Source: SOUTH DAKOTA STATE UNIVERSITY submitted to
WATER RESOURCE RISK ANALYSIS AND MANAGEMENT IN AGRICULTURAL SYSTEMS
Sponsoring Institution
National Institute of Food and Agriculture
Project Status
COMPLETE
Funding Source
HATCH
Reporting Frequency
Annual
Accession No.
1009076
Grant No.
(N/A)
Cumulative Award Amt.
(N/A)
Proposal No.
(N/A)
Multistate No.
(N/A)
Project Start Date
Jan 5, 2016
Project End Date
Jan 13, 2020
Grant Year
(N/A)
Program Code
[(N/A)]- (N/A)
Project Director
McDaniel, RA.
Recipient Organization
SOUTH DAKOTA STATE UNIVERSITY
PO BOX 2275A
BROOKINGS,SD 57007
Performing Department
Agricultural & Biosystems Engineering
Non Technical Summary
Agricultural production is heavily dependent on water resources. Water resource quality and quantity are also greatly affected by agricultural practices at all scales. An excess or lack of water can detrimentally affect both economic productivity and yield productivity. Producers have turned to agricultural tile drainage to reduce excessive soil moisture, which has caused changes in the hydrology of these areas (e.g. Sheler, 2013). This practice has led to both increased (e.g. higher nitrate concentrations) and decreased (e.g. reduced sediment loadings) water resource risks. On the other hand, water availability in areas of inadequate precipitation is essential and a lack of water availability increases risks associated with agriculture (e.g. food security) as well as water resources (e.g. domestic water supplies Physical factors within the environment can impact the risk of management practices on water resources. Erosion and therefore sediment loads to waterbodies, for instance, are influenced by shear stress from water flow, soil type, etc. Evaluating the impact of these physical factors on water risk will improve the ability to assess local risks and scale-up appropriately to assess watershed risks.Risk AnalysisThe proposed project will incorporate analyses of physical factors contributing to water resource risks, management practices to reduce water resource risks, and evaluation of risks to and from agricultural systems as a whole. A major focus area of risk analysis will be assessing the impact of physical factors (e.g. soil type, shear stress, attachment rates, etc.) from agricultural systems on risks to waterbodies such as streams, rivers, and lakes. Nearly 60% of South Dakota's assessed rivers and streams are impaired and another 10% are threatened with impairment (EPA, 2015). The primary causes for impairments are pathogen indicators, includingE. coliand fecal coliform, and total suspended solids (TSS). Livestock, wildlife, and crop production were determined to be the most probable sources of impairment in South Dakota. Some physical factors such as soil type and organic matter can affectE. colisurvivability in environmental systems while others such as attachment rates and shear stress can affect the transport ofE. coli. Both survivability and transport contribute to high concentrations in water systems, which can pose a risk to human health. Risk ManagementFrom existing data and the aforementioned assessments, evaluations of management practices and systems risk will be performed. Agricultural management practices used to improve water quality include controlled drainage, saturated buffers, and seasonal riparian buffers. These management practices will be assessed for their ability to reduce pollutant transport and thus risk to waterbodies.As precipitation patterns change, managing water resources becomes more important. Water resource management will be examined to understand and mitigate risk associated with excessive and insufficient moisture conditions that may result from these changing precipitation patterns as well as natural climate variability.Benefits of proposed workUnderstanding the mechanisms for nutrient and bacterial transport will help determine effective management practices for reducing risks to waterbodies related to pollutant loadings. If these management practices are adopted, they can lead to improved water quality in South Dakota.Holistic systems analyses can improve natural resource use efficiencies, therefore improving water resource management. Better management of water resources during agricultural production can lead to higher productivity per volume of water used.?
Animal Health Component
60%
Research Effort Categories
Basic
40%
Applied
60%
Developmental
(N/A)
Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)Subject of Investigation (SOI)Field of Science (FOS)Percent
1020210202050%
1120399205050%
Knowledge Area
102 - Soil, Plant, Water, Nutrient Relationships; 112 - Watershed Protection and Management;

Subject Of Investigation
0210 - Water resources; 0399 - Watersheds and river basins, general;

