Slide 1:
No script
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Slide 2:
“The purpose of this talk is to introduce a problem affecting Barnegat Bay (primarily nitrogen pollution) and to introduce some of the efforts being undertaken by Rutgers Cooperative Extension as possible solutions to this problem. Some innovative thinking is needed if these actions are to succeed.”
Image Credit: quotespictures.com
Photo Credit: Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Ocean County
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Slide 3:
“Barnegat Bay, like many coastal areas in the country, is undergoing water quality problems that affect both its use and ecology. After many years of study, the biggest issue affecting the Bay is over‐enrichment by nutrients, primarily nitrogen, from surface runoff. Approximately half of the nitrogen loads to Barnegat Bay originate from surface runoff. Other sources of nitrogen include atmospheric deposits and seepage from groundwater.
Even though nitrogen is a naturally occurring substance, in excessive amounts problems can occur. Increased nitrogen leads to eutrophication and hypoxia (lowered dissolved oxygen), increased harmful algal blooms, loss of submerged aquatic habitat, altered benthic communities, and loss of fisheries.
These impacts can have far‐reaching effects on not just ecological habitat but also on local economies that rely on fishing, shore tourism, and boating.”
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Slide 4:
“Since runoff has been determined to be the major pathway for nitrogen input into Barnegat Bay: what is it?
Runoff is any water that flows along the land surface as a result of precipitation (either rainfall or snowmelt). It is the portion of a storm that does not have the opportunity or ability to infiltrate into the soil.”
Photo Credit: Rutgers Cooperative Extension Water Resources Program
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Slide 5:
“Runoff is a natural part of the hydrologic/water cycle. The water cycle describes the continuous movement of water through the environment. The other parts of the water cycle are precipitation, evaporation/transpiration, infiltration, and storage in streams, lakes, ponds, and the ocean.” Image Credit: National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
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Slide 6:
“There are many factors that affect both the quantity and quality of runoff.
Weather affects the type and amount of precipitation . The temperature can determine if snow or rain will fall. If rain falls, then runoff can be created quickly as the liquid water flows along the land surface. But if snow falls, the temperature needs to rise to melt the snow. This delays the timing of runoff until after the storm event. The intensity of a storm will create more runoff as higher rainfall amounts occur over a shorter period of time If
will create more runoff as higher rainfall amounts occur over a shorter period of time. If any previous storms have saturated the soil, the ground will be unable to absorb more water and create additional runoff. If temperature and wind velocity are low, evaporation of standing water will decrease and have a corresponding increase in runoff.
Physical factors in the landscape also affect the amount and quality of runoff waters. Land use is a critical factor in runoff generation. Vegetated areas have plants that soak up more water and reduce runoff volumes. Certain soil types are more porous than others, allowing more water to infiltrate into the ground and reduce runoff.” 6
Slide 7:
“Since land use is a critical factor in the creation of runoff, let’s look at the Barnegat Bay Watershed’s land uses.
The watershed covers a large area of 660 square miles over 37 towns. There are a variety of land uses classified by the State of New Jersey (agriculture, barren lands, forests, urban, water, and wetlands). In the Barnegat Bay Watershed, the majority of the land use is classified as urban This makes up 21% of the lands in the watershed according to 2007
classified as urban. This makes up 21% of the lands in the watershed, according to 2007 data.”
Image Credit: Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Ocean County
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Slide 8:
“Urban lands are not restricted to major cities or urban centers. They represent any of the developed lands located within an area. These areas include commercial and residential properties, and those areas associated with the underlying infrastructure. Transportation corridors, such as major highways, roads and rail networks, utilities, such as power lines and stormwater basins, are include in this category.” Image Credit: Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Ocean County
Image Credit: Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Ocean County
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Slide 9:
“These developed lands alter the function of all components of the hydrologic cycle by increasing the amount of impervious cover in our landscape. Impervious cover is any hard surface , such as roads, rooftops, parking lots, that do not allow stormwater to soak into the ground. The percent impervious cover in an area gives us an indication of what percentage of stormwater becomes runoff, or gets evaporated, or gets absorbed back into the soil. These four diagrams show these changes as an area goes from a natural condition (0% imperviousness) to a fully built environment (100% imperviousness)
(0% imperviousness) to a fully built environment (100% imperviousness).
