2019 SWCS International Annual Conference July 28-31, 2019 Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

2. What is Your
Context for Soil
and Water?

3. Our Context

4. Joan Milliken Stroud W.B. Dixon Stroud Dr. Ruth Patrick
1923-1985 1917-2005 1907-2013
Founded in 1967

5. Stroud Water
Research Center
Philadelphia, PA
Wilmington, DE
Newark, DE
• Delaware River Watershed
• Christina River Basin
• White Clay Creek
• HEADQUARTERS
• Avondale, PA
• 40 miles west of Philadelphia
• Nr. Chesapeake-Delaware divide
• Flagship research sites
• Headquarters
• Stroud Preserve
• Costa Rica
Stroud
Preserve
Stroud Water Research Center

6. Stroud Center Research Center
Watershed
APPROACH
Understanding freshwater
systems requires study of:
Photo: David Arscott
• Terrestrial ecosystems
• Soils
• Groundwater
• Wetlands
• Small streams
• Large rivers
• Lakes & reservoirs
• Estuaries
• Human systems

7. ADVANCING KNOWLEDGE & STEWARDSHIP OF
FRESHWATER SYSTEMS THROUGH GLOBAL RESEARCH,
EDUCATION, AND WATERSHED RESTORATION

8. Healthy Soils
On Farms
A “Silent Giant” for
Watershed Restoration?
Photo: David Arscott
Lamonte Garber
Watershed Restoration Coordinator

9. Presentation Highlights:
Importance of Small Streams
Aquatic Insects as Indicators
Soil Health for Healthy Waters

10. Chesapeake Bay
Watershed
A Challenge for 18
Million People
Small Rural Stream:
A Few Farmers
Can Transform It

11. Opportunity for Clean
Water in our Lifetime:
Headwater Streams
Small streams =
85% of all flowing
streams in PA…&
the World

12. Where’s the Stream?

13. US EPA – Draft Report: National Rivers & Streams Assessment 2008-2009

14. The National Rivers and Streams Assessment 2008-2009:
A Collaborative Survey www.epa.gov/aquaticsurveys
• Biological conditions of river and stream miles in
lower 48-states based on benthic macroinvertebrate
sampling at 1,924 sites
US EPA – Draft Report: National Rivers & Streams Assessment 2008-2009
• 56% of the nation’s river and
stream miles do not support
healthy populations of aquatic
life
Good
21%
Fair
23%
Poor
56%

15. Eastern
HighlandsPlains
and
Lowlands
West
The National Rivers and Streams Assessment 2008-
2009: A Collaborative Survey www.epa.gov/aquaticsurveys
US EPA – Draft Report: National Rivers & Streams Assessment 2008-2009
National 1,193,775 20.7% 247,111 23.2% 276,956 55.3% 660,158
Eastern Highlands 434,337 17.2% 74,706 19.2% 83,393 62.7% 272,329
Plains and Lowlands 563,490 16.1% 90,722 24.8% 139,746 58.4% 329,078
West 195,948 41.9% 82,102 27.3% 53,494 30.0% 58,784
Region
Total
Length(mi)
PoorFairGood

16. Chesapeake Bay Foundation

18. Does Stream
Health Factor into
Your Work?
How?

19. What are good
indicators for
healthy soil?
For Streams?

21. Pollution Sensitive Bugs Indicate Wider Condition
More, Healthier “Workers” for Clean Water

22. Clean stream indicators
Ephemeroptera (mayflies)
Plecoptera (stoneflies)
Trichoptera (caddisflies)

23. Pollution indicators
Annelid worms
Diptera (midges)

24. Soil Health for
Stream Health

25. Bugs need:
Cool Clean Water
Habitat
Food
Streamside Trees Help Provide All 3
What About Healthy Soils?

26. Conservation & Manure Plans
BMPs for Fields and Facilities –
We Help with Funding if Needed
Forested Buffer Soil Health Practices

27. Source: SARE

29. Big Gray Funnel Great Green Sponge
Impervious Surfaces
Exposed Soil
Channelized Streams
w/ Excess Sediment
Impaired Waterways
& Increased Flooding
Rain Rain
Forests
Wetlands
Forested Stream Buffers
Green Infrastructure
Healthy Streams & Rivers
Bay Grasses
Oysters
Headwaters
Bay
>> Healthy Ag Soils <<

30. An Example Farm
– Illustration by Frank McShane for Schuylkill Action Network

31. Improving Stream Water Quality and Reducing Runoff by
Improving Farm Soil Health Through Permanent Cover Cropping
Soil Health Research Highlights
No cover crop
Cover crop

32. Research Trials Comparing Organic, Conventional, and
Conservation Farming Systems for Soil, Water Impacts
Funded by:

33. Rodale’s Farming System Trial, Est. 1981

34. Four randomized treatments
1. Conventional (till)
2. Conservation (no till)
3. Organic no till
4. Organic till
at Stroud Preserve fields 1-4

35.  Major Sampling Efforts
 Soil sampling
 Stream water sampling
 Sensor and weather station installation
 Rainfall simulator experiments
 Infiltration tests

36. Citizen
Science for
Farm Water
Resilience

37. Citizen Science for Farm Water Resilience
How well do farm fields absorb and
retain water?

38. What we’re tracking
Scientific Data:
● Soil Moisture
● Surface Flow
● Precipitation Amounts
Citizen Scientist Measurements:
● Infiltration Rates
● Soil Compaction readings
● Percent Cover Photographs (or
monthly)
Observation Assessments:
Farmer to take observational field
walks three times a season.
Soil sampling will occur at each data
collection site.
All Farms are also part of PASA’s Soil Health Benchmark Study.

39. Data Collection Sites

40. Soil Health and Watersheds
• Increased infiltration – less runoff, more recharge
• Help other BMPs function in extreme weather
• Enhanced nutrient cycling
• Reduced pesticide use
• Anything else???

41. The Soil Health
Movement is a
FARMER-driven
movement!

42. March 31 2016 – Alliance Board Visits the Stroud Center
April 2017 – Stroud Submits 1st Soil Health Proposal to NFWF

43. To Review:
Importance of Small Streams
Aquatic Insects as Indicators
Healthy Soils for Cleaner,
Healthier Waterways

44. Thank You to Many
Farmers, Colleagues,
Partners and Funders

45. Thanks to Many
Soil Pioneers

48. Thank You!
Lamonte Garber
Stroud Water
Research Center
717-576-3287
lgarber@stroudcenter.org
www.stroudcenter.org