Fields to Streams Part 2: Managing Water in Rural Landscapes
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FIELDS TO STREAMS: PART TWO Fields to Streams MANAGING WATER IN RURAL LANDSCAPES Part Two Managing Sediment and Water 1 http://www.extension.umn.edu PRINCIPAL AUTHORS Ann Lewandowski, University of Minnesota Water Resources Center Leslie Everett, University of Minnesota Water Resources Center Chris Lenhart, University of Minnesota Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems Engineering Karen Terry, University of Minnesota Extension Mark Origer, ISG Richard Moore, Minnesota Information Technology CONTRIBUTORS Patrick Belmont, Utah State University Chuck Brandel, ISG Brenda DeZiel, Minnesota Pollution Control Agency Keith Harding, University of Minnesota Department of Soil, Water and Climate Carrie Jennings, Geologist, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Kevin Kuehner, Minnesota Department of Agriculture Martin Melchoir, Inter-Fluve, Inc. Shawn Schottler, Minnesota Science Museum Pat Baskfield, Minnesota Pollution Control Agency ACKNOWLEDGMENTS We are grateful to numerous reviewers, including Craig Austinson, Blue Earth County This publication was funded by The McKnight Foundation. Jerad Bach, Blue Earth County SWCD Brad Becker, Dakota County SWCD © 2015, Regents of the University of Minnesota. All rights reserved. Send David Bucklin, Cottonwood SWCD copyright permission inquiries to Copyright Coordinator, University of Minnesota Dan Engstrom, Minnesota Science Museum Extension, 405 Coffey Hall, 1420 Eckles Avenue, St. Paul, MN 55108-6068. Email to [email protected] or fax to 612-625-3967. Matthew Helmers, Iowa State University Al Kean and Tim Gillette, Board of Water and Soil Resources Beau Kennedy, Goodhue SWCD The University of Minnesota Extension shall provide equal access to and Joe Magner, University of Minnesota Department of Bioproducts and opportunity in its programs, facilities, and employment without regard to race, Biosystems Engineering color, creed, religion, national origin, gender, age, marital status, disability, public Lee Thompson and Beth Kallestad, Cannon River Watershed Partnership assistance status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or gender David Wall and Bill Thompson, Minnesota Pollution Control Agency expression. Cover photos courtesy of USDA NRCS In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, this publication/material is available in alternative formats upon request. Direct requests to the Extension Store at 800-876-8636. Layout, design and editing by Carissa Christenson and Gina Cooper, ISG. Fields to Streams MPanagingART Sediment TWO and Water A publication of the University of Minnesota Water Resources Center Contents CHAPTER ONE - FIELDS TO STREAMS: THE TREATMENT TRAIN .................................................................... 5 CHAPTER TWO - IN-FIELD PRACTICES: CROP MANAGEMENT .........................................................................8 2.1 Perennial Plants ......................................................................................................................... 8 2.2 Cover Crops ............................................................................................................................... 9 2.3 Crop Rotations ........................................................................................................................... 9 2.4 Manure Application .................................................................................................................... 9 2.5 Tillage and Crop Residue Management ................................................................................... 10 2.6 Compaction Management ....................................................................................................... 10 CHAPTER THREE - IN-FIELD PRACTICES: DRAINAGE WATER MANAGEMENT ........................................11 3.1 Drainage Design ....................................................................................................................... 11 3.2 Controlled Subsurface Drainage .............................................................................................. 12 3.3 Alternative Tile Inlets ................................................................................................................ 14 CHAPTER FOUR - IN-FIELD AND EDGE-OF-FIELD PRACTICES: SURFACE FLOW .....................................16 4.1 Grassed Waterways ................................................................................................................. 16 4.2 Filter Strips and Contour Buffer Strips ..................................................................................... 17 CHAPTER FIVE - IN-FIELD AND EDGE-OF-FIELD PRACTICES: WATER STORAGE AND INFILTRATION ...18 5.1 Saturated Buffer ....................................................................................................................... 18 5.2 Wetland Restoration ................................................................................................................. 19 5.3 Constructed Wetland ............................................................................................................... 21 5.4 Water and Sediment Control Basins (WASCOBs) .................................................................... 22 5.5 Terrace ...................................................................................................................................... 23 5.6 Grade Stabilization Structure ................................................................................................... 24 5.7 Retention and Detention Basins............................................................................................... 25 5.8 Ponds and Irrigation Reservoirs (Dams) ................................................................................... 26 5.9 Large Scale Impoundments ..................................................................................................... 27 CHAPTER SIX - DITCH CHANNEL PRACTICES: WATER DETENTION AND RETENTION .....................28 6.1 In-Ditch Retention Structures ................................................................................................... 28 6.2 Two-Stage Ditch ....................................................................................................................... 29 CHAPTER SEVEN - RIPARIAN PRACTICES: RESTORATION AND PROTECTION ........................................31 7.1 Riparian Vegetation .................................................................................................................. 31 7.2 Streambank and Shoreline Protection ..................................................................................... 32 7.3 Restore Channel Meanders ...................................................................................................... 33 CHAPTER EIGHT - WATERSHED PLANNING AND MANAGEMENT ...............................................................34 8.1 The Importance of Managing Across a Watershed .................................................................. 34 8.2 Locating Storage in a Watershed ............................................................................................. 36 8.3 Water Resource Authorities...................................................................................................... 36 8.4 Examples of Watershed Management ..................................................................................... 37 FIELDS TO STREAMS: PART TWO Chapter One Fields to Streams: The Treatment Train *For the detailed “how to” information The second part of this document briefly describes land and water management practices* that protect for each practice, the relevant NRCS- streams and improve water quality by modifying water use and flows. These practices are most effective USDA practice number (or numbers) when they are combined in sequence, a “treatment train”, along the entire path of a drop of water from is given for each practice found in the where it falls on the land to where it either returns to the atmosphere in plant transpiration, or leaves the Field Office Technical Guide (FOTG), land as runoff. (See figures below.) available on-line for each state and county (http://efotg.sc.egov.usda.gov/ ). Individually or when combined, these practices often have multiple effects, including improved soil Section IV of the FOTG provides structure and water holding capacity, reduced channel erosion, better water quality and in-stream habitat, detailed descriptions of practice design and reduced flooding. Ponds or wetland restorations for water storage and denitrification in an agricultural and operation. For some practices, the drainage system also improve drainage system efficiency. They dampen peak flows and thus reduce the NRCS National Engineering Handbook size requirements for pipe and ditches downstream in the system. Practices that add perennial vegetation is also referenced. or diversify channel structure to reduce channel erosion also create habitat. The Agricultural BMP Handbook for Minnesota includes descriptions of CONDENSATION these practices along with effectiveness as determined by research in the Upper PRECIPITATION Midwest. See: http://www.mda.state. mn.us/protecting/cleanwaterfund/ research/agbmphandbook.aspx TRANSPIRATION EVAPORATION 3 SURFACE RUNOFF 1 6 4 5 2 SOIL WATER STREAM/DITCH TILE SUBSURFACE FLOW SHALLOW GROUNDWATER DEEP GROUNDWATER Source: ISG Practices can be described by where they are located along the treatment train and what effects they have on hydrology. The numbers in the landscape diagram correspond to