Using Vegetative Filter Strips to Reduce Phosphorus Transport from the Phosphorus Mining Areas in Central Florida

Abstract

Runoff that carries sediment-bounded chemicals from disturbed area has been proven to be a major element of surface water quality degradation. Vegetative filter strips (VFS) are defined as areas of vegetation designed to remove sediment and other pollutants from surface runoff by filtration, deposition, infiltration, adsorption, and absorption. The use of VFS to reduce phosphorus transport from phosphate mining areas in central Florida is being investigated. A field scale, mechanistic, storm-based model, VFSMOD-W, was developed to simulate hydrology and sediment transport through vegetative filter strips and to calculate the outflow discharge, infiltration, and sediment trapping efficiency. The VESMOD-W will be modified to simulate the distribution of clay, silt, and sand particles in each segment and a component for simulating phosphorus transport in vegetative filter strips will be developed. The methods, materials, chemistry analysis of soil, water, and sediment, and physics analysis of soil are reported in this paper.