2012 LAND GRANT AND SEA GRANT NATIONAL WATER CONFERENCE Portland, OR

Nitrate loss from tile drained watersheds in the upper Midwest is the major source of N to the Gulf of Mexico, and leading cause of hypoxia. Our study has been evaluating methods (drainage water management, saturated riparian buffers, fertilizer timing) to reduce tile drainage losses on the Upper Salt Fork watershed in east-central Illinois. We have an active stream monitoring network in the watershed, monitored tile systems with participating landowners, and conducted a survey and held a field day. However, despite an active watershed group and assistance from local organizations (e.g., Champaign Country Soil and Water Conservation District), there are many social barriers to participation in NRCS programs and landowners allowing monitoring of their tile systems. In addition, we found that our flat watershed and tile depths at their outlets did not allow for saturated buffer placement, and that many tile systems were not suitable for drainage water management. However, drainage water management was effective in reducing nitrate loss from fields, and studies are currently determining the fate of held back water and nitrate. In addition, a field day result was that converting watershed nitrate export to a dollar loss was an effective method in raising awareness in a way that had local meaning. Costs of conservation methods and bureaucratic red tape were barriers to participation. With high crop prices new patterned tile systems are being installed in many fields, so we the need to reduce nitrate loss from these systems is increasing. Our project will continue to evaluate methods for reducing nitrate loss, from both biophysical and social science viewpoints.