Project Final Report

Decreasing Phosphorus in Cranberry Waters by Implementation of Best Management Practices

Project Number 12-02/319

Dates: 2012 – 2015

Grantee

Carolyn DeMoranville University of Amherst 508-295-2212 x25 UMass Cranberry Station, One State Bog Rd., PO Box 569, E. Wareham, MA 02538

Malcolm M. Harper, MassDEP Project Manager 8 New Bond Street, Worcester MA 01606 508-767-2795

PREPARED FOR:

MASSACHUSETTS DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION BUREAU OF RESOURCE PROTECTION

AND

US ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY REGION 1

MASSACHUSETTS EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS Matthew A. Beaton, Secretary

DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION Martin Suuberg, Commissioner

BUREAU OF WATER RESOURCES Douglas Fine, Assistant Commissioner

DIVISION OF MUNICIPAL SERVICES Steven J. McCurdy, Director

Decreasing Phosphorus in Cranberry Waters by Implementation of Best Management Practices Project Number 12-02/319

A. Project Snapshot

A1. Project start date: July 16, 2012

A2. Date closed: June 30, 2015

A3. Basin and HUC 12 subwatershed location Buzzards Bay Basin, 4 bog locations: 1) White Island Pond AD Makepeace Bogs - Buzzards Bay Basin, HUC-12 Cape Cod to Stony Point 010900020303 2) White Island Pond Federal Furnace Bogs - Buzzards Bay Basin, HUC-12 to Stony Point 010900020303 3) Eagle Holt Bogs, Wareham - Buzzards Bay Basin, HUC-12 Sippican River 010900020301 4) Pierceville Bogs, W. Wareham - Buzzards Bay Basin, HUC-12 010900020302

South Coastal Basin, 1 bog location Mayflower Bog, Duxbury - South Coastal Watershed, HUC-12 Standish Shore to Cordage 010900010105

Taunton Basin, bog location with filter bed Winebrook Bog, Halifax - Taunton Watershed, HUC-12 Satucket River 010900040101

A4. Segment and/or waterbody information: White Island Pond AD Makepeace Bog - White Island Pond (East Basin) MA95166 White Island Pond Federal Furnace Bogs - White Island Pond (East Basin) MA95166 Eagle Holt Bogs, Wareham - Blackmore Pond MA95015 Pierceville Bogs, W. Wareham - Weweantic River MA95-04 (upper reach), MA95-05 (lower reach) Mayflower Bog, Duxbury - Island Creek Pond MA94073 Winebrook Bog, Halifax - West Monponsett Pond MA62119

A5. Status of waterbody: White Island Pond (East Basin) MA95166 -- Category 4A (total P) Blackmore Pond MA95015 -- Category 3 Weweantic River MA95-04 (upper reach) -- Category 2, MA95-05 (lower reach) -- Category 5 Island Creek Pond MA94073 -- Category 4C West Monponsett Pond MA62119 -- Category 5 (total P)

A6. Priority Pollutant(s) targeted: Phosphorus

A7. Estimated Annual Pollutant removal - Phosphorus

554 pounds for the 5 bog sites (2014 data, harvest floods only) Buzzards Bay Watershed - 451 South Coastal Watershed - 103

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Taunton Watershed: 0.45 pounds from the test run of the filter box

Method of Determination and calculations: Bog sites - Total load of TP in harvest floods in 2014 was calculated by multiplying the TP concentration in those harvest floods as determined by sampling and analysis by the flood volume as determined by flow measurement (White Island sites) or estimated based on volume data from a study of harvest floods (C. Kennedy, unpublished data). For each location, a linear regression line was calculated for TP concentration in flood vs. number of years of implementation of P fertilizer reduction - that relationship was used to estimate the pre-reduction concentration of TP (year 1). Concentration was converted to load using flood volume data and assuming that flood volume was similar for each year within a site. TP removed was calculated as the difference between load in year 1 (begin P reduction protocol) and 2014.

