Application Of Best Management Practices Research Articles

Optimizing best management practices to control anthropogenic sources of atmospheric phosphorus deposition to inland lakes

ABSTRACTExcessive phosphorus loading to inland freshwater lakes around the globe has resulted in nuisance plant growth along the waterfronts, degraded habitat for cold-water fisheries, and impaired beaches, marinas, and waterfront property. The direct atmospheric deposition of phosphorus can be a significant contributing source to inland lakes. The atmospheric deposition monitoring program for Lake Simcoe, Ontario, indicates roughly 20% of the annual total phosphorus load (2010–2014 period) is due to direct atmospheric deposition (both wet and dry deposition) on the lake. This novel study presents a first-time application of the genetic algorithm (GA) methodology to optimize the application of best management practices (BMPs) related to agriculture and mobile sources to achieve atmospheric phosphorus reduction targets and restore the ecological health of the lake. The novel methodology takes into account the spatial distribution of the emission sources in the airshed, the complex atmospheric long-range transport and deposition processes, cost and efficiency of the popular management practices, and social constraints related to the adoption of BMPs. The optimization scenarios suggest that the optimal overall capital investment of approximately $2M, $4M, and $10M annually can achieve roughly 3, 4, and 5 tonnes reduction in atmospheric P load to the lake, respectively. The exponential trend indicates diminishing returns for the investment beyond roughly $3M per year and that focusing much of this investment in the upwind, nearshore area will significantly impact deposition to the lake. The optimization is based on a combination of the lowest cost, most beneficial and socially acceptable management practices that develops a science-informed promotion of implementation/BMP adoption strategy. The geospatial aspect to the optimization (i.e., proximity and location with respect to the lake) will help land managers to encourage the use of these targeted best practices in areas that will most benefit from the phosphorus reduction approach.Implications: Excessive phosphorus loading to inland freshwater lakes around the globe has resulted in nuisance plant growth along the waterfronts, degraded habitat for cold water fisheries, and impaired beaches, marinas and waterfront property. This novel study presents a first-time application of the Genetic Algorithm methodology to optimize the application of best management practices related to agriculture and mobile sources to achieve atmospheric phosphorus reduction targets and restore the ecological health of the lake. The novel methodology takes into account the spatial distribution of the emission sources in the airshed, the complex atmospheric long-range transport and deposition processes, cost and efficiency of the popular management practices and social constraints related to the adoption of BMPs.

Optimal Design of Stormwater Collection Networks Considering Hydraulic Performance and BMPs

Stormwater collection networks are assumed to be a critical infrastructure for cities. Performance issues in such systems could cause major problems, such as flooding. Moreover, having a stormwater collection network is not enough to avoid flooding. Mostly, flooding occurs because of decrease in network performance over the time. City managers normally try to improve the network performance by applying best management practices (BMPs) to the existing network. This approach is known to be very time consuming and expensive for municipalities. In this paper, simultaneous application of BMPs with network design is evaluated. Size of the channel and BMPs area and location are designed, and optimized using the NSGA-II multi-objective genetic algorithm. Results for case study of the Tehran stormwater network showed that by designing the network with no BMP (simple design), the maximum reliability that can be achieved is about 99%. To apply BMPs on the existing network (FPMB design) using Nash bargaining method, the best answer of simple design Pareto front is selected to apply BMPs on it. By applying BMPS, reliability reaches to 100%. Finally for the third design, BMPs and network are designed simultaneously (BMP design) and Pareto front is obtained. It can be observed that all the points from the Pareto front when the network and BMPs are designed simultaneously are considered non-dominant comparing to the two previous designs. Therefore, it can be concluded that designing the network and best management practices simultaneously results in an increase in reliability and a decrease in costs.