By increasing the amount of impervious cover in a watershed and losing natural ground cover, evaporation decreases, infiltration decreases, and runoff increases. This can lead to a larger volume of water that floods local areas and causes faster runoff flows which can carry nitrogen and erode natural lands and streambanks.
The Barnegat Bay Watershed landscape is at about 7.5% impervious cover. The hydrologic cycle for the Bay’s watershed is presumed to be similar to the upper right diagram.”
Image Credit: US Environmental Protection Agency
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Slide 10:
“Increasing the amount of impervious cover in an area also impacts the water quality. The impervious cover to stream quality relationship is expressed as a ‘cone’ that is widest at low imperviousness and narrows at higher imperviousness.
Water quality is impacted beginning at 10% impervious cover. This is noted as a loss in aquatic life sensitive to pollution in streams. At more than25% impervious cover, streams no longer support uses by wildlife or people ”
no longer support uses by wildlife or people.
Image Credit: Schueler, T.R., L. Fraley‐McNeal, and K. Cappiella. 2009. Is Impervious Cover Still Important? Review of Recent Research. Journal of Hydrologic Engineering. 14(4):309‐315.
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Slide 11:
“The water quality impacts are due to the accumulation of pollutants on the hard surfaces. These pollutants come from human activities such as yard care (debris such as leaves and grass clippings,; nutrients from fertilizers; pesticides applied to remove pests), dog walking (potential for bacterial contamination), illegal activities (littering and dumping), or car driving (metals from brake wear, oil, and fluids from leaking pans and hoses). When a rain storm moves through an area the runoff picks up these accumulated pollutants and carries them to local waterways
them to local waterways.
Nitrogen can get into runoff due to over fertilization of lawns, animal waste, decomposing organic matter, fossil fuel emissions, and lightning.”
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Slide 12:
“In the nitrogen (N) cycle, N undergoes chemical reactions, changes forms, and moves through the environment. All organisms require N to live and grow and the majority of the air we breathe is nitrogen (78%). However, most of the nitrogen in the atmosphere is unavailable for use by organisms. For plants and animals to be able to use N, this gaseous N must first be converted to more a chemically available form. N available for plants and algae is usually short of supply in natural ecosystems limiting growth and biomass
algae is usually short of supply in natural ecosystems, limiting growth and biomass accumulation.
The steps in this cycle include the following:
•N Fixation: is the process in which N in the air is converted to ammonia.
•N Uptake: is where ammonia is incorporated into organisms when they eat/feed. They use N that has been initially fixed by N fixing bacteria. •N Mineralization (Decay): organic N is converted back to ammonia when organisms die through the process of decomposition. •Nitrification : ammonia is transformed into nitrate or nitrite. These forms are usable by plants and algae to grow. •Denitrification: N is turned to into nitrous oxide gas and returns N to the atmosphere ”
•Denitrification: N is turned to into nitrous oxide gas and returns N to the atmosphere.
Image Credit: Pearson Education, Inc.
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Slide 13:
“One impact of excessive inputs of nitrogen is hypoxia, or low oxygen, in Barnegat Bay. This causes a bloom, or explosive growth of algae. The algae die, settle to the bottom of the Bay and decay, using up oxygen in the process.
Natural layers in the Bay are created during the summer when warmer, fresher water ‘floats’ on the top of cooler, saltier water that is more dense. This inhibits mixing of surface and bottom waters Oxygen from the atmosphere and photosynthesis from surface water
and bottom waters. Oxygen from the atmosphere and photosynthesis from surface water algae keep the top layer well oxygenated, but the oxygen cannot pass into the bottom layer very easily. The decaying algae in the bottom layer use up oxygen faster than it is replenished. Hypoxia develops due to this deficit.