Filter box trial - Removal rate was determined to average 84% when comparing TP concentration in incoming water to that in water leaving the filter box (5 runs). Twenty percent of a harvest flood from the adjacent 2-acre cranberry bog (TP conc. = 0.208 mg/l; 1,376,000 L/ha volume) would contain a load of 0.286 kg P/ha. Removal of 84% of that load would equal 0.25 kg/ha removed. For the 2-acre bog that is 0.45 pounds.

A8. BMPs installed, number and type: Reduction in applied phosphorus - five cranberry bog sites evaluated (practice has been widely adopted) Concrete Filter Box containing coarse sand - one

3 B. Descriptive Project Summary

MASSACHUSETTS DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

SECTION 319 NPS PROJECT 12-02/319

PROJECT TITLE: Decreasing Phosphorus in Cranberry Waters by Implementation of Best Management Practices NPS CATEGORY: Agriculture INVESTIGATOR: UMass Amherst LOCATION: Coastal: Buzzards Bay, Taunton, South Coastal, Cape Cod

DESCRIPTION:

Many inland water bodies in Southeastern Massachusetts watersheds are impaired due to enrichment of nutrients, and specifically phosphorus (P). Many ponds in the region are in categories 4 and 5, some have TMDLs and others are scheduled. An examination of aerial photographs of Southeastern Massachusetts illustrates the apparent hydrologic connection of many cranberry bogs to inland ponds. Cranberry production is a significant agricultural land use and economic driver in Southeastern Massachusetts; and when cranberry growing is associated with these ponds, BMPs that reduce P export become even more critical.

The focus of this project will be the reduction of P output from cranberry lands in order to meet current and anticipated TMDLs and generally improve water quality.

This project will have both implementation and demonstration tasks. Implementation activities with structural BMPs (filter beds with sand and sand plus amendments such as aluminum or iron) will be evaluated. P levels will be evaluated in White Island Pond during each summer of the project to determine effects of these implementations on the Pond. Implementation of non-structural BMPs will be evaluated at 10-12 cranberry bog sites (fertilizer reduction evaluation and evaluation of changes in flood management including characterization of volumes). The utility of several other experimental approaches will be investigated/evaluated in the lab and demonstrated in the field. Outreach activities will educate growers about their utility and show them how to implement BMPs on their farms, thus multiplying the impact of the work.

PROJECT COST: $602,322

FUNDING: $327,121 by the US EPA $275,201 by the University of Massachusetts

DURATION: 2012 – 2015

4 C. Project Finances

Attachment B Budget Decreasing Phosphorus in Cranberry Waters by Implementation of Best Management Practices Project # 12-02/319

Expense Items s.319 Amount Non-Federal Match and Total Amount Source Figures in red are actual expenditures

Salary Project Technician UMass, grade 11 step 7, $34,311/yr $118,499 $51,448 Salary (Annual increase at 3.5% included in salary, 36 mo., Fringe rate 35.39%) $44,417 $18,944

Project PI UMass, Assoc. Prof., $108,840/yr, 15% time

Salary (Annual increase at 3.5% included in salary, 36 mo., Fringe rate 35.39%) TOTAL $162,916 $70,392 $233,308 $161,725 $69,718 $231,443

Subcontractual Services Cape Cod Cranberry Growers Assoc. [see itemized below] $29,700 UMASS Dartmouth Match UMass Dartmouth SMAST $84,806 $35,464 TOTAL $114,506 $35,464 $149,970 Materials and Supplies Half-pipe Filter $12,000 Zero valent iron for sand bed/filter berm 6 tons @$1,000/ton $6,000 Aluminum Oxide Block $2,000 Pipe fittings, connectors, perforated pipe $1,500 Geofabric for sand filter bed 300 ft roll, 15" wide, delivered $1,400 Iron oxide for pipe filter and other demonstration BMPs 5 tons $7,000 @$1000 Half pipe, pvc, geofabric, fittings for pipe/channel iron oxide filter $3,995 Sample collection materials, bottles $1,000 TOTAL $34,895 $34,895 $19,452 $19,452 Travel (for auto mileage only @ $.40 /mile) UMass Cranberry Station vehicles, approx. 200 miles/ month to $2,880 $2,880 visit sites and collect samples ($0.4 x 36 mo. x 200 miles) $1700 $1700

