Analyze and model the hydrologic interactions between integrated subirrigated agricultural production and wetland/reservoir systems.
Evaluate the farm-level economics of integrated subirrigated agricultural production and wetland/reservoir systems.

The Maumee River valley, which drains into Lake Erie and was once part of the "Great Black Swamp," is characterized by flat topography with soils that are predominantly heavy clay--glacial deposits and lakebed sediments. Since 1850, a series of extensive drainage projects has permitted the area to be drained, cleared, and farmed, resulting in a very productive farming region, but one which is very dependent on surface and subsurface drainage improvements. Sediment, phosphorus, and nitrate in agricultural runoff are of great concern in the region.

Substantial subirrigation research from Ohio and Michigan established the basis of the demonstration project. However, no research has been conducted on hydrologic interactions within the direct linkage of an agricultural production system and a wetland/reservoir ecological system in the Lake Erie basin. Runoff and drainage from prior converted cropland seasonally feed the wetland/reservoirs, which provide water quality and wildlife habitat functions. However, an equally important function is supplemental water supply to increase corn and soybean yields through a state-of-the-art subirrigation crop production system. This innovative, ecologically sound crop production system will greatly reduce discharge to streams, will improve water quality, will increase wildlife habitat, will increase wetland acres, and will enhance farm profitability. Currently, no work of this focus and extent is being conducted elsewhere in the U.S. Ohio Sea Grant research priorities regarding wetlands, and sediment and nutrient transport are addressed by this proposed work. A management guide, strongly linked with demonstration project educational activities, is vital for producer implementation and success of this innovative system.

Objective 1: Substantial soils, topographic, cropping system, water budget, and chemical data, and engineering design information, will be generated from the demonstration project. Much of this information and data will be used to calibrate existing, state-of-the-art agricultural water management models and design techniques that will be modified to analyze and evaluate the hydrologic interactions between these systems. The selected hydrologic models (DRAINMOD, ADAPT) have the ability to evaluate subirrigation scenarios, and can be used to anlayze and evalute these integrated systems over time using historic climatic records. Long-term subsurface discharge, runnoff, evapotranspiration, chemical movement, water use, water table elevation, and other water budget parameter estimates, as well as crop yields, will be statistically evaluated.

Objective 2: The long-term economic performance of integrated subirrigated agricultural production and wetland/reservoir systems investments relative to systems with no subirrigation/wetland linkage will be analyzed and evaluated. Net present value techniques will be used to value profitability, and linear programming techniques will be used to compare differences in profitability reflecting differences in farm size under the two production systems. Actual capital investments for design and construction will be obtained from each demonstration site. Estimates of the useful life of each component of the system and maintenance costs will be made, and actual production costs, yeilds, and returns will be collected for production of each crop at each site. Historical yield and cost data will be gathered for each site for years prior to the wetlands development. These data will be the basis for comparison of economic costs and returns for each site, prior and subsequent to the wetlands/subirrigation investment.