Non-Basin Technologies for Open Feedlot Runoff:
Demonstration, Implementation, and Modeling

Project Leaders

Dr. Robert Burns, Lara Moody, Carl Pederson, Dan Andersen, Ishadeep Khanijo, Laura Pepple, Ross Muhlbauer, John Lester, Dr. Matt Helmers, and Dr. John Lawrence

Project Background

CAFO rules released by the EPA in 2003 include verbiage for use of modeled and tested Alternative Technologies proved to be as effective as traditional basin systems. The technologies in this study are settling basins releasing to Vegetated Infiltration Basins (VIBs) combined with Vegetated Treatment Areas (VTAs) or settling basins releasing to VTAs. The results are being compared to potential annual control attainable with traditional containment systems. This work is continued from a project started by Jeff Lorimor.

Settling Basin and a Vegetated Treatment Area

Project Objectives:

• Evaluate through field monitoring, performance of VIBs and VTAs on six sites in Iowa that were designed using the developed models.
• Assess feasiblility of VIBs and VTAs as alternative systems
• Assess feasibility of the models for design of future systems.
• Quantify contaminant concentrations and annual mass flow from treatment areas receiving settled feedlot runoff.

Sites are equipped with automated sampling and monitoring equipment. Sampling occurs on an event basis and includes flow measurement to calculate pollutant mass. Monthly groundwater and annual soil samples are also collected.

Measurement of water volume from VTA using a flume.

 Related Publications:

USDA/NRCS. Vegetative Treatment Systems for Open Feedlot Runoff: A Collaborative Report. June 2006

R.V. Muhlbauer, I. Khanijo, R.T. Burns, L.B. Moody, L.M. Pepple, C.H. Pederson. Low Cost Method for Monitoring Flow from a Vegetative Treatment System. 2007. Proceedings: International Symposium on Air Quality and Waste Management for Agriculture. September 16-19, 2007.

I. Khanijo, R. Burns, L. Moody, M. Helmers, J. Lawrence, C. Pederson, D. Anderson. Vegetated Treatment System Models: Modeled vs. Measured Performance. 2007. Proceedings: International Symposium on Air Quality and Waste Management for Agriculture. September 16-19, 2007.

L. Moody, N. Heithoff, R. Burns, C. Pederson, I. Khanijo. Settling Basin Design and Performance for Runoff Control from Beef Feedlots. 2007. Proceedings: International Symposium on Air Quality and Waste Management for Agriculture. September 16-19, 2007.

Khanijo, I., R. T. Burns, L. B. Moody, C. H. Pederson. 2006. Evaluation of Cost Effective Methods for Measuring Runoff Volume from Vegetated Treatment Areas. ASABE Paper #064047. St. Joseph, MI: ASABE.

Moody, L. B., C. H. Pederson, R. T. Burns, I. Khanijo. 2006. Vegetative Treatment Systems for Open Feedlot Runoff: Project Design and Monitoring Methods for Five Commercial Beef Feedlots. ASABE Paper #064145. St. Joseph, MI: ASABE.

Presentations:

VTS Basic Overview Presentation (pdf)

Beef Feedlot Runoff Control Alternative Technology

The model documentation contains information on operating each of the models as well as information about the user inputs, model operations, and model outputs (graphs and tables). Before running any of the models, you will have to download and install the Model Maker software. The 30-day trial version can only be loaded on any particular machine one time. After loading the software, you can run the model by saving it to a location on your desktop and opening the saved file within Model Maker.

Model Documentation Version 1.003

Model Maker Trial Version (required to run Models, good for 30 days)

Zip File -AT & ELG Models

Case Study #1: Sac City, IA. Contains results of ELG and VTA Model Runs
Case Study #1 Output Sheet

Case Study #2: Sioux Falls, SD. Contains results of ELG and VIB-VTA Model Runs
Case Study #2 Output Sheet

Weather Files