Land use impacts on surface water quality by statistical approaches

Surface waters are the most important economic resource for humans which provide water for agricultural, industrial and anthropogenic activities. Surface water quality plays vital role in protecting aquatic ecosystems. Unplanned urbanization, intense agricultural activities and deforestation are positively associated with carbon, nitrogen and phosphorous related water quality parameters. Multiple buffers give robust land use land cover and water quality model and highlight the impacts of land use land cover characteristics on water quality parameters at various scales which will guide watershed managers for particular application of best management practices to enhance stream health. Traditionally, water quality data collections are based on discrete sampling and were analyzed through statistical techniques which were designed for spatially isolated measurements. Traditional multivariate statistical approaches uncover hidden information in water quality data but they are unable to expose spatial relationship. The complexity of information in water quality data needs new statistical approaches which uncover spatiotemporal variability. This review briefly discusses influences of land use land cover characteristics on surface water quality, effects of spatial scale on land use land cover- water quality relationship, and water quality modeling using various statistical approaches. Every statistical method has unique purpose, application and solves different problems. This review article pinpoints that how statistical approaches in combination with spatial scale can be applied to develop statistically significant land use land cover- water quality relationship for better water quality evaluation.

Solid Cattle Manure Less Prone to Phosphorus Loss in Tile Drainage Water.

Forms (e.g., liquid and solid) of manure influence the risk of P loss after land application. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of P-based application of various forms of cattle manure (liquid, LCM; or solid, SCM) or inorganic P as triple superphosphate (IP) on soil P losses in tile drainage water. A 4-yr field experiment was conducted in a clay loam soil with a corn ( L.)-soybean [ (L.) Merr.] rotation in the Lake Erie basin. Over the 4 yr, the dissolved reactive P (DRP) flow-weighted mean concentration (FWMC) in tile drainage water was greater under SCM fertilization than under either IP or LCM fertilization. Despite its lower value on an annual basis, DRP FWMC rose dramatically immediately after LCM application. However, the differences in DRP FWMC did not result in detectable differences in DRP loads. Regarding particulate P and total P losses during the 4 yr, they were 68 and 47%, respectively, lower in the soils amended with SCM than in those with IP, whereas both values were similar between IP and LCM treatments. Overall, the P contained in solid cattle manure was less prone to P loss after land application. Accordingly, the present results can provide a basis for manure storage and application of best management practices designed to reduce P losses and improve crop growth.

Integrating water quality responses to best management practices in Portugal.

Nutrient nonpoint pollution has a significant impact on water resources worldwide. The main challenge of this work was to assess the application of best management practices in agricultural land to comply with water quality legislation for surface waters. The Hydrological Simulation Program-FORTRAN was used to evaluate water quality of Ave River in Portugal. Best management practices (infiltration basin) (BMP) were applied to agricultural land (for 3, 6, 9, 12, and 15% area) with removal efficiencies of 50% for fecal coliforms and 30% for nitrogen, phosphorus, and biochemical oxygen demand. The inflow of water quality constituents was reduced for all scenarios, with fecal coliforms achieving the highest reduction between 5.8 and 28.9% and nutrients and biochemical oxygen demand between 2 and 13%. Biochemical oxygen demand and orthophosphates concentrations achieved a good water quality status according to the European Legislation for scenarios of BMP applied to 3 and 12% agricultural area, respectively. Fecal coliform levels in Ave River basin require further treatment to fall below the established value in the abovementioned legislation. This study shows that agricultural watersheds such as Ave basins demand special attention in regard to nonpoint pollution sources effects on water quality and nutrient loads.

Evaluation of the best management practices in a semi-arid region with high agricultural activity

The arid and semi-arid regions with water scarcity are vulnerable to several stressors such as urbanization, high water demand created by agricultural and industrial activities, point and non-point pollution sources, and climate change. Hence, proactive policies and sustainable water management strategies that are based on decision support systems are crucial in arid and semi-arid regions. Because of large expenses and implementation difficulties associated with the diffuse pollution abatement plans, many authorities are hesitant to initiate, especially those that may present a financial burden on population. Lake Mogan, a shallow lake, is located in a semi-arid region dominated by dry agricultural activities and has been in eutrophic state for the past 20 years. There has been several management alternatives suggested to improve the water quality in Lake Mogan and one of the alternative is the application of BMPs that include fertilizer management, conservation/no tillage, contouring, and terracing to reduce the amount of diffuse source pollutants. In this study, Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) Model is applied to evaluate the effectiveness of agricultural best management practices (BMPs) in the Lake Mogan watershed located in a semi-arid region. The most effective BMP scenario was found as the one in which three individual BMP scenarios (30% fertilizer reduction, no tillage, and terracing) were combined. With this scenario average annual load reductions of 9.3%, 8.6%, 8.0%, and 11.1% were achieved in sediment, nitrate, total nitrogen, and total phosphorus, respectively. Even with the most effective BMP strategy, high levels of nutrient reduction will not be achieved since non-irrigated agriculture and intermittent low-flow streams accounts majority of the study area. The outcomes suggest integrated solutions should be developed to improve water quality in Lake Mogan. It is aimed that this study will aid decision makers to implement effective best management practices in watersheds showing similar characteristics (i.e. topographical, hydrologic processes, LULC (Land use land cover) characteristics, agricultural activities, meteorological etc.) with the study area.

