Linda S. Barker

QUANTIFICATION OF THE EFFECTIVENESS OF AGRICULTURAL RIPARIAN BUFFERS TO PROTECT STREAM HEALTH IN MARYLAND'S COASTAL PLAIN AND PIEDMONT REGIONS

Linda has been working in both restoration ecology and watershed science. The State of Maryland has committed to installing 600 miles of riparian forest buffers (RFB) by the year 2010. Linda Barker's work will provide predictive ability to evaluate a) is the RFB program going to be of value in the overall Chesapeake Bay Program and b) where should we target resources to obtain the most "bang for our buck"?

Linda collected the water quality data. She worked with the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, state agencies, and federal agency researchers to obtain data. She collected and managed data from SERC and MBSS. These data include fish IBIs, benthic IBIs, and chemical (nutrient) data. She has done critical evaluation of the data. She has developed the field protocol, trained others to aid in fieldwork, has completed data collection, and has completed the characterization system. She has developed both linear and non-linear statistical models of responses to buffer variables. She has utilized GIS in developing additional parameters and managing data.

Linda has been working in both restoration ecology and watershed science.

This research quantified the effectiveness of agricultural riparian buffers to protect stream health in Maryland's Coastal Plain and Piedmont physiographic regions. Easily-obtainable data were used to develop scientific guidance for buffer management strategies. Three data sets were used: the 1998 University of Maryland Agricultural Buffer Survey, the 1996 Smithsonian Environmental Research Center Water Quality Survey, and the 1995-1997 Maryland Biological Stream Survey. Collectively, these data were used to represent baseflow water quality and landscape conditions in agricultural catchments. A set of landscape characteristics describing the agricultural riparian landscape was developed, from which a classification system for agricultural riparian landscapes was developed. The Agricultural Riparian Classification System can identify a subset of sites for targeted research. Additionally, the distribution of agricultural riparian buffers was characterized. Over 70% of sites were buffered. The statewide average buffer width was approximately 49 meters. Models were developed to predict measures of stream health at a site. Buffers acted differently on instream nitrate concentration, fish IBI (FIBI), benthic IBI (BIBI), and instream physical habitat (PHI). All models indicated that nitrate "source" terms overshadowed any on-site buffer effects and that Confined Animal Feeding Operations and pastures acted as point sources, overwhelming non-point-source effects. Therefore, livestock best managements practices are critical for the reduction of nitrate to streams. FIBI, BIBI and PHI in the Piedmont region were unaffected by buffer presence, but BIBI and PHI in the Coastal Plain were affected by buffer presence, type and width. Regression tree modeling was able to delineate a range of minimum effective buffer width between 22-38 meters. All measures of stream health in Piedmont systems were controlled by hydrology and geomorphology. Because FIBI was not directly affected by buffer presence, use of FIBI to measure success of buffer installation or restoration would give false results.

Carrie Buswell

Carrie's project that involves re-use of biosolids to grow hybrid yellow poplar while maintaining good water quality. This field research project is part reclamation and part sustainable growth. Carrie has done most of the equipment installation, the experimental setup, and data collection. Carrie has performed physically taxing work during field installation of water quality sampling equipment and she has done academically taxing work in the initial analysis of the data. Carrie has also prepared and presented preliminary results to WSSC and MDE.

This research focuses on nutrient fate and transport in the soil profile at a reclaimed gravel mine spoil. Overall reclamation efforts have been ongoing since the late 1980s at this Prince Georges County, Maryland site and consist of 1) supplying the barren soil profile with a nutrient source of domestic biosolids (a.k.a., sewage sludge) trenched in approximately two-foot wide by two-foot deep rows and 2) planting hybrid poplar trees over the trenched and covered biosolids. This merging of biosolids recycling with reclamation of a previously barren landscape may provide an economical and beneficial technology for dealing with increasing biosolids generation in this region.

The current experiment, which began in the summer of 2002, is examining three different biosolids application rates and three different tree densities to evaluate the conversion, transport, availability and uptake of various forms of nitrogen and phosphorus. A series of suction lysimeters and pan lysimeters have been installed 6-24 inches underneath and to the sides of the biosolids trenches, from which soil water samples are being collected and analyzed on a monthly basis. These analytical results, along with gathered information on the physical characteristics of the soil profile and hydrology, will provide insight into the ongoing biochemical conversions and transport underground.

Thomas J Griffeth III

This research involves the use of hyperspectral reflectance in the evaluation of nutrient use by hybrid poplar trees. This includes the following:

1. Obtain reflectance data for hybrid poplar trees
2. Compare reflectance data to foliar leaf samples, samples of biosolids, and groundwater quality data from experimental plots.

The goal is to see if spectral data correlates to nutrient loading/usage and to determine if this application of spectral reflectance has any value for use in precision agriculture of farmed trees.