Wildlife in the bottom layer that are able to swim freely between the layers can avoid the hypoxic waters and survive in the oxygenated layer. But sessile organisms, incapable of moving, become stressed and may potentially die if oxygen levels drop low enough for a long enough period of time.”
Image Credit: US Environmental Protection Agency’s Long Island Sound Study
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Slide 14:
“Hypoxia is a persistent problem in many areas of the country. This image from the Gulf of Mexico (see Louisiana and Texas?) shows the extent of the problem in the summertime of 2014. This area is known as the ‘Dead Zone’ because of the devastating effect it can have on local wildlife, particularly commercially important fisheries in this area.”
Image Credit: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
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Slide 15:
“There are many efforts being undertaken by a variety or agencies, citizen groups, and municipalities to help alleviate nitrogen inputs and water quality impacts to Barnegat Bay.
I would like to highlight some of the work that Rutgers Cooperative Extension is conducting. These efforts include:
•Nitrogen Removal from Rain Gardens,
Subsurface Gravel Wetlands,
Gravel Wetlands
•Subsurface
•Fertilizer Law as part of the Barnegat Bay Action Plan, and
•the Shellfish Restoration Program.”
Photo Credit: lighthousegetaway.com
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Slide 16:
“A rain garden is a landscaped, shallow depression that is designed to intercept, treat, and infiltrate stormwater at the source before it becomes runoff. The plants used in the rain garden are native to the region and help retain pollutants that could otherwise harm nearby waterways.
It is used as a means to decrease runoff volumes from impervious surfaces (such as rooftops) and provide some level of treatment for certain pollutants ”
rooftops) and provide some level of treatment for certain pollutants.
Photo Credits: Rutgers Cooperative Extension Water Resources Program
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Slide 17:
“Some of the benefits to installing rain gardens include their ability to treat some pollutants. A rain garden is good at removing about 90% of the sediment that enters it and about 60% of the phosphorus that enters.
The plants used within a rain garden are native to the area and, if properly selected species are used, provide habitat and food for a variety of insects and birds.
Rain gardens can also be designed to seamlessly blend into existing landscaping to maintain the aesthetics of the yard.”
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Slide 18:
“To determine how effective rain gardens would be in helping to treat nitrogen from rooftop runoff, Rutgers University partnered with Georgian Court University (Lakewood, NJ) in 2011 to install a rain garden designed specifically to reduce nitrogen. The rain garden was installed next to the Georgian Court University dining hall in November 2011. Part of the design included a way to sample water entering and exiting the rain garden so that we could monitor nitrogen entering and exiting the garden. The differences between the nitrogen in water leaving the rain garden and nitrogen entering will tell us how efficient the
nitrogen in water leaving the rain garden and nitrogen entering will tell us how efficient the new design is. Monitoring began in July 2012 and will end in October 2014.”
Photo Credit: Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Ocean County
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Slide 19:
“The design used at Georgian Court University was altered to enhance its ability to treat and reduce nitrogen in the rooftop runoff. The main design difference is that the rain garden was lined with a plastic pond liner (bottom photo) whereas a ‘traditional’ rain garden design would be unlined to allow water to freely infiltrate deep into the soil.
The lining will retain water in the bottom layer of the rain garden which will create conditions to enhance nitrogen removal Research has shown that this can reduce nitrogen
conditions to enhance nitrogen removal. Research has shown that this can reduce nitrogen levels by 60%. A ‘traditional’ rain garden usually removes only 30%.”