Mastitis vaccines in dairy cows: Recent developments and recommendations of application.

The objective of this review article was to summarize the most recent clinical field trials that have been published evaluating the use of different types of vaccines against mastitis pathogens in dairy cows. Mastitis is one of the most common and economically important diseases in dairy cows in the world. The disease is considered an important welfare issue facing the dairy industry in addition to the loss of production and premature removal or death of affected cows. Losses are also related to high cost of veterinary medicines and the cost of unsalable milk of treated cows. Mastitis can be caused by either contagious or environmental pathogens both of which are best prevented rather than treated. In addition to the application of best management practices in the parlor during milking, vaccination against common udder pathogens is widely practiced in many dairy farms to prevent or reduce the severity of clinical mastitis. In this review, the most recent clinical field studies that evaluated the use of different types of vaccines in dairy cows are summarized.

The application of best management practices increases the profitability and sustainability of rice farming in the central plains of Thailand

There is a need to increase the resource use efficiency and sustainability of rice production in the intensive lowland irrigated rice growing areas of Thailand where farmers face challenges such as the overuse of inputs that cause negative environmental effects, rising input and labor costs, declining rice farm gate prices, and water scarcity. Since 2012, a set of integrated best management practices based on Cost Reduction Operating Principles (CROP) has been promoted to rice farmers by the Thailand Rice Department. Through replicated farmer participatory field trials, we evaluated the performance over three seasons of three integrated best management packages that included CROP recommendations, CROP+alternate wetting and drying (AWD), and CROP+drum seeder (DS) technology and compared these with standard farmer’s practice (FP). We also provide an economic and productivity assessment of the large-scale (160–800ha) application of CROP practices across eight sites in the Chao Phraya river basin. In the field trials, farmers that applied CROP practices reduced fertilizer inputs by a mean of 50–64% per season with no yield penalty and were able to increase their net income versus FP by a mean of 26% across all three seasons. The CROP+DS treatments also reduced seed rates by 60–67% and consistently showed the largest benefits over FP, with increases in mean net income per season in the range of 29–46%. Due to water shortages in the dry season, all treatments followed forced-AWD. However, even with limited water supply, high yields were still attained across all plots, giving farmers the assurance that yields can be maintained with AWD practices. Results from the large-scale application of CROP practices showed farmer groups reduced costs by 6–36% (x¯ =17%) and increased net income by 21–131% (x¯=79%) when compared with the same season in the previous year. The results of these studies indicate that through an increase in income and a decrease in inputs that cause negative environmental impacts, the adoption of improved agronomic practices can enhance the sustainability of intensive rice production.

Modeling of terracette‐hillslope soil moisture as a function of aspect, slope and vegetation in a semi‐arid environment

AbstractIn the semi‐arid western United States, water availability plays a defining role in land use. Soil moisture, vegetation, and microtopography are key variables in the hydrologic function of these ecosystems. Previous research has not addressed the influence of site‐specific aspect, vegetation, or slope gradient on terracette soil moisture patterns in semi‐arid rangelands. Therefore, the objectives of this study were to: (1) assess the influence of terracette site aspect, vegetation cover, and slope on soil moisture; (2) conceptualize conditions at the hillslope scale given terracette morphology; and (3) estimate the extent of terracettes at a regional scale. The Simultaneous Heat and Water (SHAW) model was used to simulate soil water dynamics of terracettes given variations in site conditions. These results were coupled with time‐of‐flight laser scans to quantify terracette bench and riser percent‐area, and statewide assessments of terracette extent using digital orthoimagery and a geographical information system (GIS). Modeling results indicated site aspect had minimal influence (±0.005 m3 m−3) on terracette soil moisture. Vegetation, represented as leaf area index (LAI), had the single‐most influential effect on terracette volumetric water content (θv) demonstrated by an inverse relationship of LAI to mean terracette hillslope θv; and slope increases of ≥15% on northern azimuths increased mean θv which contrasted with southern azimuths for similar slope increases. Laser scanning results indicated bench width and riser length could be estimated from mean site slope (R2 = 0.82 risers and R2 = 0.93 benches). Aerial orthoimagery/GIS assessments estimated >159 000 ha of terracettes throughout the State of Idaho, with >41 000 ha (~26%) occurring on lands managed as grazing allotments. These findings provide an increased understanding of rangeland hydrologic processes as influenced by cattle density, vegetation, and terracettes which can aide land managers in their selection and application of best management practices on these lands. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Current patterns and future perspectives of best management practices research: A bibliometric analysis

