1. The Effect of Improved Manure Management on Water Quality
Nicole Hawk
District Administrator/Education Specialist, Mercer SWCD
Terry Mescher
Agricultural Engineer, Ohio Department of Agriculture

2. Grand Lake St. Marys Located in West-Central Ohio
Built in the late 1830’s and early 1840’s
Reservoir to supply water to the Miami-Erie Canal

3. Grand Lake St. Marys Watershed - 58,000 acres Lake Area
Originally - 17,000 acres
Currently - 12,500 acres
Lake Characteristics
Shallow, 6’–8’ deep
Internal loading
Long detention time

4. Grand Lake – Watershed
Row crop agricultural area with intensive livestock production
Challenges
Manure Management
Nutrient Management
Others

5. Water Quality Issues
History of water quality issues prior to the 1960’s
2010 – Historic algal blooms across the entire lake
ODNR “closes” the lake to recreational traffic
State of Ohio drafts and implements ‘Distressed Watershed Rules’

6. Distressed Watershed Rules
Rule package focused on livestock production facilities and manure application practices within the watershed
Rules address 2 primary focus areas
Manure Storage & Application Requirements
Nutrient Management Planning

7. Distressed Watershed Rules
Manure Application
No manure application from Dec 15 through March 1 each year
No surface application of manure on frozen or snow covered ground – Must incorporate
No surface application if weather forecast indicates >50% chance of precipitation exceeding ½” or more
All of the setbacks and recommendations in NRCS’s Nutrient Management Standard (590) are required

8. Distressed Watershed Rules
Nutrient Management Planning
Producers must develop a nutrient management plan (currently all producers have developed a CNMP)
Plans must be approved by the Local SWCD & by the Director of Agriculture
Plans are updated every 3 years
Plan requires current soil tests and annual manure analysis
Plan must show proper utilization of all phosphorus and nitrogen – from both manure and fertilizer

9. Water Quality
Heidelberg University installed monitoring station on Chickasaw Creek in 2008
Water quality and quantity data is collected up to 3 times per day
Monitoring data includes:
Suspended Solids
Nitrate Nitrogen; Total Kjeldahl Nitrogen
Particulate Phosphorus; Dissolved Reactive Phosphorus
Other

10. Understanding The Data
Pre / Post – refers to implementation of Distressed Watershed Rules
Flow – divides channel flow into 3 equal flow ranges
Regulatory period Dec 15 through March 1
Non-Regulatory period March 1 through Dec 15
Nutrient levels given in average concentration for the given flow

11. Total Suspended Solids
23% Reduction
29% Reduction
36% Reduction

12. Nitrate
32% Reduction
16% Reduction
41% Reduction
19% Reduction

13. Particulate Phosphorus
46% Reduction
12% Reduction
55% Reduction
57% Reduction
13% Reduction

14. Dissolved Reactive Phosphorus
48% Reduction
18% Reduction
28% Reduction

15. Dissolved Reactive Phosphorus
44% Increase
48% Reduction

16. Dissolved Reactive Phosphorus Loading & Timing
Moderate Increase
Moderate Increase
Drastic Increase

17. In Simpler Terms… Total Suspended Solids – Reduced approximately 25%
Particulate Phosphorus – Reduced approximately 26%
Soluble Reactive Phosphorus – Reduced approximately 3%
Nitrate Nitrogen - Reduced approximately 31%
Total Kjeldahl Nitrogen - Reduced approximately 26%

18. Role of the Conservation District
Provide voluntary assistance to producers
Serve as the primary source of information in the watershed on efforts to improve water quality
Use all of the “tools in the box” to get conservation on the ground
Work with producers to be “shelf ready” for when funding is available to assist with the installation of conservation practices on the farm

19. Lessons Learned Honesty, Consistency and Communication are key
Balance voluntary conservation with regulatory role – If it’s difficult to discuss, it’s important to discuss
Build relationship / trust with producers
Partnerships are critical - Bring your strengths and connections to the table
Agree to Disagree

20. Take Away Messages Maintain constant communication
Schedule regular updates with political and agency officials as well as your critics
Don’t assume that others know what you have accomplished – TELL YOUR STORY!
Keep all stakeholders and the public up-to-date on successes and challenges
Utilize traditional and social media
Highlight conservation efforts to other watersheds

21. nicole.hawk@mercercountyohio.org terry.mescher@agri.ohio.gov
Questions