Nonpoint Source Summary Page
Project 1300 FY 07 CWA Section 319(h)
1. Title of Project: Monitoring the Effectiveness of BMP at Reducing Total
Suspended Solids in Agricultural Runoff.
2. Project Goals/Objectives: This project aims to monitor the water quality effects of
implemented BMP in agricultural runoff.
3. Project Tasks:
1) Formation of Quality Assurance Project Plan
2) Develop Landowner and Project Participant Relations.
3) Collect and analyze water quality samples prior to BMP implementation
4) Collect and analyze water quality samples after the BMP implementation
5) Statistical comparison of TSS concentrations in collected water quality samples of prior and
post BMP implementation samples
6) Reporting
4. Measures of Success: This project will be considered a success by the delivery of a final
report that describes the analysis of water quality and an interpretation of the effectiveness of
the implemented BMP.
5.
Project Type: Statewide ( ) Watershed ( ) Demonstration ( X )
6.
Waterbody Type: River () Groundwater ( ) Other ( X)
7.
Project Location: Lake Conway Point Remove, Arkansas County, Desha County
8.
NPS Management Program Reference:
9.
NPS Assessment Report Status: Impaired ( ) Impacted ( ) Threatened (X )
10. Key Project Activities: Hire Staff ( ) Monitoring (X) Technical Assistance ( ) Education
( ) BMP Implementation ( ) Demonstration Project ( ) Other ( ) Planning ( )
11. NPS Management Program Elements: From NPS management plan 2005 – 2010
DRAFT
13. Project Management
Rob Fisher, Executive Director
The Ecological Conservation Organization
120 South Cross St
Little Rock, AR 72201
501-372-7895
14. Project Period: July 1, 2008 and end June 30, 2009.
Project start and completion dates may vary depending on award date.
Project 07-1300
Monitoring the Effectiveness of BMP at Reducing
Total Suspended Solids in Agricultural Runoff
FY 2007, CWA Section 319(h)
Background
Agriculture runoff has been identified as a contributing source to nonpoint source pollution and
therefore negatively effecting water quality. Best Management Practices for agricultural runoff
are being implemented in the Lake Conway Point Remove Watershed, Arkansas County and
Desha County in efforts to reduce nonpoint source pollution from agricultural runoff. It is
necessary to measure concentrations of total suspended solids of agricultural runoff prior and
after the implementation of BMP to determine their effectiveness at reducing nonpoint source
pollution.
Problem/Need Statement:
A major nonpoint source is runoff from agricultural fields. Such runoff is of great concern
because of the associated economic impact of both decreased crop yield and water quality
impairment. The principal components of agricultural nonpoint-source pollution are sediments
(suspended solids), nutrients (phosphorus and nitrogen), and bacteria (Correl, 1998). Aside
from the aesthetic impact of high concentrations of particulate material in water, other water
quality pollutants, such as herbicides and pesticides, and nutrients are frequently sorbed to
particulate material (Stone and Droppo 1994).
ANRC is overseeing the implementation of BMP designed to reduce NPS from agricultural runoff
in Lake Conway Point Remove Watershed, Arkansas County and Desha County. The chosen
BMP consist of the installation of both “drop pipes” and “flashboard risers” on privately owned
agricultural lands. Drop pipes are applicable where a concentrated flow of water is allowed to
“pond” and then carried through an enclosed pipe structure made of steel, plastic or concrete to
a satisfactory outlet. Drop pipes consist of a vertical pipe fabricated to a horizontal pipe which
is installed at approximately 1% grade to the outlet. Drop pipes reduce gulling or erosion of
soils by transporting water through a confined system and reduce erosion by the precipitation
of suspended sediment by the “ponding” of water. Additionally, it has been shown that these
grade control structures can have significant benefits on habitat improvements. (Smiley, 1997)
Flashboard risers are water control structures made with removable boards that can be used to
adjust the level of water held up behind the weir. When placed in drainage ditches and canals
flashboard risers allow farmers to control soil moisture and can result in improved downstream
water quality. (USGS, 1995) These BMP are being installed at numerous locations in effort to
reduce impacts from NPS on receiving waters.