Field Of Science
2020 - Engineering; 2050 - Hydrology;
Goals / Objectives
Examine the fate and transport of agricultural pollutants to provide support for water risk evaluations.Assess land use/land management impacts on water quality and quantity to evaluate impact on water risk.Evaluate and/or develop risk management strategies to aid in decision making related to water resources.
Project Methods
Field and laboratory studies will be conducted to assess the impact of physical factors on water risks. Both automated ISCO samplers and grab samples will be collected for analysis. Fecal indicator bacteria (FIB) studies will utilize the standard method for membrane filtration to enumerate bacteria which includes processing within 24 hours of sampling. Several processing stations will be set-up and used to complete sample processing within the limited time frame. Bacteria will be separated from particles via a combination of chemical (e.g. Tween 85) and physical (e.g. shaking) methods as proposed by Soupir et al. (2008). Pollution of nutrients from agricultural production to waterbodies will be sent to an outside lab for analysis or by scheduling time on an AQ2 Discrete Analyzer.Currently, no standard method exists for bacterial sediment sampling and processing. Therefore, a standard procedure will be developed as a part of this project. The method will be developed using a combination of literature review to examine previously applied methods and field studies to examine temporal variability, variability within a sample, and variability between sample locations. Once this procedure is developed, it will be used in the remainder of the study.Modeling studies will also be conducted to examine water quality and quantity risks including the impact of management practices and physical factors. Data required for model set-up will be accessed from existing sources as well as from field sampling. Some existing sources which will be utilized for water resource modeling include USGS gauging stations (flow), STORET (water quality monitoring data), USGS National Map Viewer (elevation, land cover, hydrography), and USDA NASS (crop yields).In some cases, existing models will not have adequate prediction capabilities (e.g. bacterial fate and transport); therefore, models may be developed to address questions associated with water resource risks. Developing a model often requires a combination of known relationships and field data to determine new relationships between parameters and/or validation of the model. For example, FIB fate and transport is dependent upon the persistence and movement of the bacteria. Persistence (i.e. growth/die-off) is affected by many parameters and is not wholly understood. Therefore, combining existing knowledge of bacterial persistence in the environment and newly acquired data will be required to improve the predictive capabilities of FIB fate and transport modeling.

Progress 01/05/16 to 01/13/20

Outputs
Target Audience:PI has left SDSU submitting report to close out project Changes/Problems:PI has left SDSU submitting report to close out project What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? Nothing Reported How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? Nothing Reported What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Nothing Reported

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? PI has left SDSU submitting report to close out project

Publications


    Progress 10/01/17 to 09/30/18

    Outputs
    Target Audience:Agricultural Producers Agricultural producers will be the individuals implementing the conservation practices examined in this project and can be one contributor to water quality issues, including high E. coli concentrations. This audience was engaged via events such as field days as well as personal conversations. State Agencies and Agency Personnel Agency personnel are responsible for identifying and improving the quality of South Dakota's water resources. The research related to this project provides results that can be used to inform management practices that will be used to improve water quality. State agency personnel were engaged via in-person meetings, email, and at a local conference. Personnel from other states were engaged via a national workshop targeting state agency personnel. Research Community Sharing the knowledge gained from this project with the scientific community will help advance and inform the science as well as future research directions. To engage the research community, abstracts and posters were presented at both state and national conferences. In addition, networking at several conferences provided the opportunity to share the project work as well as provide potential future collaborations. Minority Groups Students of gender and racial minority groups were targeted through graduate research assistantships available through work related to this project. These students have the opportunity to learn about contaminant fate and transport as well as practices to reduce transport into waterways. In addition, undergraduate students are recruited to assist with this project, including female engineering students. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?The students listed below have assisted with data collection, data processing, and/or presentations for scientific conferences. Abhinav Sharma M.S. student in Ag and Biosystems Engineering. Graduate Research Assistant: May 2016 - present. Collected samples from conservation practices, including drainage water management and saturated buffers. Assisted with sample processing. Learned field sampling, sample handling, and lab analysis techniques for nitrate. Louis Amegbletor M.S. student in Ag and Biosystems Engineering. Graduate Research Assistant: May 2016 - present. Set up sampling site for bacterial attachment study. Collected storm and baseflow samples and processed samples for E. coli and attachment rates. Refined sample processing procedure. Learned field sampling, sample handling, sample preparation, and sample processing techniques for E. coli. Sadia Salam Ph.D. student in Ag and Biosystems Engineering. Graduate Research Assistant: May 2016 - present. Conducted literature review to develop a sampling method for bacteria in sediment. Learned field sampling, sample handling, sample preparation, and sample processing techniques for E. coli. Sara Mardaninejad Ph.D. student in Ag and Biosystems Engineering. Graduate Research Assistant: May 2016 - present. Conducted literature review on the impact of conservation practices on E. coli concentrations in the environment. Processed bioreactor samples for E. coli. Learned field sampling, sample handling, sample preparation, and sample processing techniques for E. coli. Learned to grow environmental bacteria and how to assess colony morphology. Sami Shokrana Ph.D. student in Ag and Biosystems Engineering. Student: August 2016 - present. Co-advised with Dr. Laurent Ahiablame. Beginning work assessing the impact of bioreactors on E. coli concentrations. Learned field sampling, sample handling, sample preparation, and sample processing techniques for E. coli. Miranda LeBrun B.S. student in Ag and Biosystems Engineering. Undergraduate Research Assistant: March 2016 - May 2018. Assisted with graduate student work. Learned field sampling, sample handling, sample preparation, and sample processing techniques for E. coli. Brian Boese. B.S. student in Ag and Biosystems Engineering. Undergraduate Research Assistant: August 2016 - present. Assisted with graduate student work. Learned field sampling, sample handling, sample preparation, and sample processing techniques for E. coli. Joel Derickson. B.S. student in Ag and Biosystems Engineering. Undergraduate Research Assistant: August 2016 - February 2018. Assisted with graduate student work. Learned field sampling, sample handling, sample preparation, and sample processing techniques for E. coli. Moriah Flanagan. B.S. student in Biology and Microbiology. Undergraduate Research Assistant: September 2018 - present. Assisted with graduate student work. Learned field sampling, sample handling, sample preparation, and sample processing techniques for E. coli. Jackson Pond. B.S. student in Biology and Microbiology. Undergraduate Research Assistant: September 2018 - present. Assisted with graduate student work. Learned field sampling, sample handling, sample preparation, and sample processing techniques for E. coli. Zeb Nelson. B.S. student in Biology and Microbiology. Undergraduate Research Assistant: September 2018 - present. Assisted with graduate student work. Learned field sampling, sample handling, sample preparation, and sample processing techniques for E. coli. Dylan Dulas. B.S. student in Ag and Biosystems Engineering. Undergraduate Research Assistant: September 2017 - February 2018. Assisted with graduate student work. Learned field sampling, sample handling, sample preparation, and sample processing techniques for E. coli. Pavan Kulkarni. M.S. student in Biology and Microbiology. Research Assistant: May 2018 - present. Manage lab; manage field sites; assisted with graduate student work. Learned field sampling, sample handling, sample preparation, and sample processing techniques for nutrients. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?The PI and the PIs advisees have presented to the research community at the national level multiple times during this reporting period (AWRA; EWRI; and ASABE Conferences). Presentations were also given to state and regional stakeholders at the Eastern South Dakota Water Conference; North American Manure Expo; East Dakota Water Development District board meeting; etc. Two theses were published to disseminate the work to the scientific community. In addition, the PI demonstrated conservation practices, including bioreactors, drainage water management, and saturated buffers to SDSU students. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Objective 1: Examine the fate and transport of agricultural pollutants to provide support for water risk evaluations The PI and the PIs advisees will continue the seasonal evaluation of E. coli in sediments to determine the variability of the sediment source throughout the year and with storm events. Work will be published on the particle attachment of E. coli during high flows and baseflow conditions to determine the ability of settling to reduce bacteria levels in the water column within the standard. A minimum of two peer-reviewed publications from this work are planned during the next reporting year. Objective 2: Assess land use/land management impacts on water quality and quantity to evaluate impact on water risk. (75% complete). Work will continue on the evaluation of bioreactors, drainage water management, and saturated buffers. A minimum of two publications are expected from this work during the next reporting year including a review of the resuspension of fecal indicator bacteria from stream bottom sediments and a preliminary study assessing the impact of bioreactors on E. coli and antibiotic-resistant bacteria concentrations . Objective 3: Evaluate and/or develop risk management strategies to aid in decision making related to water resources One research project is underway examining the impact of drainage water management using the SWAT hydrologic model.

