{"id":7407,"date":"2024-03-08T11:13:10","date_gmt":"2024-03-08T17:13:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.iowawatercenter.org\/?post_type=portfolio&p=7407"},"modified":"2024-03-08T11:13:10","modified_gmt":"2024-03-08T17:13:10","slug":"denitrification-potential-in-floodplain-forests-investigating-water-quality-improvements-to-reduce-negative-impacts-in-downstream-communities","status":"publish","type":"portfolio","link":"https:\/\/www.iowawatercenter.org\/portfolio\/denitrification-potential-in-floodplain-forests-investigating-water-quality-improvements-to-reduce-negative-impacts-in-downstream-communities\/","title":{"rendered":"Denitrification potential in floodplain forests: Investigating water quality improvements to reduce negative impacts in downstream communities"},"content":{"rendered":"
The US Cornbelt is a leading global producer of intensively managed, row-crop corn and
\nsoybeans \u2013 yet, the agricultural production of these commodities is often linked to challenges
\nassociated with nonpoint source nutrient pollution that negatively impacts water quality and
\nhighly altered hydrology that negatively impacts surface water discharge. Excess nitrogen and
\nphosphorus in surface water can have regional and local impacts on aquatic ecosystems,
\nrecreational opportunities, livelihoods, and human health. Altered hydrology can lead to excess
\ndischarge, resulting in extreme flood events. While these challenges affect many downstream
\nregional and local communities, underrepresented, underserved communities and communities of
\ncolor are often disproportionately impacted by these negative environmental externalities.
\nFloodplain management offers a unique opportunity to address challenges related to water
\nquality and water quantity to reduce downstream impacts. Floodplain forests represent a
\npotentially powerful water quality and quantity conservation practice, as rigid upright stems and
\nassociated downed woody material and understory vegetation act to reduce flood flow velocities
\nand encourage water retention and infiltration. Deposition of sediment and associated
\nphosphorus are associated with reduced flood velocities, and deposition acts to transfer these
\npotential pollutants into long-term floodplain storage. Often overlooked is the ability of
\nfloodplain forests to address riverine nitrogen loading. Through a combination of floodwater
\nretention, raised water tables, and sediment and organic matter deposition, floodplain forests
\ncreate zones of nitrate removal by encouraging processes such as denitrification. In addition to
\nlarger water retention sites often associated with woody floodplain vegetation (e.g., oxbows),
\nindividual trees and downed woody material provide abundant water retention microsites
\nthrough tree windthrow (e.g., pit and mound microtopography) and localized scour. Although
\nfloodplain forests represent potentially significant nitrate sinks, research that quantifies nitrogen
\nremoval within these areas is rare \u2013 especially in the agricultural Midwest. In addition, studies
\nthat seek to link water quality and quantity impact with current forest species composition,
\nstructure, and condition, and provide management recommendations to maximize water quality
\nand quantity return, are exceptionally rare.
\nThe primary objectives of this project are to: 1.) estimate riverine nitrogen removal performance
\nof individual floodplain forest sites along major Iowa rivers, 2.) combine floodplain forest water
\nquality and quantity data with forest stand inventory to estimate watershed-scale impacts of
\nfloodplain forests, and 4.) increase awareness and value of floodplain forest systems within
\nimpacted, underserved downstream communities. To meet these objectives, we will employ a
\ncombination of in-field monitoring and inventory, hydraulic floodplain modeling, a conservation
\nplanning tool, and extension efforts. The results and outcomes from this project will be used to
\ncreate floodplain forest management recommendations, and maximize water quality (i.e.,
\nnitrogen) and flood mitigation returns for underserved downstream communities. Field data will
\nalso be coupled with GIS-based modeling used by co-PI Zimmerman to quantify landscape-level
\noutcomes associated with floodplain forest management and key opportunities to maximize
\nrestoration benefits. Associated extension programming seeks to increase awareness of
\nfloodplain forest value to underserved audiences, and sustain management through promotion of
\nnatural resource careers (e.g., forestry) within underserved downstream communities.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The US Cornbelt is a leading global producer of intensively managed, row-crop corn and soybeans \u2013 yet, the agricultural production of these commodities is often linked to challenges associated with […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10,"featured_media":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","template":"","portfolio_category":[10],"portfolio_tag":[],"class_list":["post-7407","portfolio","type-portfolio","status-publish","hentry","portfolio_category-statewide"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n