Water Resources Research Act Program

Details for Project ID 2016MI240B

Chemical Monitoring of the River Raisin to Inform Farmers and Optimize Decision Making for BMP Implementation

Institute: Michigan
Year Established: 2016 Start Date: 2016-03-01 End Date: 2017-02-28
Total Federal Funds: $11,406 Total Non-Federal Funds: $6,102

Principal Investigators: James Martin

Project Summary: Problem Currently, little water quality data exists (other than at the mouth of the river) for the purpose of helping farmers make informed decisions regarding best management practice implementation in the River Raisin Watershed. Farmers need further information, in the form of observable data, concerning nutrient loading in order to adopt increase interest in BMPs. Methods Michigan State University (MSU) Institute of Water Research (IWR) program will collaborate with both the River Raisin Watershed Council (RRWC) and Adrian College. Adrian College will provide a team of undergraduate students to perform the sampling while under the supervision of a biology professor. RRWC will also contribute data through their adopt-a-stream program. All chemical analysis will be done in a lab at Adrian College. Objectives Objective A: The Phase I overall objective is to attend farmers advisory committee meetings (FAC) and contact landowners within the River Raisin Watershed and obtain a list of candidates who are interested in participating in this study. Objective B: The Phase II overall objective is to perform chemical sampling both upstream and downstream from participating farms over a six-month period. Objective C: The Phase III overall objective is to make data available to farmers and discuss the data collected during a FAC meeting to determine whether or not the data was useful to them, or peaked their interest in BMP adoption.