two watersheds, this study concluded that SWAT can be used without calibration for identification of CSAs in watersheds that lack sufficient data for model calibration, but not for all other modeling purposes. However, more studies are encouraged to support these findings. Research was conduced to determine the effects of surface broadcast application and subsurface banding of litter on nutrients in leachate. A field experiment was conducted to determine the effectd of subsurface band application and surface broadcast application of poultry litter on nutrient losses in leachate. Zero-tension pan and passive capillary fiberglass wick lysimeters were installed in situ 50 cm beneath the soil surface of an established tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) pasture on a sandy loam soil. The treatments were surface broadcast and subsurface-banded poultry litter at 5 Mg ha-1 and an unfertilized control. Results of the rainfall simulations showed that the concentrations of PO4–P and total phosphorus (TP) in leachate were reduced by 96 and 37%, respectively, in subsurface-banded litter treatment compared with the surface-applied litter treatment. There was no significant difference in PO4–P concentration between control and subsurface-banded litter treatment in leachate. The trend in the loading of nutrients in leachate was similar to the trend in concentration. Concentration and loading of the nutrients (TP, PO4–P, NH4–N, and NO3–N) in runoff from the subsurface-banded treatment were significantly less than for the surface-applied treatment and were similar to those from control plots. These results show that, compared with conventional surface broadcast application of litter, subsurface band application of litter can greatly reduce loss of P in surface runoff and leachate.

Publications

• Type: Book Chapters Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: R. Niraula, Latif Kalin, Puneet Srivastava and Christopher Anderson. "Finding the Source of Sediments and Nutrients in the Saugahatchee Creek Watershed" in Auburn Speaks 2013: On Water. (2013).
• Type: Book Chapters Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: N. Noori, Latif Kalin, Charlene Lebleu and Puneet Srivastava. "The Role of Human Activities on Flooding: Does It Matter Where We Develop?" in Auburn Speaks 2013: On Water. (2013).
• Type: Book Chapters Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: S. Sharma, Puneet Srivastava and Latif Kalin. "Using Seasonal to Inter-Annual Climate Variability for Point Source Discharge Permitting in a Complex River System" in Auburn Speaks 2013: On Water. (2013).
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: R. Niraula, Latif Kalin, Puneet Srivastava and Christopher Anderson. "Identifying Critical Source Areas of Nonpoint Source Pollution with SWAT and GWLF." Ecological Modeling 268, (2013): 123-133.
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: J. Lamba, Puneet Srivastava, T. Way, S. Sen, Charles Wood and Kyung Yoo. "Nutrient Loss in Leachate and Surface Runoff from Surface-Broadcast and Subsurface-Banded Broiler Litter." Journal of Environmental Quality 42, no. 5 (2013): 1574-1582.

Progress 01/01/12 to 12/31/12

Outputs
OUTPUTS: Auburn group is working on a few TMDL related projects. The first project we evaluated differences in nutrient transport from subsurface-banded and standard surface-applied broiler litter in a tall fescue pastures. In the second project we developed a clear picture of the effect of ENSO on observed precipitation and streamflow anomalies in Alabama to help managers in the state with decision-making. In the third project we determined the predictability and sensitivity of two P models, Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) P model and a newly-developed state-of-the-art manure P model called SurPhos, in a poultry litter-applied pasture watershed. Outputs Teaching: Three semester long courses: Natural Resource Conservation Engineering, Nonpoint Source Pollution/Ecological Engineering, and Watershed Modeling/Nonpoint Source Pollution Modeling Graduate Students (Current): (1) Vaishali Sharda, (2) Suresh Sharma, (3) Golbahar Mirhosseini, (4) Subhasis Mitra, (5) Nafiul Islam, and (6) Sarmistha Singh PARTICIPANTS: Puneet Srivastava, Associate Professor, Biosystems Engineering Department, Auburn University, Auburn, AL. Kyung Yoo, Professor, Biosystems Engineering Department, Auburn University, Auburn, AL. Thomas Way, Agricultural Engineering, National Soil Dynamics Laboratory, Auburn, AL. Graduate Students. TARGET AUDIENCES: Researchers and water resource managers. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Not relevant to this project.

Impacts
Impact: 1. The first project concluded that subsurface banding of broiler litter can substantially reduce nutrient losses in surface runoff. However, since less than 10% of the simulated rainfall contributed to surface runoff (more than 90% rainfall infiltrated), subsurface transport of nutrients from surface-applied and subsurface-banded litter needs to be studied. 2. The second project indicated that a significant relationship between ENSO and precipitation and streamflow in Alabama. However, different parts of the state respond differently to ENSO. For precipitation, it was found that the relationship is significant during winter months with dry conditions being associated with La Nina in the southern climate divisions. A fairly strong relationship was also found during other months. Streamflows show a high variability and positive correlation during winter months in the southern climate divisions. The results obtained can provide a basis for the water resource managers in Alabama to incorporate climate variability caused by ENSO in their decision-making related to soil and water conservation. 3. The third project showed that both models are sensitive to poultry litter application rates with SWAT simulating linear and SurPhos simulating nonlinear increases in total dissolved phosphorus (TDP) exports with increase in poultry litter application rates. In addition, SWAT showed greater sensitivity to initial soil Solution P levels, which can lead to over-estimation of TDP exports, especially at low poultry litter application rates. Further, as opposed to the SurPhos model simulations and contrary to the findings of recent studies, SWAT was found to simulate excessive accumulation of Solution P in the top 10 mm of soil. Since SurPhos model appears to simulate P transport and build-up processes from manure-applied areas more accurately, the study suggests that the SWAT P model be replaced by the SurPhos model to more accurately determine watershed-level effectiveness of P management measures. 4. The members of this CRIS project severed in lead roles in several national and international organizations and presented the findings in many regional, national, and international conferences.

