Water quality research, outreach to be highlighted at Ag Progress Days

Research on green roofs, such as this one on the Forest Resources Building, will be highlighted at Ag Progress Days.

A wide range of research and outreach related to water quality will be highlighted by special exhibits at Penn State's Ag Progress Days Aug. 18 to 20 at Rock Springs.

With the theme, "Water: Our Resource, Our Future," the College of Agricultural Sciences Exhibits Building, on Main Street between West 9th and West 10th streets (near the farmhouse), will show how the college's teaching, research and extension programs are raising awareness about water quality and quantity issues in Pennsylvania.

"Protecting and enhancing the precious water resources of the commonwealth have been an integral part of Penn State's land-grant mission since the University's inception," said Bryan Swistock, water resources specialist with Penn State Cooperative Extension. "These days, we are focusing on threats to water quality and quantity like never before, and I think that's reflected in these exhibits."

Among displays in the College Exhibits Building:

-- Green roof technology: Penn State is at the forefront of green roof research and implementation, with green roofs on a number of campus buildings. Researchers in the college have been studying green roofs for more than a decade, and Penn State's Center for Green Roof Research was the first of its kind in North America. Also, Penn State was the first institution to offer a class in which students design and construct green roofs and living walls on real structures.

"The green roof concept is ancient -- a roof covered with vegetation -- but the current application to urban stormwater management is new," said Swistock. "There are many environmental benefits of green roofs, and they are shown at the exhibit."

-- Penn State rainfall demonstrator: This exhibit will showcase the effects of 30 years of continuous no-till cropping on runoff and erosion compared with reduced tillage and conventional tillage.

-- Drinking water quality and testing: There are more than one million private wells in Pennsylvania, and about half of those tested have at least one water-quality problem. Testing well water allows families to eliminate contaminants in their drinking water. Presented by Penn State's Master Well Owners Network, Pennsylvania’s volunteer network for private water-system protection, this exhibit offers information for those who depend on private water systems.

"Our trained volunteers educate rural homeowners on best practices to protect and maintain private water supplies," said Swistock. "Visitors can ask our volunteers questions about their private well, spring or cistern or pick up educational materials that can teach them how to safely manage their private water system."

According to Swistock, visitors can learn about the top five health-threatening drinking-water contaminants: coliform bacteria, E. coli, lead/copper (corrosivity), nitrate-nitrogen and arsenic, and the top five nuisance or aesthetic drinking water contaminants: hardness, hydrogen sulfide, iron, manganese and turbidity.
Penn State’s Agricultural Analytical Laboratory, a state-certified water-testing lab, also will have an exhibit to provide information on water-testing packages available from the lab and through county Cooperative Extension offices for both human and livestock drinking water.

-- The Conewago Creek Discovery Watershed Project: A targeted watershed initiative of the college is aimed at restoring the Conewago Creek in Lebanon and Lancaster counties, which is polluted with sediments and nutrients from agricultural and other nonpoint sources of runoff, and as a result is unable to sustain fish and other aquatic life found in healthy streams.

-- Aquatic invasive plants: Non-native plants are appearing at an alarming rate in streams, ponds and lakes across Pennsylvania. These invasive plants threaten the diversity and abundance of native aquatic plants. They can interfere with water uses, including drinking water, industrial water intake and recreation. They can affect the ability of ponds, lakes and streams to support native fisheries and wildlife, lower water quality and cause significant financial losses to Pennsylvania’s economy.

-- The importance of nutrient management: Nutrient management is critical to restoring water quality and keeping a balance in our local water sources. Nutrients are an essential part of agriculture, used to raise healthy crops and livestock, but nutrients from feed and fertilizer can also be a detriment to our environment when too much reaches our water sources.

"Excess nutrients and sediments leach into bodies of water from many different sources," said Swistock. "An excess of nutrients can boost aquatic plant growth and disrupt the gentle balance of aquatic ecosystems. When this occurs, organisms die off, and water sources are unable to support aquatic life. We see this clearly with the anoxic areas, or dead zones, that have developed in the Chesapeake Bay and the Gulf of Mexico."

-- Water conservation: Each person in Pennsylvania uses over 60 gallons of water every day just in their home. Some of this water is heated for cooking, bathing and washing, resulting in significant energy costs. Visitors to this exhibit will learn how and why they should conserve water. Simple water-conserving appliances can reduce annual household energy costs by hundreds of dollars. Conserving water also can promote better functioning of on-lot septic or sewer systems.

Sponsored by Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences, Ag Progress Days is held at the Russell E. Larson Agricultural Research Center at Rock Springs, nine miles southwest of State College on Route 45. Hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Aug. 18; 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Aug. 19; and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Aug. 20. Admission and parking are free.

For more information, visit the Ag Progress Days Web site at http://apd.psu.edu/ online.