Water Resources Research Act Program

Details for Project ID 2017MI243B

Inline Wetland Treatment Effectiveness for Treating Nutrients from Tile Drains

Institute: Michigan
Year Established: 2017 Start Date: 2017-03-01 End Date: 2018-02-28
Total Federal Funds: $21,331 Total Non-Federal Funds: $25,902

Principal Investigators: Jeremiah Asher, Dawn Reinhold

Project Summary: IWR will work with Biosystems Engineering and the local conservation district to evaluate the effectiveness of inline wetlands to treat phosphorus coming from tile drains in agricultural fields. Problem Dissolved reactive phosphorus leaving agricultural fields through tile drains are impacting water quality in the Great Lakes particularly in the western Lake Erie Basin. The growth of harmful algal blooms in Western Lake Erie is linked to increases in dissolved reactive phosphorus by providing excess nutrients. Methods We will use auto samplers to sample water chemistry parameters from the tile drain prior to treatment through the wetland and after treatment. The team will share in collecting and analyzing data on the wetlands performance. Objectives To access the effectiveness of wetlands at treating nutrients delivered through tile drain systems.