    Impacts
    What was accomplished under these goals? The PI is working on several projects funded by this Hatch project and other externally funded grants. These projects address one or more of the concerns listed below: E. coli attachment and transport during high flows E. coli in streambed sediments Conservation drainage practices to remove nitrate from tile drainage Impact of bioreactors on E. coli and antibiotic-resistant bacterial transport in agricultural tile drainage Winter manure application impacts on water quality Algal bloom occurrence in South Dakota plains lakes Objective 1: Examine the fate and transport of agricultural pollutants to provide support for water risk evaluations (75% complete). The fate and transport of several agricultural pollutants are being examined through this project including E. coli, antibiotic resistant bacteria, phosphorus, and nitrate. Water and sediment samples have been collected at four sites along Skunk Creek, a tributary to the Big Sioux River located in eastern South Dakota. All four sites had 25 sediment samples collected to evaluate sediments as a potential source of E. coli to the water column. One site was evaluated for E. coli concentrations and attachment within the water column during eight storm events. Preliminary work indicates that sediments in South Dakota streams may be a reservoir for E. coli, and that roughly 75% of E. coli cells are transported in a buoyant state, thus contributing to water quality impairments for a longer time. Additional work has led to the determination that bacterial concentrations in sediment are highly variable and have a skewed distribution, with pockets of much higher bacteria concentrations. E. coli levels at each site are significantly correlated with sediment particle size; however, the direction of correlation is not consistent. Other factors that may influence E. coli concentration in sediments are carbon (currently being examined), microbial community, and nutrient availability. This will lead to recommendations on sediment sampling such as number of samples, sample collection considerations and sample processing methods (e.g. dilution rates, dilution solution, etc.). In addition, bacteria concentrations in sediments can remain high even after cattle have been removed from a stretch of stream, indicating that these bacteria can contribute to water quality impairments years after the initial source has been removed. Objective 2: Assess land use/land management impacts on water quality and quantity to evaluate impact on water risk. (75% complete). The PI has begun work on multiple projects examining the impact of land management practices on water quality, specifically E. coli and nitrate, and/or water quantity. The management practices being assessed include riparian area management, saturated buffer strips, drainage water management, and bioreactors. Field-scale management practices have been implemented across the eastern South Dakota. In addition, lab scale bioreactors were built to allow for control over system dynamics such as material, flow, and microbial community in the inflow water. Preliminary data shows promise for the ability for saturated buffers and drainage water management to reduce nitrate in drainage water. Saturated buffers removed between 55% and 98% of the nitrate within the tile drainage system. While drainage water management demonstrated the ability to reduce nitrate loads from tile drainage water, it was less successful than saturated buffers with removal rates ranging from 25% to 40%. In addition, sampling from bioreactors has shown that E. coli concentrations can either increase or decrease over time through the system. More work needs to be done to determine how bioreactors influence the concentrations of the bacteria through tile drained areas including what causes the growth versus decay. Seasonal Riparian Area Management (SRAM) systems are also being evaluated for their impact on microbial water quality and currently show promise to significantly reduce E. coli concentrations. SRAM is a modified Riparian Area Management system that removes cattle during the recreation season, but still allows haying twice per year which provides some profitability from the land while still providing conservation benefits. Objective 3: Evaluate and/or develop risk management strategies to aid in decision making related to water resources (65% complete). Several of the management practices being evaluated through this project help producers manage water quality risks, including the risk of bioreactors to contribute to elevated E. coli concentrations and the transfer of antibiotic resistance traits. SRAM systems are also being evaluated for their impact on water quality (i.e., microbial levels) and currently show promise to significantly reduce E. coli concentrations, thus reducing the risk of elevated microbial concentrations due to cattle access to streams.