Other Indirect costs - limited to 10% $31,519 $62,360 (IC on salary NOTE: UMAmherst IC rate for federal projects is 58.5% MTDC in and subcontract first 7 mo. of year 1 and 59% for the remainder of the grant match) period, the difference between that and 10% is provided as $153,835 ($107,659) match; those rates are also applied to salary match and applied (waived indirect costs)

as non-federal cost share. Report costs (printing, etc.) $216,195 included in indirect costs. $247,714 $170,019 TOTAL $29,738 $199,757 Totals $346,716 $322,051 $668,767 $327,121 $275,201 $602,322 51.8% (54.3%) 48.2% (45.7%) 100% The Department will retain 10% of the total maximum obligation of the 319 grant funds or the final invoice submitted by the Grantee, whichever is greater, until all contract provisions are satisfied and final reports and other products are delivered

5 and accepted. This 10% retainage shall be reflected on each invoice submitted by the Grantee and will be cumulative in the amount of $34,672 (10% of the contract amount).

The Fair Share goals for the project are 4.65% MBE and 16.03%WBE on the total project dollars.* To comply with M/WBE participation goals it is anticipated that $31,097.67 for MBE and $107,203.35 for WBE will be expended.

Itemized budget – Cape Cod Cranberry Growers Association Subcontract: 319 funds non-federal Total project Salary/fringe B. Wick, Regulatory Director @$50/hr Liaison work/communication $10,750 Site selection $2,000 GIS mapping $4,000 Data collection and collating $4,500 Site visits $3,000 Workshops, plan/conduct $2,150 TOTAL salary/fringe $26,400 $26,400 Travel 1500 miles @ $0.40 $600 $600 Other Administrative costs @10% $2,700 $2,700 Grand total $29,700 $29,700

Itemized budget UMass Dartmouth subcontract 319 funds non-federal Total project Salary/fringe (partial FTEs over 3.5 years) B. Howes, PI $14,593 project oversight, reporting D. White $24,049 laboratory management, field collections advice D.Schlezinger $3,865 laboratory and field technical assistance 2 Technical assistants $29,589 Laboratory analyses TOTAL salary/fringe $72,096 $72,096 Supplies field collections and laboratory analyses $5,000 $5,000 Other Administrative costs @10% $7,710 Administrative costs, difference to 56% std. rate $35,156 TOTAL administrative $7,710 $35,156 $42,866

Grand total $84,806 $35,156 $119,962

Note: In addition to consultation on the sand filter, sampling, and laboratory ferric oxide study, UMass Dartmouth is providing all analyses of project samples. Their budget includes labor and supplies necessary to analyze up to 700 samples.

6 D. BMPs.

Non-structural, Reduction in P fertilizer application to cranberry bogs: Based on more than a decade of research, UMass Extension recommendations for cranberry plant nutrition include reduction in applied phosphorus. For many years, the standard recommendation was 20 lb/acre (22.4 kg ha-1) per year of actual P. By 2003, a more strongly worded statement not to exceed 20 lb P/acre in the absence of a deficiency was added. In 2008, guidance and encouragement for implementing a reduction plan for P fertilizer use (taking the rate below 20 lb p/acre) were included and by 2010 the topic had moved to a more prominent placement in our Management Guide. In 2015, the entire nutrient management recommendation for Massachusetts cranberry was updated and now reflects the lower rate recommendations. In this project we have evaluated the change in P output in harvest flood discharge on farms that have implemented P reduction for periods of from 6-12 years. Data from 5 farms is shown below.

NOTE: Five bog sites are presented here of 11 that participated in the study of the non-structural BMP - reduction in P fertilization to cranberry bogs. These sites were the only ones where there was sufficient historical data to construct the regression equations that were used to estimate initial loads for the calculation of pounds of P removed from the watershed.

