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Quantify agricultural conservation practice effectiveness related to nutrient (Nitrogen and Phosphorus)
source reduction, off-site movement, and interception treatment in the state of Minnesota. Projects should focus on the water quality effects of both individual conservation practices and the cumulative effects of multiple conservation practices. Proposals should also include a cost effectiveness component. Studies may be supported by computer models, but should not exclusively rely on a modeling approach. Practices of special interest are:

• The effectiveness and feasibility of saturated buffers in reducing tile drainage nutrient loading to surface waters.
• The effectiveness of woodchip bioreactors located in pattern and or non-pattern tiled fields for reducing nutrient loading to surface waters. This work can be conducted on new or previously tiled sites.
• Using commercially available optical sensors and or remote sensing to guide nutrient applications to agricultural fields, and evaluate the resulting impacts on water quality.
• Using engineered features to treat surface water runoff on the agricultural landscape.

Investigate the relationship between agricultural drainage systems (surface and subsurface) and impaired waters with the use of new or existing pilot projects. Studies may be supported by computer models but should not exclusively rely on a modeling approach. Questions of particular interest include:

• How do drainage systems impact water quality and crop productivity at multiple scales from field to watershed/drainage system?
• What are the water quality effects of conservation drainage practices such as: side inlet controls; alternative tile intakes; buffers at side inlet or tile intake locations; managed subsurface drainage; reactive barriers (woodchip bioreactors); storage basins; drainage ditch management; drainage system design; and other innovative drainage practices designed to help restore or protect water quality while meeting the needs of agricultural production?
• What are the combined effects of multiple or suites of conservation drainage practices?
• What is the cost effectiveness of conservation drainage practices, including installation, operation, and maintenance; impacts on crop and livestock productivity; and barriers to and incentives/resources for adoption?

Develop, improve, and evaluate practices on crop and livestock operations that address water quality impairments (excess nutrients, fecal coliform bacteria/E. coli, herbicides, turbidity) in agricultural watersheds, including practices related to nutrient and pesticide management, manure management, and runoff and erosion control. Studies may be supported by computer models but should not exclusively rely on a modeling approach. Projects must address the cost effectiveness of practices, including installation, operation, and maintenance; impacts on crop and livestock productivity; and barriers to and incentives/resources for adoption. Questions of particular interest include:

• What are the water quality effects at multiple scales, from field to large watershed, and relationships between scales?
• What are the combined water quality effects of multiple practices or suites of practices?

Conduct a comprehensive inventory of agricultural Best Management Practices (BMPs) that address current Minnesota water quality impairments including excess nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorus), E. coli bacteria, herbicides, and turbidity. The inventory should address the following factors:

• Definition for each BMP;
• Effectiveness estimates based on existing literature;
• Costs and other economic considerations for each BMP;
• Potential barriers to adoption of the BMP.

Investigate the relationship between artificial drainage systems (surface and subsurface) and surface water quality and hydrology with the use of new or existing pilot projects. Studies may be supported by computer models but should not exclusively rely on a modeling approach. Projects should address the following questions:

• What are the impacts at different scales ranging from field to large watershed?
• What are the integrated effects of multiple agricultural practices such as tillage, nutrient management, cover crops, and drainage practices and designs within a watershed?
• How do artificial drainage systems impact water quality, hydrology, and agricultural production?
• What are the installation and operational costs associated with artificial drainage systems?

Develop a process for identifying Priority Management Zones (PMZs) related to water quality impairments within an 8-digit HUC that can be translated to other regions throughout the state. Non-point source pollution is diffuse in nature, but some areas contribute significantly more pollutant per unit area than others. Areas that contribute disproportionate pollutant loads are often referred to as Priority Management Zones (PMZs) or Critical Source Areas (CSAs) and are good targets for on the ground conservation practices. Implementing selected practices in identified PMZs can be more cost-effective than implementing the same practices elsewhere, because more pollutants are prevented from impacting water quality. Identifying PMZs in non-impaired areas will help in the development of protection plans, while identifying PMZs in impaired areas will aid the development of restoration plans (e.g., TMDL implementation plans). The PMZs should be characterized by three areas of emphasis: source reduction; interception treatment; an in-channel assimilative capacity. The process should utilize a combination of the following tools/data sources:

• Best Professional Judgment: Provided by a group of local natural resource professionals such as Soil and Water District staff, hydrologists, agronomists, and landowners;
• GIS Assessment: Inventory and evaluation of applicable mapping layers such as land use, topography, geology, and soils;
• Modeling: Supported by other data sources including GIS layers and observed monitoring data to aid in the identification of PMZs;
• Stressor Identification Data Sets: These are data sets that are related to aquatic life including: hydrology; water quality; geomorphology; and energy pathways/connectivity to surface water bodies;
• Field Assessments: Collection of field data that may not previously exist related to the stressor of interest such as information on geomorphology, land use, and existing management practices.

Investigate the relationship between tile drainage and surface water quality and hydrology. Develop, improve, and evaluate best management practices (BMPs) that address current impairments in agricultural watersheds (excess nutrients, fecal coliform, herbicides, turbidity).

Characterize natural background levels of pollutants related to current surface water impairments with an emphasis on phosphorus within the framework of the current Clean Water Legacy Act definition (Minnesota Statute 114D.15 Subd. 10), historical trends, and contributions from legacy loads.