Lindemann adapting conservation
This document discusses how climate change will impact agriculture through changes in precipitation, temperature, and carbon dioxide levels. It will influence watershed hydrology and nonpoint source pollution, impacting water quality and quantity. The document examines research on implementing agricultural best management practices (BMPs) under various climate change scenarios to reduce sediment, nitrogen, and phosphorus loads. It provides examples of BMPs being used in projects in the Western Lake Erie Basin, such as filter strips, nutrient management plans, cover crops, and two-stage ditches. The research emphasizes the need for a systems approach using BMPs that slow water flow and filter runoff to build watershed resiliency under a changing climate.
Lindemann adapting conservation
- 1. © Scott Warren Western Lake Erie Basin Ag Project: Using Conservation Practices to Address Climate Change The Nature Conservancy www.nature.org/wleb SWCS Conference, Lombard, IL Lauren Lindemann llindemann@tnc.org
- 2. • Climate Change Will Affect: • Precipitation: • Erosion • Flooding • Drought • Temperature Variations: • Crop Production • Atmospheric CO2: • Crop Production • Run-off Agriculture and Climate Change
- 3. • Climate Change Will Influence: • Watershed Hydrology • NPS • Climate Change Will Impact: • Water Quality • Water Quantity Agriculture and Climate Change
- 4. Woznicki et al. 2011, Assessing BMP Implementation Strategies Under Climate Change Scenarios: • Tuttle Creek Lake Watershed (Kansas/Nebraska) • SWAT (Soil and Water Assessment Tool) • 32 Unique Scenarios • 8 Ag BMPs • No-Till • Conservation Tillage • Contour Farming • Terraces • Filter Strips • Porous Gully Plugs • Grazing Management • Native Grass Plantings Ag BMP Research
- 5. Assessing BMP Implementation Strategies Under Climate Change Scenarios • A1B = 54% sediment load, 37% N load and 30% P; A2 = S 36%, N 27% and P 22%; B1 = S20%, N11% and P 12%
- 6. Assessing BMP Implementation Strategies Under Climate Change Scenarios, Continued
- 7. Western Lake Erie Basin
- 8. Western Lake Erie Basin
- 9. Ag Best Management Practices for Maximum Watershed Scale Benefits • In-stream • Two-stage ditch • Edge-of-Field • Saturated buffers with filter strips • Water drainage management, water control structures • Ag treatment wetlands • In-field • Conservation tillage • Cover crops • Nutrient management & 4R Certification for ag retailers • Crop rotation Sustainable Intensification
- 11. Our Suite of Conservation Systems: Upper Blanchard GLRI • Filter Strips (2miles or 7 acres) • Nutrient Management Plans (1,000 acres) • Cover Crops (3oo acres) • 2-Stage Ditches (2 miles)
- 12. Minimal Grant Goals Sediment Reduction Nitrogen Reduction Phosphorus Reduction 2-Stage Ditch 2 miles 212 tons 2,036 lbs. 1,600 lbs. Cover Crops 300 acres 1,248 tons 3,157 lbs. 1,578 lbs. Nutrient Management Plans 1000 acres 0 Variable Variable Filter/Buffer Strips 2 miles 184 tons 454 lbs. 228 lbs. TOTAL 1,644 tons 5,647 lbs. 3,406 lbs. Our GLRI Reduction Goals
- 13. Demonstration Watersheds: Upper Blanchard, Cessna Creek
- 14. Demonstration Watersheds: Upper Blanchard, Cessna Creek
- 15. Other Projects
- 17. The Concept of a Systems Approach for Watershed Scale Benefits • Stacking Practices Can Help Influence • Soil Structure, Soil Health, Soil Organic Matter • Sediment Load Reduction • Nutrient Load Reduction
- 18. Ag BMPs and Climate Change • BMPs Performance • Highly Variable • Sensitive Take Home! = We need to watershed resiliency BY Using Ag BMPs that Run-off, That Slow-the-Flow and Can Filter!
- 19. THANK YOU! Lauren Lindemann WLEB Conservation Director Contact information: llindemann@tnc.org 260-665-9141