Photo Credits: Rutgers Cooperative Extension Water resources Program and Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Ocean County
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Slide 20:
“Now let’s go through a step‐by‐step of the design and installation process. The image on the left shows a cross section of how the rain garden is configured. In the photo on the right, staff and interns have dug out the rain garden, installed the liner, and are installing the piping network that will carry water out of the rain garden. A ‘traditional’ rain garden would drain to the soil beneath it and overflow to a nearby collection point.”
Image Credit:
Kim, H., E.A. Seagren, and A.P. Davis. 2003. Engineered Bioretention for Removal of Nitrate from Stormwater Runoff. Water Environment Research. 75(4):355‐367.
Photo Credit: Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Ocean County
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Slide 21:
“The next step is to cover the piping and fill the rain garden with gravel. Because the garden is lined and there are many pore spaces in this gravel layer, water will be retained in this layer and eventually flushed out when the next rain storm moves water through the pipe network. As the water sits in this bottom storage layer, it loses oxygen and becomes more hypoxic (remember that term from before?) and eventually will lose all of its oxygen, and becomes anoxic. Without oxygen in the water, soil microbes will start to degrade many of the different forms of nitrogen in the stored water
of the different forms of nitrogen in the stored water. The lining creates conditions in the bottom layer that maintains denitrification so that harmless nitrogenous gas is returned to the atmosphere.”
Image Credit:
Kim, H., E.A. Seagren, and A.P. Davis. 2003. Engineered Bioretention for Removal of Nitrate from Stormwater Runoff. Water Environment Research. 75(4):355‐367.
Photo Credit: Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Ocean County
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Slide 22:
“The gravel layer is covered with soil in which to plant the vegetation but also to act as a barrier preventing oxygen from entering the gravel layer from the atmosphere.”
Image Credit:
Kim, H., E.A. Seagren, and A.P. Davis. 2003. Engineered Bioretention for Removal of Nitrate from Stormwater Runoff. Water Environment Research. 75(4):355‐367.
Photo Credit: Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Ocean County
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Slide 23:
“The soil is then planted with native vegetation appropriate to local conditions.
Two factors went into the selection of plants for this site. One was that the campus has a high population of deer that can damage many of the plants in the rain garden. Species that are quick growing or can bloom many times were chosen to resist the grazing by deer.
The second factor was that the flowering plants be in the yellow and blue color family to
The second factor was that the flowering plants be in the yellow and blue color family to coincide with Georgian Court University’s school colors.”
Image Credit:
Kim, H., E.A. Seagren, and A.P. Davis. 2003. Engineered Bioretention for Removal of Nitrate from Stormwater Runoff. Water Environment Research. 75(4):355‐367.
Photo Credit: Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Ocean County
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Slide 24:
“We have partnered with Georgian Court University on a project to design and install subsurface gravel wetlands on their campus for research purposes.
The subsurface gravel wetlands work on the same principles as the modified rain garden, but are at a much larger scale. They will be lined to store a volume of water that can be used to enhance the denitrification process. The subsurface gravel wetlands were first developed by the University of New Hampshire and their work indicates that these systems
developed by the University of New Hampshire and their work indicates that these systems can remove up to 95% of nitrogen and 55% of phosphorus from runoff.”
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Slide 25:
“The subsurface gravel wetlands were paid for through a grant from the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection. The project involves installing four differing designs of subsurface gravel wetlands and testing each design to see which is the best option for future work in New Jersey.
The test wetlands are currently being constructed and installed with the hope that we will start monitoring in the spring of 2015 ”
start monitoring in the spring of 2015.
Photo Credit: Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Ocean County
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Slide 26:
“On January 5, 2011, Governor Christie signed legislation restricting nitrogen content in fertilizer and reducing application rates for use. These standards will reduce nutrient pollution in all of New Jersey’s water bodies.
The legislation has two results. The first is that it establishes new content standards for fertilizer that will reduce excess nutrient runoff into the Bay by decreasing the total amount of nitrogen in fertilizer and increasing the amount of slow release nitrogen. The second action is that the law also creates a fertilizer application certification program for professional fertilizer applicators, through the New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station at Rutgers University and in consultation with the NJDEP.
