Water Resources Research Act Program

Details for Project ID 2012SD210B

Evaluation of the performance of two vegetated treatment systems

Institute: South Dakota
Year Established: 2012 Start Date: 2012-03-01 End Date: 2014-02-28
Total Federal Funds: $8,250 Total Non-Federal Funds: $17,002

Principal Investigators: Todd Trooien

Project Summary: Managers of beef feedlots are looking for alternative methods for runoff management because the standard method, a holding pond, it not optimal for every site. This project is designed to measure the performance of an alternative, Vegetated Treatment Systems (VTS) at two sites. One site is a gravity-flow system and the other is a sprinkler system, the first of its type in South Dakota. Surface water flows will be measured and samples. Samples will be analyzed for concentrations of ammonia-N, nitrate-N, total N, total P, and total solids. The results will be used to develop design and management guidelines for VTS.