Best management practices (BMPs), as pollution control systems to improve the water environment, were proposed by the Federal Water Pollution Control Act in 1972 (Ice et al. 2010). Best management practices were initially designed for the purpose of controlling soil erosion (Logan 1993). As nonpoint source (NPS) pollution has caused major water quality degradation and threatened the safety of water resources worldwide, BMPs have been recommended as an effective tool used widely to reduce NPS pollution (D'Arcy and Frost 2001; Giri et al. 2012; Ice 2004). Countries, including the United States and the United Kingdom, first initiated BMPs and have had successful experience in agricultural NPS pollution control since the 1970s (Krivak 1978; Mueller et al. 1981). Over the span of a few decades, the application of BMPs has accelerated, and new practices (e.g., stormwater management, watershed management, low impact development, and critical source areas [CSAs]) have been continuously put forward (Martin-Mikle et al. 2015; Niraula et al. 2013; Sage et al. 2015; Zhang et al. 2015). In recent years, several in-depth studies of BMPs have been carried out, such as the Conservation Effect Assessment Project in the United States (Simon and Klimetz 2008), the Watershed Evaluation of Beneficial Management…

The Effect of Rice Straw Mulching and No-Tillage Practice in Upland Crop Areas on Nonpoint-Source Pollution Loads Based on HSPF

This study evaluates the watershed-scale effects of non-point-source (NPS) pollution loads caused by rice straw mulching and no-tillage applications in upland crop areas using the Hydrological Simulation Program–Fortran (HSPF) model. The study area is the Byulmi-cheon watershed (1.21 km²) of South Korea. Hourly rainfall, discharge and stream water quality data were collected for three years (2011–2013) at the watershed outlet. The HSPF model under conventional (no rice straw mulching or tillage) conditions was calibrated and validated using 20 rainfall events for runoff and 14 rainfall events for stream water quality (sediment, T-N and T-P). The average Nash–Sutcliffe model efficiency value for runoff was 0.61, and determination coefficients for runoff, sediment, total nitrogen (T-N) and total phosphorus (T-P) were 0.70, 0.56, 0.58 and 0.61, respectively. The results of field experiments with slopes of 3% and 8% for radish and sesame cultivation showed decreases in the runoff ratio, sediment, T-N and T-P of 9.0%, 95.9%, 32.6% and 43.5% for rice straw mulching plots and 22.5%, 82.5%, 67.8 and 70.6% for no-tillage plots. The HSPF model parameters soil infiltration capacity (INFILT), soil bulk density (BD), wilting point (WP) and field capacity (FC) were controlled for the upland crop areas during the evaluation of the rice straw mulching and no-tillage effects. The HSPF evaluation using the application of Best Management Practices (BMPs) showed that the watershed runoff ratio, sediment, T-N and T-P values were reduced by 10.4%, 68.7%, 31.6% and 41.3% using rice straw mulching and 21.5%, 83.4%, 51.9% and 60.2% under no-tillage conditions compared with conventional conditions. The land use change scenarios for the baseline (upland crop areas 5%), Scenario 1 (upland crop areas 10%) and Scenario 2 (upland crop areas 30%) were applied in the model. The results of the evaluation show that the proportion of NPS pollution loads increased by a ratio approximately equal to that of the increasing upland crop area.

