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Project Summary

Maumee Non Point Source Pollution Project

Great Lakes Regional Map


1. Project Identification

Name Maumee Non Point Source Pollution Project
Region Great Lakes
State Ohio
Location Maumee River watershed
Date of this update July 7, 1998

2. Problem(s) addressed (check one or more)

Habitat Restoration/Protection  
Wetlands
River systems
Beaches/Dunes
Offshore areas
Mangroves
Assisting Species at Risk
Pollution Mitigation
Non-Point Source Pollution X
Other (describe)  

3. Project Description (100 words or less. Please include qualitative information, e.g. acres of habitat restored, miles of steam reopened to migration, and legislative authorization, e.g. WRDA, ISTEA, CWA/NEP, CZMA, etc.)

The Maumee River Basin has a three-state watershed of 6,586 square miles. This watershed has been identified as one of 43 Areas of Concern by the International Joint Commission and a major contributor of non-point phosphorus loading into the western basin of Lake Erie. It has been estimated that 65% of the phosphorus loading to the Maumee River originates from croplands. Overfertilization and unprotected soils exposed to winter rains and snows have resulted in these excessive phosphorus loadings. Approximately 160,000 tons of nutrients and 16,000 tons of herbicides are also applied in the watershed annually.

This project is determining the economic feasibility of prescriptive fertilizer application. The project was originally intended to be applied to four demonstration farms in each of the eight identified counties, preparing nutrient maps, applying fertilizer at the recommended rates, and conducting yield tests to determine the effects of variable fertilizer applications.

The original Coastal America Grant actually served as a catalyst to initiate a second much more intensive grant of $82,000 from the Lake Erie office, using Lake Erie Protection Funds for Phase II of the project. Phase II essentially has involved over soil testing on 20,000 plus acres of cropland. In addition, the project is attempting to determine the feasibility and cost effectiveness of using pinpoint, GPS equipment, cost of fertilizer application equipment, cost rates, yield monitoring, retesting, impact analysis, and overall farmer cost of using the system without a grant.

Significant Achievements - As we continue this effort, we hope to show that prescriptive fertilizer application is economically feasible, and that substantial improvements in downstream water quality can be realized by reducing the amount of NPS pollution. Significant components of this project are its public involvement and educational aspects. All preliminary results will be distributed to all involved agencies and to the public. Depending upon the final results, efforts will be undertaken to inform the public, particularly the agricultural community, about the benefits of prescriptive fertilizer.

4. Goals/Benefits (quantify where possible using measures of success list) Was a cost-benefit study conducted for this project? yes/no If yes, provide a summary of findings.

No

5. Partners (include each participant's responsibilities - funding, permitting, etc.)

6. Funding/Contributions (organization and amount)

7. Legislative authorities used by each participant

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8. Value added by Coastal America Partnership including Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA) goals achieved through this collaboration (500 words or less)

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9. Project Status

Initiation date  
Completion date  
Current stage Underway

10. Contacts

11. Any additional information/comments

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This page was last updated on Saturday, 24-Jun-2000 11:48:46 EDT
Coastal America * Coastal America Regions
Coastal America Reporters Building 300 7th Street, SW Suite 680 Washington, DC 20250
(202) 401-9928 * (202) 401-9821 (FAX)
comments to lawrencea@fas.usda.gov