Drainage and Water Management Education

Gary Sands, Assistant Professor and Extension Engineer
Jerry Wright, Associate Professor and Extension Engineer, West Central Research and Outreach Center, Morris, MN
Lowell Busman, Extension Educator, Southern Research and Outreach Center, Waseca, MN
Leonard Binstock, Minnesota Land Improvement Contractors
Zach Fore, Extension Cropping Systems Specialist, Northwest Minnesota
Hans Kandel, Extension Educator, Red Lake County
University of Minnesota Extension Educators
Minnesota West Community and Technical College, Canby, MN
Stewart Melvin, Extension Engineer, Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering, Iowa State University
James Baker, Professor, Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering, Iowa State University
Hal Werner, Extension Engineer, South Dakota State University
Thomas Scherer, Extension Engineer, North Dakota State University
Larry Brown, Extension Engineer, The Ohio State University
Minnesota Department of Agriculture
Minnesota Pollution Control Agency
USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service
Industry Partners

Objectives

1. Increase the general level of understanding with regard to the science of drainage, its impact on hydrology and water quality.
2. Develop knowledge and adoption of methods to incorporate environmental objectives, as well as agronomic objectives, in drainage design and management.
3. Facilitate dissemination of relevant research results.
4. Garner input and feedback from stakeholders with regard to needs for future programming, leadership, and applied research to address agricultural water management issues.

Need or Impact

Designers and installers of drainage systems in Minnesota need opportunities to refine their design skills. In northwestern Minnesota, where subsurface drainage is a relatively new practice, farmers and other stakeholders are interested in learning more about the feasibility of subsurface drainage and the important technical concerns. In southern Minnesota where subsurface drainage has a long history, educational needs exist with respect to curbing nutrient losses associated with drainage systems and more fully understanding the relationships between economics and environmental quality. Throughout the state, agency professionals, local water and watershed authorities, county administrators, farmers, agricultural professionals, and the general public increasingly demand educational programming on the science of drainage: why it is needed, how it works, and how it influences both hydrology and water quality.

Status

Ongoing.