Implementation and Enforcement of Best Management Practices for Florida Ornamental Aquaculture with an Emphasis on Nonnative Species

AbstractTropical ornamental aquaculture is dominated by the production of nonnative species and is an important industry in Florida. However, the escape of nonnative species can pose challenges to the industry and also natural resource managers. Escapement of nonnative species and their potential impacts has led to suggestions that ornamental aquaculture is unregulated and lacks transparency. Comprehensive regulation of Florida aquaculture began in 1999 with the creation of the Division of Aquaculture (Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services; FDACS) along with aquaculture best management practices (BMPs). Although FDACS regulates commercial aquaculture through application of BMPs, which includes provisions for escapement of nonnative species, the implementation of aquaculture BMPs has been largely unverified. Our objective was to examine how aquaculture BMPs have been implemented to prevent the escape of nonnative species, how facilities are inspected, and the rates and causes of noncompliance. Site visits were conducted alongside FDACS inspectors on two occasions at 23 aquaculture facilities. Historical compliance records dating back to 1999 were also acquired. All facilities implemented BMPs to address escapement, which was shown by operational practices and infrastructure. The FDACS inspectors routinely enforced aquaculture BMPs, especially in areas of effluent control. When noncompliance issues were noted (57% of facilities in 2013; 39% in 2014), they were often minor (48% of issues) and quickly remedied by producers. Noncompliance with BMPs varied among facilities and was more often related to the release of sediment than nonnative species escapement. Noncompliance was also related to the size of the facility (number of ponds and greenhouses) and the presence of a detention pond. Because of its transparency, regulation of Florida aquaculture might provide a model for the development, implementation, and verification of aquaculture BMPs.

Modeling BMP and Vegetative Cover Performance for Highway Stormwater Runoff Reduction

Urbanization generally leads to increases of impervious surfaces, changes of the natural hydrologic conditions and watershed's response to stormwater runoff. The application of Best Management Practices (BMPs) can provide a solution for on-site management of post-construction stormwater runoff. This study investigated the effectiveness of various BMP alternatives for retaining the first inch of runoff from highways and roads in Illinois with the Personal Computer Stormwater Management Model (PCSWMM) and idealized catchment areas. The modeled scenarios included pre-BMP construction when there is no BMP and post-BMP construction with bioswale, infiltration trench and vegetated filter strip. The effects of vegetated covers such as turf or prairie grass on infiltration of various soil types with and without BMPs were also evaluated. For all scenarios, one-inch rainfall 24-hour accumulated precipitation was applied. Typical dimensions and sizing for BMPs were extracted from Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) projects. This study found that runoff reduction for bioswale, infiltration trench, and vegetated filter strip are 70 to 83%; 100%; and 68 to 78%, respectively. Results also showed that prairie grass cover is more effective than turf grass in reducing runoff on various soil types.

Assessing the effectiveness of split fertilization and cover crop cultivation in order to conserve soil and water resources and improve crop productivity

Intensive agricultural practices implemented to secure increased crop yields have potentially negative environmental effects due to the generation of sediment and nutrients from agricultural fields. The monsoon climate and current agricultural practices on mountainous landscapes of the Haean catchment in South Korea have significantly affected water quality by transporting sediment and nutrients to downstream water bodies. The aim of this study is to suggest strategies for a permanent reduction of sediment and nitrate from this catchment through an efficient application of best management practices (BMPs). We applied three BMPs; split fertilizer application (SF), winter cover crop cultivation (CC), and a combination of the two (SFCC) to major dryland crops (cabbage, potato, radish and soybean) in order to investigate their effectiveness at the catchment scale through the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) model. We found that the SF scenario reduced nitrate pollution while sediment and crop yield did not change relative to the baseline (BL) scenario. The application of the CC scenario reduces both sediment and nitrate load while crop yields increased. The combination of split fertilization and cover cropping (SFCC) showed the highest positive effect on reducing sediment and nitrate and increasing crop yields compared to a single application. We estimated the variability in the effectiveness of BMPs for major crop types and could demonstrate that specific sites and crop types, such as soybean, were less influential in reducing sediment and nitrate loads. Those sites and crops could be considered for additional BMP measures to mitigate water deterioration by target pollutants. Recommendations for BMP applications should also consider minor crops and other land use types in order to reduce overall water pollution and efficiently improve crop yields in this catchment.