    Publications

    • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2017 Citation: 1. Eastern South Dakota Water Conference a. Status: Completed Nov 8, 2017
    • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: Mardani, S., R. McDaniel, B. Bleakley. (2018). Effect of woodchip bioreactors on E. coli concentrations and culturable bacteria in tile drainage water. Oral presentation at the ASCE-EWRI conference, June 3-7, Minneapolis, MN**
    • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: Amegbletor, L., R. McDaniel, and B. Bleakley. (2018). Evaluating E. coli particle attachment and the impact on transport during high flows. Oral presentation at the ASCE-EWRI Conference, June 3-7, Minneapolis, MN**
    • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: 3. Salam, S., R. McDaniel, and B. Bleakley. (2018). Assessment of seasonal variability, antibiotic resistance, and the impact of storm events on streambed E. coli concentrations in Skunk Creek, South Dakota. Oral presentation at the ASCE-EWRI Conference, June 3-7, Minneapolis, MN**
    • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: 4. Sharma, A., R. McDaniel, and T. Trooien. (2018). Application of conservation drainage practices to reduce nitrate transport from tile drains in South Dakota. Oral presentation at the ASCE-EWRI Conference, June 3-7, Minneapolis, MN**
    • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: 5. Sharma, A., R. McDaniel, and T. Trooien. (2018). Application of conservation drainage practices such as Drainage Water Management and saturated buffers in eastern South Dakota. Oral presentation at the ASABE International Meeting, July 29-Aug 1, Detroit, MI**
    • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: R. McDaniel. (2018). Understanding microbial fate and transport resulting from manure application. Oral presentation at the North American Manure Expo, Aug 15-16, Brookings, SD.
    • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: 7. R. McDaniel, B. Bleakley, S. Mardani, S. Salam, and L. Amegbletor. (2018). E. coli fate and transport in South Dakota Environments: An update on current research. Oral presentation at the April EDWDD Board Meeting, Apr 19, Egan, SD
    • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: 8. Sharma, A., R. McDaniel, and T. Trooien. (2018) Application of Drainage Water Management and saturated buffers for conservation drainage in South Dakota. Poster presentation at the Western South Dakota Hydrology Conference, April 19-20, Rapid City, SD**
    • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: 9. Salam, S., R. McDaniel, and B. Bleakley. (2017). Variability, antibiotic sensitivity, and the influence of particle size on E. coli in Eastern South Dakotas streambed sediment. Oral presentation at the 2017 AWRA Annual Water Resources Conference, Nov 5-9, Portland, OR**
    • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: 10. Amegbletor, L., R. McDaniel, and B. Bleakley. (2017). Evaluating E. coli particle attachment and the impact on transport during high flows. Oral presentation at the 2017 AWRA Annual Water Resources Conference, Nov 5-9, Portland, OR**
    • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: 11. Mardani, S., R. McDaniel, and B. Bleakley. (2017). Antibiotic sensitivity of bacteria isolates in woodchips bioreactors and their transport to the environment. Oral presentation at the 2017 AWRA Annual Water Resources Conference, Nov 5-9, Portland, OR **
    • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: 12. Sharma, A., R. McDaniel, and T. Trooien. (2017). Application of controlled drainage and saturated buffers use for conservation drainage in South Dakota. Poster presentation at the 2017 Eastern South Dakota Water Conference, Oct 17, Brookings, SD.
    • Type: Theses/Dissertations Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: Sharma, Abhinav. 2018. Application of drainage water management and saturated buffers for conservation drainage in South Dakota. Masters Thesis. South Dakota State University. Brookings, SD.
    • Type: Theses/Dissertations Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: Amegbletor, Louis. 2018. Evaluating E. coli particle attachment and the impact on transport during high flows. Masters Thesis. South Dakota State University. Brookings, SD.


