Research Motivation

What's the problem?
-Siltation due to soil erosion from surrounding watersheds
*Sources of soil erosion
*Loss of wildlife habitat
-High inflow of nutrients into the marsh from surrounding farms, pastures, barnyards, and wastewater treatment facilities
-Increased nutrients have caused algal blooms and dissolved oxygen problems, reducing aquatic diversity
*Decline in native bird species
-Carp domination
*Muck and silt sedimentation provide excellent habitat for carp
*The carp's feeding activities result in re-suspension of sediment and nutrients

Significance of the Work
-Assess the nutrient status of the marsh
*Identify areas of low vs. high concentration of nutrients
*Relate soil nutrient concentration to historic patterns, hydrologic and soil formation processes, and current land use practices
-Determine the need of physical modifications to the landscape
*Examine US Army Corp of Engineers proposal to return irrigation ditches to natural stream meanders
*Decide whether construction of riparian and wetland buffers are necessary and what their effect may be on water quality and wildlife diversity
-Provide resource professionals with management tools for implementing potential remediation projects and safe land use practices