Project Number: 1265-12130-002-08
Project Type: Reimbursable

Start Date: Oct 01, 2006
End Date: Sep 30, 2010

Objective:
Increase BMP Implementation and reduce nutrient and sediment loads in the Tuckahoe basin through: enrollment of 6,000 acres per year in a commodity cover crop pilot program to determine the feasibility of large-scale implementation; and installation of six drainage management structures at strategic locations within the watershed. Nitrogen reductions are estimated at 31,600 lbs/yr. Development of improved nutrient removal efficiencies for cover crops, commodity cover crops, and drainage control structures using an innovative approach that combines water quality monitoring, remote sensing, and crop modeling on a field scale. Incorporate these nutrient removal efficiencies into a spatially explicit, watershed water quality model (AnnAGNPs) that utilizes detailed land-use and water quality data to estimate current nutrient loading and removal parameters. Utilize the refined model in the development of a flexible, user-friendly BMP planning tool incorporating costs for implementation/nutrient reduction for the Choptank River watershed. This model will be used by MDA staff to cost-effectively design BMP implementation plans that will achieve the greatest reductions in nutrients and sediments.

Approach:
This project will increase agricultural BMP implementation in the Tuckahoe sub-basin and reduce overall nutrient and sediment loads to Tuckahoe Creek and the Choptank River. It will result in the development of improved nutrient reduction efficiencies for conventional cover crop, commodity cover crop and drainage control structures by monitoring nutrient transport and fate. This project will also result in the development of a flexible, user-friendly BMP planning tool based on a calibrated AnnAGNPS model. The project will calibrate the AnnAGNPS model to tidal conditions of the Choptank.