    Progress 10/01/16 to 09/30/17

    Outputs
    Target Audience:Agricultural Producers Agricultural producers will be the individuals implementing the conservation practices examined in this project and can be one contributor to water quality issues, including high E. coli concentrations. This audience was engaged via events such as the Ag PhD Field Day which had over 10,000 producers attend from around the United States. State Agencies and Agency Personnel Agency personnel are responsible for identifying and improving the quality of South Dakota's water resources. The research related to this project provides results that can be used to inform management practices that will be used to improve water quality. State agency personnel were engaged via in-person meetings, email, and at a local conference. Research Community Sharing the knowledge gained from this project with the scientific community will help advance and inform the science as well as future research directions. To engage the research community, abstracts and posters were presented at both state and national conferences. In addition, networking at several conferences provided the opportunity to share the project work as well as provide potential future collaborations. Minority Groups Students of gender and racial minority groups were targeted through graduate research assistantships available through work related to this project. These students have the opportunity to learn about contaminant fate and transport as well as practices to reduce transport into waterways. In addition, undergraduate students are recruited to assist with this project, including female engineering students. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Abhinav Sharma M.S. student in Ag and Biosystems Engineering. Graduate Research Assistant: May 2016 - present. Collected samples from conservation practices, including drainage water management and saturated buffers. Assisted with sample processing. Learned field sampling, sample handling, and lab analysis techniques for nitrate. Louis Amegbletor M.S. student in Ag and Biosystems Engineering. Graduate Research Assistant: May 2016 - present. Set up sampling site for bacterial attachment study. Collected storm and baseflow samples and processed samples for E. coli and attachment rates. Refined sample processing procedure. Learned field sampling, sample handling, sample preparation, and sample processing techniques for E. coli. Sadia Salam Ph.D. student in Ag and Biosystems Engineering. Graduate Research Assistant: May 2016 - present. Conducted literature review to develop a sampling method for bacteria in sediment. Learned field sampling, sample handling, sample preparation, and sample processing techniques for E. coli. Sara Mardaninejad Ph.D. student in Ag and Biosystems Engineering. Graduate Research Assistant: May 2016 - present. Conducted literature review on the impact of conservation practices on E. coli concentrations in the environment. Processed bioreactor samples for E. coli. Learned field sampling, sample handling, sample preparation, and sample processing techniques for E. coli. Learned to grow environmental bacteria and how to assess colony morphology. Angelinah Rasoeu Ph.D. student in Ag and Biosystems Engineering. Student: August 2016 - present. Beginning work on climate change impacts on water resources and crop growth. Sami Shokrana Ph.D. student in Ag and Biosystems Engineering. Student: August 2016 - present. Co-advised with Dr. Laurent Ahiablame. Beginning work assessing the impact of bioreactors on E. coli concentrations. Learned field sampling, sample handling, sample preparation, and sample processing techniques for E. coli. Miranda LeBrun B.S. student in Ag and Biosystems Engineering. Undergraduate Research Assistant: March 2016 - present. Assisted with graduate student work. Learned field sampling, sample handling, sample preparation, and sample processing techniques for E. coli. Brian Boese. B.S. student in Ag and Biosystems Engineering. Undergraduate Research Assistant: August 2016 - present. Assisted with graduate student work. Learned field sampling, sample handling, sample preparation, and sample processing techniques for E. coli. Joel Derickson. B.S. student in Ag and Biosystems Engineering. Undergraduate Research Assistant: August 2016 - present. Assisted with graduate student work. Learned field sampling, sample handling, sample preparation, and sample processing techniques for E. coli. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?The PI and the PIs advisees have presented to the research community at the national level twice during this reporting period (UCOWR/NIWR Annual Water Resources Conference and ASABE International Conference). Four other presentations, including both oral and poster, were presented to state stakeholders at the Eastern South Dakota Water Conference. Three peer-reviewed publications were published to disseminate the work to the scientific community. Work relating to this project was also published in Growing South Dakota and other local publications. In addition, the PI demonstrated conservation practices, including bioreactors, drainage water management, and saturated buffers, to SDSU students. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Several research projects are underway and will continue through the next reporting period, including: E. coli attachment and transport during high flows E. coli in streambed sediments Conservation drainage practices to remove nitrate from tile drainage Impact of bioreactors on E. coli and antibiotic-resistant bacterial transport in agricultural tile drainage E. coli, antibiotic-resistant bacteria, and metal-tolerant bacteria accumulation in wetland environments Impact of precipitation resolution on modeling crop yields Winter manure application impacts on water quality Goal 1: Examine the fate and transport of agricultural pollutants to provide support for water risk evaluations. The PI and the PIs advisees will begin the seasonal evaluation of E. coli in sediments to determine the variability of the source throughout the growing season. Work will continue on the particle attachment of E. coli during high flows and baseflow conditions to determine the ability of settling to reduce bacteria levels in the water column within the standard. A minimum of two peer-reviewed publication from this work is planned during the next fiscal year. Goal 2: Examine the fate and transport of agricultural pollutants to provide support for water risk evaluations. Work will continue on the evaluation of bioreactors, drainage water management, and saturated buffers. A minimum of two publications are expected from this work during the next fiscal year including a review of the resuspension of fecal indicator bacteria from stream bottom sediments and a preliminary study assessing the impact of bioreactors on E. coli and antibiotic-resistant bacteria concentrations . Goal 3: Evaluate and/or develop risk management strategies to aid in decision making related to water resources. One research project is underway examining the impact of drainage water management using the SWAT hydrologic model.