Application of BMP to urban runoff control using SUSTAIN model: Case study in an industrial area

Flooding and stormwater pollution by urban runoff owing to the effects of urbanization and industrialization on both hydrology and water quality have become a serious issue. Best management practices (BMP) are proposed to mitigate floods and reduce pollutants, the performance of which can be quantitatively assessed by the System for Urban Stormwater Treatment and Analysis Integration (SUSTAIN) model. A factory in the city of Ma’anshan, China was selected as a case study for planning and analysis of BMP. First, surface runoff pollution was identified as being caused by different land uses at this site. BMP such as permeable pavements, vegetated swales, green roofs, wet ponds, and bioretention basins were planned for this site. After BMP planning, system performance was evaluated using SUSTAIN. Sizes of the implemented BMP were further adjusted using the optimization module of SUSTAIN. Quantitative analyses of pollutant purification and flood mitigation ecosystem services after optimization were conducted. The results indicate that pollution caused by urban surface runoff in the study area was serious and required treatment. Compared with the developed condition, the BMP plan would reduce total runoff volume, total suspended solid load, dissolved zinc load, total nitrogen load, total phosphorus load and chemical oxygen demand load by 41%, 62%, 55%, 57%, 55% and 60%, respectively. This research result is of practical importance for urban nonpoint source pollution caused by industrial activities.

Impacts and prognosis of natural resource development on water and wetlands in Canada’s boreal zone

Industrial development within Canada’s boreal zone has increased in recent decades. Forest management activities, pulp and paper operations, electric power generation, mining, conventional oil and gas extraction, nonconventional oil sand development, and peat mining occur throughout the boreal zone with varying impacts on water resources. We review impacts of these industries on surface water, groundwater, and wetlands recognizing that heterogeneity in the dominance of different hydrologic processes (i.e., precipitation, evapotranspiration, groundwater recharge, and runoff generation) across the boreal zone influences the degree of impacts on water resources. Through the application of best management practices, forest certification programs, and science-based guidelines, timber, pulp and paper, and peat industries have reduced their impacts on water resources, although uncertainties remain about long-term recovery following disturbance. Hydroelectric power developments have moved toward reducing reservoir size and creating more natural flow regimes, although impacts of aging infrastructure and dam decommissioning is largely unknown. Mineral and metal mining industries have improved regulation and practices, but the legacy of abandoned mines across the boreal zone still presents an ongoing risk to water resources. Oil and gas industries, including non-conventional resources such as oil sands, is one of the largest industrial users of water and, while significant progress has been made in reducing water use, more work is needed to ensure the protection of water resources. All industries contribute to atmospheric deposition of pollutants that may eventually be released to downstream waters. Although most industrial sectors strive to improve their environmental performance with regards to water resources, disruptions to natural flow regimes and risks of degraded water quality exist at local to regional scales in the boreal zone. Addressing the emerging challenge of managing the expanding, intensifying, and cumulative effects of industries in conjunction with other stressors, such as climate change and atmospheric pollution, across the landscape will aid in preserving Canada’s rich endowment of water resources.

Engaging Dairy Farmers to Improve Water Quality in the Aorere Catchment of New Zealand

In 2006, dairy farmers in the Aorere Catchment of New Zealand began to investigate allegations that they had a pollution problem affecting the viability of the community's shellfish industry. From 2007 to 2010, the New Zealand Landcare Trust's Aorere Catchment Project (ACP) helped farmers engage in actions to improve conditions in their waterways. Community involvement was a primary objective of the project and served as a major indicator of success. The actions farmers took to protect waterways and resultant improvements in water quality were also used to assess the efficacy of the project. This article discusses the underlying issues, the setting and the project, an evaluation of the project, and the results. Conclusions contrasting the situation in 2007 and 2010 show that great strides were made in terms of community involvement and application of best management practices, and there is evidence that this has resulted in improved water quality and safer conditions for shellfish harvesting.