Because suspended solids are a principal component to NPS from agricultural runoff and
because BMP are being implemented to reduce NPS from such runoff, it is necessary to monitor
the total suspended solid concentrations in the runoff waters prior and post implementation of
the BMP to determine their effectiveness. Water quality samples are needed to be collected
during runoff of agricultural lands at numerous locations prior to the installation of the BMP.
After the installation of the BMP, water quality samples are again needed to be collected during
runoff of agricultural lands at the same locations. These samples will need to be analyzed for
TSS concentrations. An evaluation of the TSS concentrations of the samples collected prior to
the installation of the BMP will need to be compared to the TSS concentrations of those samples
collected after the installation of the BMP. Site selections, sampling techniques, sample
preservation and sample analysis need to be representative and consistent with approved
scientific methods.
General Project Description:
After participating land owners have been identified and the location of the agricultural fields to
receive the BMP installation are determined, ECO will select the most appropriate location to
collect grab samples of agricultural runoff prior to the installation of the BMP. Sites will most
likely be located in areas where current gully washing and erosion of soils are visible. Sites will
be attempted to be located in areas where majority of the fields’ runoff is drained. A
determination for the required number of sites per field will be made in order to collect
representative data. Coordinates of each sampling site location will be identified via a handheld
GPS unit. Depth integrated samples will be collected prior to the installation of BMP at each
site. Samples will be collected during periods of runoff from the agricultural fields. Samples will
be analyzed for TSS according to EPA approved methodology.
ECO will work with the land owners and project participants implementing the BMP in order to
effectively prepare and plan for post installation BMP sampling. Due to the nature of the work
being conducted, ECO will more than likely have to change the exact location of its sampling
sites from those used prior to the installation of the BMP. After installation of the BMP,
sampling sites will be selected and coordinates of each will be identified. Depth integrated grab
samples will be collected during periods of runoff from the agricultural fields after the
installation of the BMP. Samples will be analyzed for TSS according to EPA approved
methodology.
ECO will collect a sufficient amount of samples to evaluate the effectiveness of the installed
BMP. This evaluation will be made from TSS concentrations of the samples collected prior to
the installation of the BMP as compared to those concentrations of samples collected after the
installation. It is the intent to collect enough samples from each agricultural field prior and
after the installation of the BMP that evaluations can be statistically compared with significant
levels of confidence.
Furthermore, analytical procedures of the collected water samples will be made according to
approved scientific methods. Quality assurance of the samples will be conducted for precision,
representatives, and completeness. All laboratory procedures will be conducted according to
Guidelines Establishing Test Procedures for the Analysis of Pollutants under the Clean Water
Act. The laboratory will report the TSS concentrations of the samples and then statistical
analysis of sample results will be evaluated. Sampling results will be reported quarterly and
submitted to Arkansas Natural Resources Commission.
Tasks, Objectives, Subtasks, Schedules, Deliverables, and Estimated Costs
Task 1: Formation of Quality Assurance Project Plan
Objectives: Design a functional tool to ensure success of the implementation of effective and
efficient monitoring; which will include defined protocols, methods, and procedures to collect,
preserve, store, analyze, and report the gathered environmental measurements. An approved
and finalized QAPP will be signed by all appropriate partners, staff, and personnel and delivered
to ANRC.
Subtask 1.1 Develop draft QAPP
Subtask 1.2 Edit and revise the QAPP per ANRC comments.
Subtask 1.3 Finalize QAPP
Deliverables:
1. An EPA approved QAPP.
Task 2: Develop Landowner and Project Participant Relations.
Objectives: Develop communications and relationships that will allow for effective planning,
site identification and the collection of water quality samples during agricultural runoff.
