lindemann adapting conservation
DESCRIPTION
69th SWCS International Annual Conference July 27-30, 2014 Lombard, ILTRANSCRIPT
© Scott Warren
Western Lake Erie Basin Ag Project:Using Conservation Practices to Address
Climate Change
The Nature Conservancy
www.nature.org/wleb
SWCS Conference, Lombard, IL
Lauren Lindemann
• Climate Change Will Affect:• Precipitation:
• Erosion• Flooding • Drought
• Temperature Variations: • Crop Production
• Atmospheric CO2: • Crop Production• Run-off
Agriculture and Climate Change
• Climate Change Will Influence:• Watershed Hydrology• NPS
• Climate Change Will Impact:• Water Quality• Water Quantity
Agriculture and Climate Change
Woznicki et al. 2011, Assessing BMP Implementation Strategies Under Climate Change Scenarios:
• Tuttle Creek Lake Watershed (Kansas/Nebraska)• SWAT (Soil and Water Assessment Tool)• 32 Unique Scenarios• 8 Ag BMPs
• No-Till• Conservation Tillage• Contour Farming• Terraces• Filter Strips• Porous Gully Plugs• Grazing Management• Native Grass Plantings
Ag BMP Research
Assessing BMP Implementation Strategies Under Climate Change Scenarios
• A1B = 54% sediment load, 37% N load and 30% P; A2 = S 36%, N 27% and P 22%; B1 = S20%, N11% and P 12%
Assessing BMP Implementation Strategies Under Climate Change Scenarios, Continued
Western Lake Erie Basin
Western Lake Erie Basin
Ag Best Management Practices for Maximum Watershed Scale Benefits
• In-stream• Two-stage ditch
• Edge-of-Field• Saturated buffers with filter strips• Water drainage management, water control
structures• Ag treatment wetlands
• In-field• Conservation tillage• Cover crops• Nutrient management & 4R Certification for ag
retailers• Crop rotation
Sustainable Intensification
Agricultural BMPs
Our Suite of Conservation Systems: Upper Blanchard GLRI
• Filter Strips (2miles or 7 acres)• Nutrient Management Plans (1,000 acres)• Cover Crops (3oo acres)• 2-Stage Ditches (2 miles)
MinimalGrant Goals
Sediment Reduction
Nitrogen Reduction
Phosphorus Reduction
2-StageDitch
2 miles 212 tons 2,036 lbs. 1,600 lbs.
Cover Crops 300 acres 1,248 tons 3,157 lbs. 1,578 lbs.
Nutrient Management
Plans
1000 acres 0 Variable Variable
Filter/BufferStrips
2 miles 184 tons 454 lbs. 228 lbs.
TOTAL 1,644 tons 5,647 lbs. 3,406 lbs.
Our GLRI Reduction Goals
Demonstration Watersheds: Upper Blanchard, Cessna Creek
Demonstration Watersheds: Upper Blanchard, Cessna Creek
Other Projects
The Concept of a Systems Approach for Watershed Scale Benefits
• Stacking Practices Can Help Influence• Soil Structure, Soil Health, Soil Organic Matter• Sediment Load Reduction• Nutrient Load Reduction
Ag BMPs and Climate Change
• BMPs Performance• Highly Variable • Sensitive
Take Home!
= We need to watershed resiliency
BY
Using Ag BMPs that Run-off, That Slow-the-Flow and Can Filter!