    Impacts
    What was accomplished under these goals? The PI is working on several projects funded by this Hatch project and other externally funded grants. These projects address one or more of the goals for this Hatch project and include the following: E. coli attachment and transport during high flows E. coli in streambed sediments Conservation drainage practices to remove nitrate from tile drainage Impact of bioreactors on E. coli and antibiotic-resistant bacterial transport in agricultural tile drainage E. coli, antibiotic-resistant bacteria, and metal-tolerant bacteria accumulation in wetland environments Impact of precipitation resolution on modeling crop yields Winter manure application impacts on water quality Goal 1: Examine the fate and transport of agricultural pollutants to provide support for water risk evaluations (65% complete). The fate and transport of several agricultural pollutants are being examined through this project including E. coli, antibiotic resistant bacteria, metal tolerant bacteria, and nitrate. Preliminary work indicates that sediments in South Dakota streams may be a reservoir for E. coli and that roughly 75% of E. coli is transported in a buoyant state, allowing it to contribute to water quality impairments for a longer time. Additional work has led to the determination that sediment bacteria concentrations are highly variable and have a skewed distribution, with pockets of much higher bacteria concentrations. This will lead to recommendations on sediment sampling. Goal 2: Examine the fate and transport of agricultural pollutants to provide support for water risk evaluations (70% complete). The PI has begun work on multiple projects examining the impact of land management practices on water quality, specifically E. coli and nitrate, and/or water quantity. The management practices being assessed include riparian area management, saturated buffer strips, drainage water management, and bioreactors. Preliminary data shows promise for the ability for saturated buffers and drainage water management to reduce nitrate in drainage water. In addition, sampling from bioreactors has shown to both increase and decrease concentrations of E. coli through the systems, indicating more work needs to be done to determine how bioreactors influence the concentrations of the bacteria through tile drained areas including what causes the growth versus decay. Seasonal Riparian Area Management (SRAM) systems are also being evaluated for their impact on microbial water quality and currently show promise to significantly reduce E. coli concentrations. Goal 3: Evaluate and/or develop risk management strategies to aid in decision making related to water resources (55% complete). Three publications were accepted related to crop and location specific drought monitoring. In addition, several of the management practices being evaluated through this project help producers manage water quality risks, including the risk of bioreactors to contribute to elevated E. coli concentrations and the transfer of antibiotic resistance traits. SRAM systems are also being evaluated for their impact on microbial water quality and currently show promise to significantly reduce E. coli concentrations, thus reducing the risk of elevated microbial concentrations due to cattle access to streams.

