Project Number:
WR00R004
Funding Year:
2000
Contract Period:
7/1/2000 - 6/30/2002
Funding Source:
UWS, USGS
Investigator(s):
PIs:- Bryant A. Browne, UW-Stevens Point, Dept. of Water and Soil Resources
Abstract:
Background/Need:
Nitrate is a pervasive and increasing groundwater contaminant in Wisconsin. Many studies have found that nitrate is relatively conservative in groundwater. However, others have shown that nitrate can be transformed to nitrogen gas (denitrified) when reducing conditions are encountered along a groundwater flowpath (e.g., within riparian soil). Inadequate knowledge of groundwater denitrification hinders the development and application of accurate mass balance models for management of nitrate pollution.
Objectives:
The goal of this study was to achieve a better understanding of groundwater denitrification as a basin-scale control of nitrate concentrations and export from Wisconsin basins.