Influence of tile drains on sediment connectivity between shallow agricultural terrain and Snyder's Ditch, Orwell, Ohio : baseline assessment

Abstract

Sediment transportation through drains/ pipes is not very well understood. High amounts of sediment in waterways can cause over sedimentation as well as effect aquatic organisms. Snyder's Ditch is an altered channel in a former wetland located on Orwell, Ohio that was converted for the purposes of agriculture. Tile drains and outflow pipes were installed to drain the crop fields as well as along the anthropogenic stream. Sediment transportation through the pipes was measured during five rain event from summer of 2013 and the spring of 2014. Varying landcover encompasses the channel and provides fundamental information on sediment transportation on different terrain. The study is based on seasonal data over the period of one year. Total solids, suspended solids, and volatile solids were analyzed from eight different sampling locations along the stream. Results concluded that the intensity and duration of the rain event decides the sediment/ volatile load outcome as well as the time of year the samples were taken.