Best management practices for forest bioenergy programs

Forest ecosystems produce the best quality and most consistent supplies of water for human use. The increase in the use of woody biomass as a feedstock for bioenergy production has raised questions about potential impacts on water quality. Best management practices (BMPs) have been developed and implemented since the early 1970s to ensure that forest harvesting can be conducted with minimum impact on water quality. Although BMPs were originally designed to minimize water quality impacts, they can be used for a variety of environmental concerns. The use of BMPs is widespread in developed countries and it varies from mandatory to voluntary. In many countries BMPs are incorporated in ‘Codes of Forest Practice’ that guide forest managers through the complete bioenergy life cycle. The development and application of BMPs is not a static process, but one that relies on a continual cycle of application, assessment and monitoring, and refinement. Although some countries have “national standards,“ the complex matrix of forest ecosystems, climates, soils and topography, and harvesting systems requires ongoing assessment, monitoring, and refinement to craft BMPs to best suit local conditions. Research and development studies play a key part in the refinement and communication of improved BMPs. They are also crucial in validating the effectiveness of BMPs. This is especially important where local environmental conditions or operational standards are unique. BMPs ensure that forest bioenergy programs can be a sustainable part of forest management and renewable energy production.This article is categorized under: Bioenergy > Science and Materials Bioenergy > Climate and Environment

Estimating catchment-scale annual soil loss in managed native eucalypt forests, Australia

Conservation of soil and water resources is one of the key criteria underpinning sustainable forest management. While soil and water resources are important determinants of forest productivity, without appropriate assessment of soil erosion risk and the application of best management practices (BMPs), some forest management activities can adversely affect hillslope erosion rates with detrimental consequences for aquatic environments and downstream water users. In the multiple-use native eucalypt forests of New South Wales (NSW), Australia, hazard matrix tables are currently used to identify soil erosion risk based upon rainfall erosivity, soil regolith stability and slope classes at the compartment scale prior to undertaking forestry activities. Resultant “inherent hazard levels” (IHLs) direct the BMPs to be used, such as riparian buffer widths, during harvesting and roading operations. The IHL model, being an ordinal classification system, only provides a relative indication of erosion potential without any quantitative estimate of possible post-harvest erosion rates. To potentially better identify erosion risk and quantify likely soil erosion under a range of forest management and climatic scenarios at the hillslope and/or catchment scale, in this paper we utilised an alternative approach by modelling soil erosion using the empirically-derived Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation in combination with a GIS-based spatially distributed raster analysis. In four case study catchments in Kangaroo River State forest, two of which were subjected to single-tree selection harvesting operations, mean annual changes in soil loss were estimated at a grid cell level. Potential differences in soil loss estimates were assessed before, during and after selective logging. Vegetation cover and soil samples were recorded in a 500×1000m rectangular network laid out across the catchments. Slope gradient was found to contribute substantially to the spatial variability of soil loss estimation across the catchments. However, between-year differences demonstrate that the highest estimated annual rates of soil loss occurred on steep hillslopes when high levels of rainfall were recorded, while the values on those same areas remained considerably lower during low rainfall periods. The major effect of the rainfall component in generating soil erosion overshadows the modest impacts of selective logging operations.

Recharge area delineations and hazard and vulnerability mapping in Perry County, Missouri

Eight recharge areas have been delineated in the sinkhole plain of Perry County, MO, USA. The groundwater systems delineated were the Moore Cave system, Keyhole Spring, Ball Mill Spring, the Crevice Cave system, the Mystery Cave system, the Rimstone River Cave system, Thunderhole Resurgence, and Running Bull Cave. These systems include four of the five longest caves known in Missouri and two of the top four in having the most globally rare species. The delineations were done in support of the grotto sculpin (Cottus specus) which is a fish adapting to cave environments, and because these cave streams seem to be the source of impairment in their receiving streams. Seventeen springs, including overflow springs, are associated with these groundwater systems. The results of a total of 87 dye introductions were used to complete the delineations, and the sampling network included 93 sampling stations. The tracing showed that the Mystery Cave system overflows to several springs under high flow conditions. Almost 94 km2 of land were included in the delineations. Hazards and vulnerability were also mapped. All of the recharge areas have potentially ineffective private septic systems, agriculture without universal application of best management practices, roads with poor water quality runoff and the threat of spills, and sinkhole dumps. The Crevice Cave system recharge area also has the City of Perryville, numerous underground storage tanks, and several facilities with national pollutant discharge elimination system (NPDES) permits, and hazardous waste generators, making it the least likely system to be a practical target for conservation. All of the recharge areas were mapped as highly vulnerable due to the rapid recharge of groundwater through discrete karst features. The data generated from this investigation can be used to direct efforts to conserve the grotto sculpin and improve water quality in the cave streams and in their receiving streams.