Mississippi River Basin Initiative (MRBI)-Eel River Watershed

Mississippi River Basin Initiative (MRBI)-Eel River Watershed The Eel river watershed was 1 of only 41 within the entire Mississippi River Basin chosen to be funded and monitored.

Manchester College received a $2.9 million dollar grant from The Department of Agriculture through NRCS to cost-share 75% with farmers in Kosciusko and Wabash counties to implement best management practices in hopes of improving the water quality in the Middle Eel River Watershed, and ultimately the Mississippi River Basin. The Initiative will help producers implement conservation practices that a

void, control, and trap nutrient runoff; improve wildlife habitat; and maintain agricultural productivity (Indiana NRCS 2011.) The Mississippi River Basin drains an area of 1.2 million square miles in 31 states (NRCS). The United States Geological Survey (USGS) estimates that 58% of land use within the basin is devoted to agriculture. The excess nutrients that drain into the Gulf of Mexico via the Mississippi River is the primary cause of the hypoxic zone.

07/21/2011

There was not enough water flowing at 1200 S, 1250 S, or the South Y of Little Field to perform a fish survey. No IBI was calculated. IBI is an acronym for Index of Biotic Integrity. Next is the QHEI (Qualitative Habitat Evaluation Index), a survey of the habitat.

07/21/2011

Calculated IBI ratings today for all MRBI sites. Results are:
Plunge/Middle = Poor/fair
Plunge downstream = Poor
Swank = Poor
Nelsons = Fair
Downstream site of Little Field = Very poor
North Y of Little Field = Poor

There are 6 sites sampled along the ditch that runs through the field. They are called North Y, South Y, Upstream, Free...
07/20/2011

There are 6 sites sampled along the ditch that runs through the field. They are called North Y, South Y, Upstream, Freeflowing tile, Inline tile, and Downstream of tiles.
This field was chosen because an inline water control structure was implemented.

07/14/2011
Two Deer at Plunge middle site.
07/14/2011

Two Deer at Plunge middle site.

07/14/2011

Next week we will begin Biological and Habitat Surveys on MRBI sites.

06/16/2011
Google earth image of the new field. A sample site will be on each side of the "Y," one in the middle, one at the free f...
06/13/2011

Google earth image of the new field. A sample site will be on each side of the "Y," one in the middle, one at the free flowing tile, one at the inline structure, and one downstream of the rest.

06/13/2011

There have been 6 more sites added to monitor a ditch corresponding to an MRBI field that has implemented a water control inline structure. A water control inline structure allows farmers to regulate water depth in order to make excess nutrients and water more accessible to crops.

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North Manchester, IN

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