In addition, the NJDEP, in consultation with environmental groups and industry, will provide public education for homeowners on the effects of fertilizer runoff into Barnegat Bay.”
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Slide 27:
“The results of this legislation are that, as of January 5, 2013, all fertilizer applied to turf must contain 20% slow‐release fertilizer. This type of fertilizer allows for a longer period of time for nitrogen to get absorbed by the turfgrass. Phosphorus content in these fertilizers will be zero; unless a soil test is conducted which shows that higher amounts of nutrient are needed. This will help reduce the nutrient loads leading to Barnegat Bay.
As of July 2012, 1,500 professional landscapers have been certified in the proper handling As
of July 2012 1 500 professional landscapers have been certified in the proper handling
and use of fertilizers in an effective and ultimately environmentally‐friendly manner. An additional 700 people have been trained in proper fertilizer application by a certified professional.”
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Slide 28:
“This is the website where either landscape professionals can sign up for the training and certification training program or homeowners can search for a certified professional and be assured that proper fertilizer application techniques will be followed.”
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Slide 29:
“This is the website listing the professional landscape companies and their employees that have been certified through the program.”
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Slide 30:
“Shellfish, especially clams and oysters, have the potential to improve water quality and remove nitrogen from coastal waters. As the clams and oysters feed by filtering water, they remove plankton and organic particles from the water.
The nitrogen that is contained within the plankton and organic debris is then used by the shellfish for growth and reproduction.
This process is called ‘nutrient bioextraction’ and can be considered a nitrogen management strategy.”
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Slide 31:
“This graphic shows the ‘nutrient bioextraction’ process described in the previous slide.
While this is a naturally occurring process, shellfish populations can be increased through volunteer restoration and restocking programs like the Barnegat Bay Shellfish Restoration Program.”
Image Credit:
Image
Credit:
Rose, J.M., S.B. Bricker, M.A. Tedesco, and G.H. Wikfors. 2014. A Role for Shellfish Aquaculture in Coastal Nitrogen Management. Environmental Science & Technology. 48:2519‐2525.
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Slide 32:
“So, how many clams and oysters would be needed to help with Barnegat Bay’s nitrogen problems?
We can estimate that 908 clams/oysters are needed to remove a pound of nitrogen. If we assume 0.5 grams of nitrogen are incorporated into the shell and body tissues of each clam/oyster, it would take 2 organism to remove one gram of nitrogen. There are 28.35 grams in 1 ounce 16 ounces in 1 pound and therefore 453 6 grams in a pound (28 35
grams in 1 ounce, 16 ounces in 1 pound, and therefore 453.6 grams in a pound (28.35 grams per ounce X 16 ounces per pound).
It would take 907.2 clams/oysters to remove a pound of nitrogen (2 clams/oysters per gram X 453.6 grams per pound). Let’s round that up to 908.
According to Save Barnegat Bay and US Geological Survey estimates, anywhere from 858,000 to 1.4 million pounds of nitrogen enters Barnegat Bay each year.
So how many clams and/or oysters are needed?”
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Slide 33:
“Using this rough method results in an estimated 780 million to 1.3 billion clams and/or oysters being need to remove the annual load of nitrogen to Barnegat Bay.
Note that this is just a quick estimation, but it shows the importance of programs that restore shellfish to coastal waters and their role in reducing nitrogen inputs.”
Image Credit:
Image
Credit:
Rose, J.M., S.B. Bricker, M.A. Tedesco, and G.H. Wikfors. 2014. A Role for Shellfish Aquaculture in Coastal Nitrogen Management. Environmental Science & Technology. 48:2519‐2525.
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Slide 34:
“Thank you for your time and I’ll take any questions you may have.”
Photo Credit: ReClam The Bay
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