Bog site AD Makepeace White Island Pond C1. Type of BMP: Non-structural, Reduction in P fertilizer application to cranberry bogs C2. Date of implementation: 2008 C3. Size of treatment area: 25.6 acres C4. Area land use: Cranberry production C5. Pollutant load removed: 72.5 pounds of P in 2014 [71.4 in 2013]

Bog site Federal Furnace White Island Pond C1. Type of BMP: Non-structural, Reduction in P fertilizer application to cranberry bogs C2. Date of implementation: 2008 C3. Size of treatment area: 47.3 acres C4. Area land use: Cranberry production C5. Pollutant load removed: 17.2 pounds in 2014 [58.8 in 2013]

Bog site Eagle Holt Cranberry, Wareham C1. Type of BMP: Non-structural, Reduction in P fertilizer application to cranberry bogs C2. Date of implementation: 2003 C3. Size of treatment area: 63.3 acres C4. Area land use: Cranberry production C5. Pollutant load removed: 130.1 pounds in 2014 [101.3 in 2013]

Bog site Pierceville Bogs, W. Wareham C1. Type of BMP: Non-structural, Reduction in P fertilizer application to cranberry bogs C2. Date of implementation: 2006 C3. Size of treatment area: 45 acres C4. Area land use: Cranberry production C5. Pollutant load removed: 145.6 pounds in 2014 [185.1 in 2013]

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Bog site Mayflower Bogs, Duxbury C1. Type of BMP: Non-structural, Reduction in P fertilizer application to cranberry bogs C2. Date of implementation: 2009 C3. Size of treatment area: 14.6 acres C4. Area land use: Cranberry production C5. Pollutant load removed: 102.6 pounds in 2014 [109.7 in 2013]

FOR ALL 5 BOG SITES FOR THE NON-STRUCTURAL PRACTICE CHANGE BMP C6. Method of pollutant load removal determination and calculations:

Assumptions: 1. Concentrations of P in harvest flood release grab samples are representative of the entire event. A recent time-course study of P concentrations in harvest flood releases (Kennedy et al.) found that the concentration of P in the flood release remains fairly constant until the water is drained below the surface of the bed. Concentration peaks were associated with drainage of soil pore water (dissolved forms) and the very dregs of the ditch bottoms (particulate forms). The samples used for these calculations all were taken prior to the ditch bottom drainage and represent the top water and pore water drainage, capturing the period of dissolved P release. 2. The volume of an average harvest flood is 6.88 million L ha-1, with a range of 4.98-9.64 million. An intensive study of water use at 5 cranberry sites (Kennedy, unpublished data), including the two White Island bog sites reported here, determined an average harvest flood depth of 688 mm with a range of 498-964 mm. For sites 1 and 2 the actual depth is used in the calculations. For the other 3 sites, data is presented for the mean as found in Kennedy's work. 3. The reduction in P concentration declines in a linear fashion over time after P fertilizer rates are reduced. In the graphics presented, the linear models are shown along with their R2 values. Between one- third and two-thirds of the variation is accounted for by the linear model so this assumption is a bit weak. Reduction numbers are presented from the actual data and the model data are only used to estimate back to year one when there were no year one data collected.

Graphic representations of 5 sites with regression lines

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Calculation of TP in flood release [2014] ALSO SEE ATTACHMENT 2

Site 1 (area 10.35 ha (25.6 acres); depth 964 mm):

Year ppm TP kg P/ha kg P/ha less lb P/bog less

1 (calc) 0.375 3.617 7 (act.) 0.046 0.443 3.173 72.48

Site 2 (area 19.14 ha (47.3 acres); depth 498 mm):

Year ppm TP kg P/ha kg P/ha less lb P/bog less

1 (calc) 0.393 1.956 7 (act.) 0.311 1.549 0.407 17.17

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Site 3 (area 25.62 ha (63.3 acres); use avg depth 688 mm)

Year ppm TP kg P/ha kg P/ha less lb P/bog less actual 1 0.600 4.128 12 0.045 0.310 3.82 215.64

Site 4 (area 18.21 ha (45 acres); use avg depth 688 mm)

Year ppm TP kg P/ha kg P/ha less lb P/bog less

1 (calc.) 0.835 5.745 9 (act.) 0.308 2.119 3.626 145.57

Site 5 (area 5.92 ha (14.6 acres); use avg depth 688 mm)

