Water Resources Research Act Program

Details for Project ID 2015IN380B

Water Quality improvement demonstration effort

Institute: Indiana
Year Established: 2015 Start Date: 2015-03-01 End Date: 2016-02-29
Total Federal Funds: $12,002 Total Non-Federal Funds: $11,515

Principal Investigators: Ronald Turco

Project Summary: Using research field sites in the Wabash River Watershed reach known as the Great Bend of the Wabash, we will document the effects of drainage water management on stream water quality. In particular we quantify changes in the chemical and biological components of drainage water traveling through set of existing in-ground wood chip bioreactors and for water drainage water entering surface water without treatment. We will document the occurrences of plant nutrients, bacteria and antibiotic resistant bacteria in these two systems. The goal of this primary effort are three: 1) Demonstrate the feasibility of using of in ground bioreactors as part of a Midwest water quality effort; 2) Document the occurrence or non-occurrence of antibiotic resistant bacteria in a Midwest watershed receiving mixed sources of input water and 3) Provide information to local farm groups about the drainage water management.