Jones Dairy Farm Treatment Wetlands

Purpose: This project created two shallow freshwater wetland systems totaling over 12 acres that receive runoff from a combined 756 acres of cropland and the 40-acre dairy Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation footprint.

Project: This project is an effort to maximize the nutrient processing and habitat potential of marginal crop ground at the interface of agricultural production and the natural landscape. Shallow emergent wetlands were installed just downstream of two large drainages (one in the Upper Chester and one in the Sassafras) receiving runoff from the dairy operation and crop ground irrigated with dairy effluent pumped from the waste lagoons. This system was sized and designed based on efficiencies established for wastewater treatment wetlands in order to handle the expected high nutrient levels generated. The project included planting over 9,000 two-inch emergent vegetation plugs; incorporating course woody debris and carbon sources; and constructing micro-topography to maximize habitat, promote denitrification and nutrient cycling, and jumpstart critical wetland processes. All wetland cells are controlled via AgriDrain water management structures in order to provide maximum flexibility in manipulating water levels to promote dense emergent vegetation.  

Cost: $660,900 funded by Maryland Department of Natural Resources and Chesapeake Bay Trust

Estimated Pollution Reductions: 298 lbs of Nitrogen, 9.4 lbs of Phosphorus, and 7.2 tons of sediment annually.