Publications

• Lamba, J., T. Way, P. Srivastava, S. Sen, C.W. Wood, and K. Yoo. 2012. Surface Transport of Nutrients from Surface-Broadcast and Subsurface-Banded Broiler Litter. Transactions of the ASABE 55(3), 995-1002.
• Sharda, V., P. Srivastava, K. Ingram, M. Chelliah, and L. Kalin. 2012. Quantification of El Nino Southern Oscillation (ENSO) Impact on Precipitation and Stream flows for Improved Management of Water Resources in Alabama. Journal of Soil and Water Conservation, 67(3), 158-172.
• Sen, S., P. Srivastava, P.A. Vadas, and L. Kalin. 2012. Watershed-level Comparison of Predictability and Sensitivity of Two Phosphorus Models. Journal of Environmental Quality, 41(5), 1642-1652.

Progress 01/01/11 to 12/31/11

Outputs
OUTPUTS: Auburn group is working on a few TMDL related projects. The first project involved determining the effect of lumped calibration of the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) on locations of sediment and nutrient critical source areas (CSAs), the second project involved development of a equipment and method for installing zero-tension pan lysimeters and wick lysimeters in field plots for water quality studies, the third project involved simulation of hydrologic response of a pasture hillslope in North Alabama using the Hortonian Infiltration and Runoff/On model (HIRO2), and the forth project involved determining the impact of forest to urban land conversion on water quality and drinking water treatment cost, Converse Reservoir, Southern Alabama, USA. Outputs Teaching: Two semester long course: Natural Resource Conservation Engineering and Nonpoint Source Pollution/Ecological Engineering. Graduate Students (Current): (1) Vaishali Sharda, (2) Suresh Sharma, (3) Golbahar Mirhosseini, and (4) Subhasis Mitra PARTICIPANTS: Puneet Srivastava, Associate Professor, Biosystems Engineering Department, Auburn University, Auburn, AL. Thomas Way, Agricultural Engineering, National Soil Dynamics Laboratory, Auburn, AL. Graduate Students. TARGET AUDIENCES: Researchers and water resource managers. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Not relevant to this project.

Impacts
Impact: 1. The first project concluded that lumped calibration of the SWAT model using data at the watershed outlet has little effect on the locations of CSAs. Thus, the SWAT can be used without calibration for identification of CSAs in watersheds that lack sufficient data for model calibration, but not for all other modeling purposes. 2. The equipment and method developed for installing zero-tension pan lysimeters and wick lysimeters can be used by water quality studies throughout the world. The method assures accurate lysimeter depth and levelness and does not alter bulk density or flow paths above the lysimeters. 3. The third project showed that the HIRO2 model simulated runoffs and spatial- and temporal variations in runoff generation and run-on areas were in agreement with the observed data. The study concluded that the model has promise for identifying runoff generation and run-on areas for controlling nonpoint source pollution from pasture hillslopes in Sand Mountain region of Alabama and similar regions. 4. The fourth project determined that urbanization increased total nitrogen and total phosphorus concentrations and decreased total organic carbon concentrations in the Converse Reservoir of Southern Alabama. 5. The members of this CRIS project severed in lead roles in several national and international organizations and presented the findings in many regional, national, and international conferences.

Publications

• Niraula, R., L. Kalin, R. Wang, P. Srivastava. (2011). Determining Nutrient and Sediment Critical Source Areas with SWAT Model: Effect of Lumped Calibration. Transactions of the ASABE, 55(1): 1-11.
• Way, T., J. Lamba, and P. Srivastava. (2011). A method for installing zero-tension pan and wick lysimeters in soil. Applied Engineering in Agriculture, Vol. 27(5): 747‐755.
• Sen, S., P. Srivastava, T.P. Clement, J.H. Dane, and H. Meng. (2011). Simulating hydrologic response of a pasture hillslope in North Alabama using the Hortonian Infiltration and Runoff/On model. Journal of Soil and Water Conservation, 66(6):411-422.
• Elias, E., M. Dougherty, P. Srivastava, and D. Laband. (2011). The impact of forest to urban land conversion on water quality and drinking water treatment cost, Converse Reservoir, Southern Alabama, USA. Urban Ecosystems, 14: 71-86.