Volume 1 | Issue 3
DISCOVER UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURAL, CONSUMER AND ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
WHAT WE DO + WHY IT MATTERS
Simply put, research from the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences is changing lives. With expertise in food and agriculture, environment and water, family and communities, health and wellness, and computing and data, our reach is both broad and deep. But uniting us is a commitment to solving real-world problems that affect people and places in Central Illinois, the United States, and the globe. Here, we showcase a fraction of our world-class research in the area of environment and water, demonstrating advancements that could mitigate threats to fisheries, reduce water pollution, and recycle nutrients in short supply.
STOPPING INVASIVE FISH WITH CO2 Invasive bighead and silver carp are filter feeders that can drastically alter aquatic environments and reduce populations of native fish, mollusks, and plankton. Having established in the Mississippi River and its tributaries, the fish now loom at the edge of the Great Lakes. Recognizing the threat, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers erected electric barriers in the Chicago Area Waterway, but they have proven fallible. Illinois researchers have shown treating water with repurposed carbon dioxide can effectively repel carp from an area. The inexpensive treatment is being tested now in a decommissioned lock near Lake Michigan. If proven effective in the field, carbon dioxide could provide another tool to keep the Great Lakes safe from invasive Asian carp.
CO2
Invasive Asian carp threaten the $7 billion fishing industry
CLEANING UP AG DRAINAGE WATER NATURALLY State and federal nutrient reduction strategies call for mitigation of nitrogen and phosphorus in agricultural drainage water, among other sources, to avoid dead zones in the Gulf of Mexico. According to Illinois researchers, saturated buffers may be part of the solution. Many Midwestern farms are equipped with belowground pipes that carry nutrient-rich water into adjacent ditches and streams. In a saturated buffer, these pipes are re-routed to empty into the rooting zone of edge-of-field stream banks. Perennial plants and soil microbes remove excess nutrients before the water reaches streams beyond. Illinois researchers are evaluating the effectiveness of saturated buffers at local and regional scales, and may recommend the passive, inexpensive practice for inclusion in official strategies.
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DISCOVER: ENVIRONMENT & WATER aces-research@illinois.edu
aces.illinois.edu/research/areas/environment-water
RECYCLING NUTRIENTS FROM WASTEWATER When waste from food and energy production enters streams and rivers, water quality suffers and large dead zones in the Gulf of Mexico appear. Illinois scientists are exploring the technological and economic feasibility of recovering phosphorus in wastewater from corn-based starch production plants and recycling it to be used as fertilizer. The team, seeking multi-pronged solutions to reduce nutrient pollution, is also looking into replacing fertilizer-intensive corn with perennial grasses; implementing farm management strategies to reduce nutrient and sediment loss; and gauging the willingness of farmers and consumers to pay for water quality. Ultimately, the goal is to create an integrated modeling tool that can be applied to a diverse range of water pollution scenarios.
Recycling phosphorus could improve water quality
AN URBAN STORMWATER SOLUTION Worldwide urbanization and more frequent floods lead to challenges for rainwater management in urban areas. Permeable pavement is a possible solution, but standard materials are not durable enough for high-traffic roads. Illinois researchers are testing a new type of permeable pavement, developed and patented in Taiwan, that offers the durability of impermeable concrete yet allows for ample water drainage. The new type combines plastic frames and standard concrete to form its structure. In tests, the pavement had permeability equivalent to pervious concrete and the strength of standard concrete. It may also help reduce snow accumulation by letting heat from soil move upwards, and improve air and water quality by allowing for greater filtration.
Strong yet permeable pavement helps rain water management in urban areas
FUNDING SOURCES Invasive Fish: This work was funded by the US Environmental Protection Agency, administered by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources ($300,000), and the US Geological Survey ($669,635). Cory Suski, Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences Contact: suski@illinois.edu Drainage Water: This work was funded through the USDA Farm Service Agency ($12,000). Partial funding was also provided through the Illinois Nutrient Research and Education Council ($499,000). Laura Christianson, Crop Sciences | Reid Christianson, Crop Sciences | Richard Cooke, Agricultural and Biological Engineering | Paul Davidson, Agricultural and Biological Engineering Contact: lechris@illinois.edu Recycling Nutrients: This project was funded by the National Science Foundation ($2.5 M). Vijay Singh, Agricultural and Biological Engineering | Ben Gramig, Agricultural and Consumer Economics | Greg McIsaac, Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences | Ximing Cai, Civil and Environmental Engineering | Roland Cusick, Civil and Environmental Engineering Contact: vsingh@illinois.edu Stormwater Solution: A consortium of private companies in Taiwan ($440,000). Paul Davidson, Agricultural and Biological Engineering | Lu-Ming Chen, Agricultural and Biological Engineering Contact: pdavidso@illinois.edu