Year ppm TP kg P/ha kg P/ha less lb P/bog less

1 (calc.) 1.305 8.978 6 (act.) 0.16 1.101 7.878 102.61

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Below the data are summarized by site and then by average and range (P rate is applied fertilizer P):

reduction P rate init. P red. rate in output Site (lb/acre) (lb/acre) Years red. (lb/acre)

1 14.2 4.9 7 2.83 2 28.5 6.7 7 0.36 3 20.0 9.4 12 3.41 4 24.0 8.0 9 3.23 5 22.0 8.9 6 7.03

reduction in P rate init. P red. rate Years TP init. TP end output (lb/acre) (lb/acre) red. (mg/l) (mg/l) (lb/acre)

Average 21.9 7.6 8.2 0.569 0.172 3.37 Range 14.2-28.5 4.9-9.4 6-12 0.423-0.731 0.045-0.311 0.36-7.03

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Filter bed site, Wine Brook Bog, Halifax C1. Type of BMP: Filter box with sand C2. Date of implementation: June 2014 C3. Size of treatment area: 2 acres C4. Area land use: Cranberry production C5. Pollutant load removed: 0.45 pounds in harvest flood treated C6. Method of pollutant load removal determination and calculations:

A concrete box to be used as a sand filter bed was constructed and deployed at Winebrook Bog in Halifax, MA where groundwater enters the bed for most of the season and must be pumped out to avoid soil saturation. The dimensions of the box were 17 x 10 x 5 feet and there was a drain hole near the base along a long side. Sand was placed in the box to a depth of about 3.5 feet. During the summer of 2014, a line was run from the bog sump area (near the exit flume) so that the sump pump was used to move water from the bed into the filter rather than out through the exit flume. The water entering and exiting the filter was sampled periodically. The analyses for total P in the water are shown in the figure below.

Figure. Demonstration of a sand filter bed. Water was moved out of the cranberry bog via a sump pump and passed through sand in the filter bed (FB). Concentrations of total P (mg/l) are shown. During early July a problem with clogging arose and was temporarily resolved with the installation of drain tiles within the filter bed.

On the five sampling dates when the filter was functioning properly, P removal rates averaged 84% (range 66-97%). The average P load in the incoming water was 0.208 mg/l. If such a filter were used to treat 20% of a harvest flood release from these 2 acres, with similar P load, the sand filter would remove 0.45 pounds of P.

688 mm depth flood = 6.88 million liters per hectare [same average used for bog sites above] 20% = 1,376,000 L/ha at a load of 0.208 mg/L that water would contain 0.286 kg P/ha

12 At 84% removal efficiency, the filter would remove 0.25 kg/ha (0.223 lb/acre) P when filtering 20% of a harvest release. For the 2 acre piece that is 0.45 pounds.

FOR ALL PRACTICES HEREIN: C7. Signed statement:

"The estimations in this report were determined using the appropriate estimation model(s) and applied according to the procedures prescribed for the model. To the best of my knowledge these are reasonable estimates using appropriate methods. Documentation is kept on file by the grantee and is available for review by MassDEP/EPA."

E. Lessons Learned

While sand filtration can be effective, it presents many logistical challenges. Change in fertilizer practice can have dramatic impacts in reducing phosphorus output from cranberry flood releases and is readily accomplished by any cranberry farmer. However, it appears that much of what was filtered in the sand test was particulate P. Therefore, simpler methods that filter out particulates (eg. a 'sock' filter) might be used effectively, particularly on end discharge, most of which is particulate (Kennedy et al.). However, for most situations, the reduction in P with change in fertilizer practice may suffice.

F. Attachments 1) Locus map showing sites and individual site maps (Google earth) 2) Spreadsheet (excel format) showing regression calculations for bog sites.

G. Literature Cited

Kennedy, C., P. Kleinman, and C. DeMoranville. 2015. Spatial scale and field management affect patterns of phosphorus loss in cranberry floodwaters. Journal of Environmental Quality. accepted

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