Abstract Title: Hydrology And Agricultural Sediment Pollution In The Bloody Swamp Of Ohio
Abstract Submitted to: HYDROLOGY
Abstract Text:
Intensive agricultural practices on farmlands leading to discharge of sediments and nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorus) creates several environmental problems which accounts for almost half of all U.S water pollution challenges. The movement of sediments and nutrients from these agricultural lands to streams and watersheds causes eutrophication, water quality degradation, alteration of water flow, siltation and, consequently, a reduction in water depth. The Bloody Run Swamp in Ohio; an historical swamp that was drained for agriculture and the resulting stream and ditch network is affected by sediments, hydromodification, and altered water flow. Planned stream restoration and wetland construction to mitigate nutrient and sediment pollution is planned on a former agricultural field that drains to Bloody Run with the aim of retaining water, sediment, and nutrients on the 80-acre site. Pre-restoration hydrology and sediment loading behavior were assessed at 2 sites on channels in the former Bloody Run Swamp. For this study, flow measurements and water depths were measured in the ditch network and downstream on the receiving river, the South Fork of the Licking River. The meteorological data from Newark Weather station in Licking Country, Ohio was used to calculate Antecedent Precipitation Index. The HOBO rainfall responses at the two sites show a consistent trend with API, indicating a lower frequency in summer 2021. Flashy flow response to precipitation drives erosion, thereby resulting in transportation of higher concentrations of sediments and nutrients. The site in the ditch network had a high-water depth in summer compared to the South Fork of the Licking River and with respect to API, showing the flashy response to precipitation and increased sediment loading in the ditches. Water samples were collected to analyze the Total Dissolved Solids, Total Solids and Total Suspended Solids and TSS was at its peak in May which is related to API which was also in May. At the pre-construction stage, sediment movement increases with the water level in the ditches. The sites are expected to retain sediments and water as well as a reduction in flashiness with the stream restoration and wetland construction that will begin at the site in mid-2022.
Keywords: Water quality, Sediment, Nutrients, Hydrology.
Work reported here was conducted near 39° 56’ 2.04” N; -82° 28’ 51.41” W.
What Winning This Award Means to Me:
I am grateful to the Student Travel Grant donors for reviewing and accepting my application. I am a student member of AGU and a graduate student at Ohio University whose research focuses on stream restoration and wetland construction. Receiving the AGU Student Travel Grant Award will enable me to share the findings of my research on "Hydrology and Agricultural Sediment Pollution in the Pre-restoration of Bloody Run Swamp, Ohio" at the conference. The student travel grant will cover my expenses to facilitate my presence at the AGU conference this year. I look forward to learning and connecting with academic and industry professionals in the field of environmental science, as this will enrich my knowledge for future research. Thank you once again for this award. I appreciate it a lot.
Kehinde Ositimehin
Description
Funded by:
Current Institute of Study/Organization: Ohio University
Currently Pursuing: Master's
Country: US