    Publications

    • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Salam, S., R. McDaniel, and B. Bleakley. 2016. Prevalence and variability of E. coli in South Dakotas stream bottom sediments. In: 2016 Eastern South Dakota Water Conference Abstract Book. Poster presentation, Brookings, SD.
    • Type: Book Chapters Status: Under Review Year Published: 2018 Citation: Jahandideh, Arash,Sara Mardaninedjad, Rachel McDaniel, Bruce Bleakley and Gary Anderson (under review). A review on the fungal treatment of pharmaceuticals in the effluents- Current state, perspectives, limitations and opportunities. Life Cycle Assessment and Green Chemistry Series, edited by Vera Kolb
    • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: McDaniel, Rachel, Clyde Munster, and Tom Cothren. (2017). Crop and Location Specific Agricultural Drought Quantification: Part I  Method Development. Transactions of the ASABE. 60(3): 721-728
    • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: McDaniel, Rachel, Clyde Munster, and Tom Cothren. (2017). Crop and Location Specific Agricultural Drought Quantification: Part II  Case Study. Transactions of the ASABE. 60(3): 729-739
    • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: McDaniel, Rachel, Clyde Munster, and John Nielsen-Gammon. (2017). Crop and Location Specific Agricultural Drought Quantification: Part III  Forecasting Water Stress and Yield Trends. Transactions of the ASABE. 60(3): 741-752
    • Type: Websites Status: Other Year Published: 2016 Citation: A website was updated to disseminate information about the research related to this project. http://www.mcdanielwaterresearch.com/
    • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: McDaniel, Rachel. 2016. E. coli fate and transport in South Dakota waters. In: 2016 Eastern South Dakota Water Conference Abstract Book. Oral presentation, Brookings, SD.
    • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Sharma, A. and R McDaniel. 2016. Application of controlled drainage and saturated buffers use for conservation drainage in South Dakota. In: 2016 Eastern South Dakota Water Conference Abstract Book. Poster presentation, Brookings, SD.
    • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Amegbletor, L., R. McDaniel, and B. Bleakley. 2016. Evaluating E. coli particle attachment and impact on transport during high flows. In: 2016 Eastern South Dakota Water Conference Abstract Book. Poster presentation, Brookings, SD.


    Progress 01/05/16 to 09/30/16

    Outputs
    Target Audience:Agricultural Producers:Agricultural producers will be the individuals implementing the conservation practices examined in this project and can be one contributor to water quality issues, including high E. coli concentrations. This audience was engaged via events such as the Ag PhD Field Day which had over 10,000 producers attend from around the United States. State Agencies and Agency Personnel:Agency personnel are responsible for identifying and improving the quality of South Dakota's water resources. The research related to this project provides results that can be used to inform management practices that will be used to improve water quality. State agency personnel were engaged via in-person meetings, email, and at a local conference. Research Community:Sharing the knowledge gained from this project with the scientific community will help advance and inform the science as well as future research directions. To engage the research community, abstracts and posters were presented at both state and national conferences. In addition, networking at several conferences provided the opportunity to share the project work as well as provide potential future collaborations. Minority Groups: Students of gender and racial minority groups were targeted through graduate research assistantships available through work related to this project. These students have the opportunity to learn about contaminant fate and transport as well as practices to reduce transport into waterways. In addition, undergraduate students are recruited to assist with this project, including female engineering students. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Dr. Rachel McDanielAssistant Professor and Water Resource Engineer. Hatch project PI from January 2016 - present. Collaborated with Dr. Bruce Bleakley to expand research and knowledge into additional microbial related concerns including antibiotic resistance of bacteria in aquatic environments. Attended several conferences, workshops, and meetings to expand network and build relationships for future collaborations, present her work, and gain knowledge about national funding opportunities and priorities. Abhinav SharmaM.S. student in Ag and Biosystems Engineering. Graduate Research Assistant: May 2016 - present. Collected samples from conservation practices, including drainage water management and saturated buffers. Assisted with sample processing. Learned field sampling, sample handling, and lab analysis techniques for nitrate. Louis Amegbletor M.S. student in Ag and Biosystems Engineering. Graduate Research Assistant: May 2016 - present. Set up sampling site for bacterial attachment study. Collected storm and baseflow samples and processed samples for E. coli and attachment rates. Refined sample processing procedure. Learned field sampling, sample handling, sample preparation, and sample processing techniques for E. coli. Sadia Salam Ph.D. student in Ag and Biosystems Engineering. Graduate Research Assistant: May 2016 - present. Conducted literature review to develop a sampling method for bacteria in sediment. Learned field sampling, sample handling, sample preparation, and sample processing techniques for E. coli. Sara MardaninejadPh.D. student in Ag and Biosystems Engineering. Graduate Research Assistant: May 2016 - present. Conducted literature review on the impact of conservation practices on E. coli concentrations in the environment. Processed bioreactor samples for E. coli. Learned field sampling, sample handling, sample preparation, and sample processing techniques for E. coli. Learned to grow environmental bacteria and how to assess colony morphology. Angelinah Rasoeu Ph.D. student in Ag and Biosystems Engineering. Student: August 2016 - present. Beginning work on climate change impacts on water resources and crop growth. Sami Shokrana Ph.D. student in Ag and Biosystems Engineering. Student: August 2016 - present. Co-advised with Dr. Laurent Ahiablame. Beginning work assessing the impact of bioreactors on E. coli concentrations. Learned field sampling, sample handling, sample preparation, and sample processing techniques for E. coli. Miranda LeBrun B.S. student in Ag and Biosystems Engineering. Undergraduate Research Assistant: March 2016 - present. Assisted with graduate student work. Learned field sampling, sample handling, sample preparation, and sample processing techniques for E. coli. Lindsay Wallace B.S. student in Ag and Biosystems Engineering. Research Credit: August 2016 - present. Began assessing E. coli accumulation in wetlands. Learned field sampling, sample handling, sample preparation, and sample processing techniques for E. coli. Haley Hinker B.S. student in Biology and Microbiology. Research Credit: August 2016 - present. Co-advised with Dr. Bruce Bleakley. Began assessing the potential accumulation of antibiotic resistant and metal tolerant bacteria in wetlands. Learned sample collection and handling for bacteria in the environment. Learned bacterial growth techniques, assessment of colony morphology, assessment of antibiotic resistance, and assessment of metal tolerance. McCamey Kimbler B.S. student in Biology and Microbiology. Research Credit: August 2016 - present. Co-advised with Dr. Bruce Bleakley. Began assessing the potential accumulation of antibiotic resistant and metal tolerant bacteria in wetlands. Learned sample collection and handling for bacteria in the environment. Learned bacterial growth techniques, assessment of colony morphology, assessment of antibiotic resistance, and assessment of metal tolerance. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?This project began recently, and therefore, few results have been generated. The PI has presented to the research community once during this reporting period (UCOWR/NIWR Annual Water Resources Conference). Work relating to this project was also published in the Argus Leader, a regional newspaper. In addition, the PI attended the Ag. Ph.D. Field Day and demonstrated conservation practices, including bioreactors, drainage water management, and saturated buffers, to agricultural producers. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Several research projects are underway and will continue through the next reporting period, including: E. coli attachment and transport during high flows E. coli in streambed sediments Conservation drainage practices to remove nitrate from tile drainage Impact of bioreactors on E. coli and antibiotic-resistant bacterial transport in agricultural tile drainage E. coli, antibiotic-resistant bacteria, and metal-tolerant bacteria accumulation in wetland environments Impact of precipitation resolution on modeling crop yields Goal 1:Examine the fate and transport of agricultural pollutants to provide support for water risk evaluations. We will complete the evaluation of the spatial variation of E. coli in streambed sediments and will continue to evaluate the temporal variation and stability of E. coli concentrations in streambed sediments. A minimum of one peer-reviewed publication from this work is planned during the next fiscal year. Goal 2: Assess land use/land management impacts on water quality and quantity to evaluate impact on water risk Work will continue on the evaluation of bioreactors, drainage water management, and saturated buffers. A minimum of two publications are expected from this work during the next fiscal year including a review of the impact of management practices on E. coli concentrations and a preliminary study assessing the impact of bioreactors on E. coli and antibiotic-resistant bacteria concentrations . Goal 3: ?Evaluate and/or develop risk management strategies to aid in decision making related to water resources. Three publications are in review in Transactions of the ASABE. One research project is underway examining the impact of different precipitation data sets on modeled hydrologic conditions and crop growth using the SWAT hydrologic model.

