Using stream bioassessment protocols to monitor impacts of a confined swine operation

The processing of waste from confined animal feeding operations (CAFOs) presents a major environmental challenge. Treatment of waste and subsequent land application is a common best management practice (BMP) for these operations in Kentucky, USA, but there are few data assessing the effect of runoff...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of the American Water Resources Association 2006-06, Vol.42 (3), p.747-753
Main Authors: Jack, J, Kelley, R.H, Stiles, D
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
agricultural runoff
aquatic invertebrates
aquatic organisms
best management practices (BMPs)
bioindicators
concentrated animal feeding operations
confined animal feeding operations (CAFOs)
Earth sciences
Earth, ocean, space
Engineering and environment geology. Geothermics
environmental monitoring
Exact sciences and technology
hydrochemistry
Hydrology. Hydrogeology
indicator species
macroinvertebrates
nonpoint source pollution
periphyton
Pollution, environment geology
streams
swine
water pollution
water quality
Water resources
watersheds
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Summary:The processing of waste from confined animal feeding operations (CAFOs) presents a major environmental challenge. Treatment of waste and subsequent land application is a common best management practice (BMP) for these operations in Kentucky, USA, but there are few data assessing the effect of runoff from such operations on aquatic communities. The authors sampled a stream bordering a CAFO with a land application program to determine if runoff from the fertilized fields was adversely affecting stream communities. Water chemistry, periphyton, and macroinvertebrate samples from riffle habitats downstream of the CAFO were compared to samples collected from an upstream site and a control stream in 1999 and 2000. Riffle communities downstream of the fertilized fields had higher chlorophyll a levels than other sites, but there were no significant differences in macroinvertebrate numbers or in biometrics such as taxa richness among the sites. The BMP in place at this site may be effective in reducing this CAFO's impact on the stream; however, similar assessments at other CAFO sites should be done to assess their impacts. Functional measures such as nutrient retention and litter decomposition of streams impacted by CAFOs should also be investigated to ensure that these operations are not adversely affecting stream communities.
ISSN:1093-474X
1752-1688
DOI:10.1111/j.1752-1688.2006.tb04489.x