NORTH CAROLINA STATE UNIVERSITY'S LAKE WHEELER FIELD RESEARCH LABORATORY
Raleigh, NC
Watershed and Water Quality Training and Demonstration
North Carolina State University's Lake Wheeler Field Research Laboratory is in the Swift Creek Watershed in the Neuse River Basin (USGS Hydrologic Code 03020201). Workshops will demonstrate effective BMP technologies that can be transferred to priority watersheds across North Carolina and the Southeast United States.
The major field demonstration and training components at the Training Center include:
Component 1: Watersheds and Wetlands Management Training
The project will consist of five workshops (30-60 participants/workshop) on watershed-based assessment; stream and wetland restoration; surface and ground water quality monitoring; and BMP evaluation. The audience will include elected officials, local government, citizens and community leaders, scientists, engineers, consultants, farmers, regulators, environmental health specialists, state and federal agencies, service agencies, and students (high school and college). The workshops, which focus on a hands-on approach utilizing the new Training Center facility, are described as follows:
1. Watershed-based Assessment
A 1-day workshop on watershed-based approach to training and demonstrations will
examine the linkages between land use, soil science, hydrology, geology, and water
quality. Demonstrations will include delineation of the watershed drainage area, hydrology
assessment, land use/management tracking, and water quality monitoring. Methods to
determine watershed budgets for sources of pollutants to the stream will be demonstrated
by determining the magnitude of sources and delivery of water, sediment, and nutrients
from both surface and subsurface flows as well as atmospheric deposition. Stormwater
runoff and management issues will be examined.
2. Stream restoration design,
implementation and evaluation
A 2-day workshop on stream restoration will take place on a degraded tributary of Swift
Creek at the Lake Wheeler Field Lab. Cattle access to the stream and various other farming
practices have caused significant downcutting and streambank erosion problems. Traditional
efforts to stabilize streambanks, including concrete blocks, have failed. This workshop,
which focuses on applying fluvial geomorphology and bioengineering principles to restore
the stream to a natural stable condition, will demonstrate the following:
a. Techniques to assess stream and riparian area condition as well as evaluate restoration, including measuring streambank erosion, cross- sectional area, bank-full discharge, sedimentation, longitudinal stream profile, and stream morphology/hydrology. The natural step-pool channel will be reestablished and the streambank stabilized.
b. Vegetative riparian area buffers such as those required under the North Carolina Neuse Buffer Rules. The cattle will be excluded from the stream to re-establish a vegetative riparian area extending at least 50 feet on either side of the stream.
c. Appropriate vegetative plantings to enhance stream restoration. Riparian vegetation planting and natural succession will be demonstrated in the stream buffer area.
d. Wildlife habitat restoration and evaluation. An additional no-mow zone will be established.
e. The concrete on site will be recycled to demonstrate proper solid waste disposal.
3. Wetland restoration design, implementation and evaluation
A 1-day workshop will demonstrate wetland restoration techniques including site location selection criteria, construction techniques, water level control techniques, proper plant selection, and operation and maintenance required to maintain a functional wetland. A restored wetland will be installed and included in the demonstrations and training. Wetland planting will include herbaceous wetland trees and shrubs.4. Surface water quality monitoring and BMP Evaluation
A 1-day workshop will demonstrate monitoring techniques that are used for assessing surface water quality conditions and evaluating BMP effectiveness. Techniques for evaluation of chemical, physical, biological, and habitat condition of the water resource will be demonstrated. A variety of approaches to be demonstrated will include grab samples, automated samplers, in-situ nutrients, dissolved oxygen, variable and physical probes/meters, and volunteer monitoring (macroinvertebrate and chemical field sampling kits). Stream bedload sampling and stream flow/discharge will also be demonstrated. Applications and data interpretations appropriate for each technique will be discussed. In addition, monitoring design; data analysis, management and interpretation; and statistical techniques appropriate for linking land treatment with water quality will be presented.5. Ground water quality monitoring
A 1-day workshop, facilitated in conjunction with the Ground Water Section of the NC Division of Water Resources, will demonstrate monitoring techniques that are used for assessment of current ground water quality conditions and evaluation of changes. Techniques that will be demonstrated include well construction and ground water sampling techniques.6. Also, a separate 1-day workshop in riparian buffer establishment and effectiveness will be conducted.
Component 2: Septic System BMPs and Nutrient Reduction Technologies
Demonstration and training will focus on new septic system BMPs and advanced designs of on-site wastewater treatment systems that facilitate reduction in the nitrogen and phosphorus loadings from septic systems. The North Carolina General Assembly is currently considering the adoption of BMPs to enhance the performance of septic systems. BMPs have never before been utilized for on-site wastewater treatment systems at any location in the country. The state ERC of the legislature is currently considering whether the BMP concept should be formally applied to septic systems, what these BMPs should consist of, and how to implement such a program. In addition, a recent bill introduced to the Legislature has recommended establishing state tax credits to landowners who implement septic system BMPs. Such a program could facilitate the voluntary application of BMPs that would improve septic system practices not only for the 40,000 to 50,000 new septic systems installed each year in North Carolina, but also for a significant number of the more than 1,500,000 existing septic systems in the state.
Regardless of whether this legislation is implemented, the technological concept is sound. Therefore, this project will demonstrate septic system BMPs such as septic tank risers, septic tank outlet filters, automated tank monitoring devices and SCADA techniques, as well as improved alternative technologies. These include advanced on-site technologies for individual houses, such as recirculating peat filters, non-woven textile fabric filters, Waterloo biofilters, sand filters, oxic/anoxic ATU systems, constructed wetlands, composting toilets, incinerating toilets, graywater re-use systems and phosphorus removal systems will be installed and demonstrated. Due to project budgetary constraints, the selection of technologies to be demonstrated will depend not only upon technical considerations but also upon the capability to leverage project funds via donation of system components by various product manufacturers. All equipment will be donated by manufacturers, not purchased from 319(h) project funds.
Installation of these technologies will be accomplished both in formal demonstration and training programs for on-site system professionals and also as part of field work days. One of the project goals is to enhance the on-site wastewater state-of-practice so that the professional design and regulatory community can develop a thorough understanding of these septic system BMPs and nutrient reduction technologies.
Rural community decision-makers, landowners, and developers and the financial community must also understand how these technologies can be utilized to enhance nutrient removal within watersheds. Therefore, training programs and workshops for these audiences will demonstrate the efficacy of advanced on-site technologies as well as the operation, monitoring and management needs that must be addressed to facilitate appropriate use.