Subtask 2.1 Meet landowner and project participants
Subtask 2.2 Continued communication with landowner and project participants
throughout project period
Deliverables:
1. List of landowner and project participants
Task 3: Collect and analyze water quality samples prior to BMP implementation
Objectives: Collect and analyze adequate amount of water quality samples from each
agricultural field to thoroughly assess TSS concentrations in runoff prior to BMP implementation
Subtask 3.1: Collect water quality samples at each project location during agricultural
runoff periods
Subtask 3.2: Analyze water quality samples at each project location during agricultural
runoff periods
Deliverables:
1. Spreadsheet detailing coordinates, date and time, runoff conditions and the collector of
sample
2. Spreadsheet detailing TSS concentrations of analyzed samples
Task 4: Collect and analyze water quality samples after the BMP implementation
Objectives: Collect and analyze adequate amount of water quality samples from each
agricultural field to thoroughly assess TSS concentrations in runoff after the BMP
implementation
Subtask 4.1: Collect water quality samples at each project location during agricultural
runoff periods
Subtask 4.2: Analyze water quality samples at each project location during agricultural
runoff periods
Deliverables:
1. Spreadsheet detailing coordinates, date and time, runoff conditions and the collector of
sample
2. Spreadsheet detailing TSS concentrations of analyzed samples
Task 5: Statistical comparison of TSS concentrations in collected water quality
samples of prior and post BMP implementation samples
Objectives: Evaluate the effectiveness of the installed BMP by comparing TSS concentrations
at statistically significant levels of confidence.
Subtask 5.1: Conduct statistical evaluation of TSS concentrations of water quality
samples
Task 6: Reporting
Objectives: Quarterly reports will be submitted utilizing the format/forms provided
electronically by ANRC and will briefly state accomplishments made for each subtask. QAPP
reports will be submitted quarterly to ANRC. QAPP reports will include number of samples
collected during the quarter, all (if any) identified problems with the samples and/or their
analysis and the corrective actions taken. A final report will be submitted to ANRC by July 1 of
2009. The final report will include a narrative description that encompasses all activities related
to the project. An executive summary and associated trend hypothesis and/or analysis will also
be included in the Final Report.
Subtask 6.1: Quarterly reports
Subtask 6.2: Quarterly QAPP reports
Subtask 6.3: Final report
Deliverables: A final report that fulfills the objectives and task laid out above.
Overall Schedule of Tasks and Outputs:
Task
1
Subtask
Number
1.1
1.2
1.3
2.1
Description
Develop draft QAPP
Edit and revise the QAPP per ANRC comments.
Finalize QAPP
2
Meet landowner and project participants
Continued communication with landowner and
2.2
project participants throughout project period
Collect water quality samples at each project
3
3.1
location during agricultural runoff periods
Analyze water quality samples at each project
3.2
location during agricultural runoff periods
Collect water quality samples at each project
4
4.1
location during agricultural runoff periods
Analyze water quality samples at each project
4.2
location during agricultural runoff periods
Conduct statistical evaluation of TSS
5
5.1
concentrations of water quality samples
6
6.1
Quarterly reports
6.2
Quarterly QAPP reports
6.3
Final report
Project start and completion dates may vary depending on award date.
7/1/08
7/7/08
7/15/08
7/1/08
Completion
Date
7/7/08
7/15/08
8/15/08
8/1/08
7/1/08
6/30/09
8/15/08
11/30/08
8/15/08
11/30/08
11/30/08
6/30/09
11/30/08
6/30/09
5/1/09
6/30/09
7/1/08
7/1/08
5/1/09
6/30/09
6/30/09
6/30/09
Start Date
Coordination, Roles and Responsibilities:
ECO will be the primary lead on this project.
Measures of Success and Performance:
ECO will determine project success by completing all the tasks laid out in this proposal
satisfactorily to ANRC.
Reference to Project in the NPS Management Program:
From NPS Management Program 2005 – 2010 Draft
Project Lead:
Rob Fisher, Executive Director
The Ecological Conservation Organization
120 South Cross Street
Little Rock, AR 72201
501-372-7895
List of Appendices:
Appendix 1301
Estimated Project Budget