    Impacts
    What was accomplished under these goals? The PI is working on several projects funded by this Hatch project and other externally funded grants. These projects address one or more of the goals for this Hatch project and include the following: E. coli attachment and transport during high flows E. coli in streambed sediments Conservation drainage practices to remove nitrate from tile drainage Impact of bioreactors on E. coli and antibiotic-resistant bacterial transport in agricultural tile drainage E. coli, antibiotic-resistant bacteria, and metal-tolerant bacteria accumulation in wetland environments Impact of precipitation resolution on modeling crop yields Goal 1: Examine the fate and transport of agricultural pollutants to provide support for water risk evaluations (15% complete). The fate and transport of several agricultural pollutants are being examined through this project including E. coli, antibiotic resistant bacteria, metal tolerant bacteria, and nitrate. Preliminary work indicates that sediments in South Dakota streams may be a reservoir for E. coli and that roughly 75% of E. coli is transported in a buoyant state, allowing it to contribute to water quality impairments for a longer time. Goal 2: Examine the fate and transport of agricultural pollutants to provide support for water risk evaluations (20% complete). The PI has begun work on multiple projects examining the impact of land management practices on water quality, specifically E. coli and nitrate, and/or water quantity. The management practices being assessed include riparian area management, saturated buffer strips, drainage water management, and bioreactors. Preliminary data shows promise for the ability for saturated buffers and drainage water management to reduce nitrate in drainage water. Goal 3: Evaluate and/or develop risk management strategies to aid in decision making related to water resources (15% complete). Three publications were submitted and are in review related to crop and location specific drought monitoring. In addition, several of the management practices being evaluated through this project help producers manage water quality risks. By reducing nitrates and bacteria, the downstream risk of these pollutants is reduced.Preliminary data shows promise for the ability for saturated buffers and drainage water management to reduce nitrate in drainage water. Preliminary work on bioreactors demonstrates thatE. coliconcentrations can remain constant, but also have the potential to grow in this carbon rich environment.

    Publications

    • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: McDaniel, Rachel. 2016. E. coli transport in South Dakota streams. In: 2016 UCOWR/NIWR Annual Water Resources Conference  Conference Proceedings. UCOWR/NIWR. Poster presentation, Pensacola Beach, FL.