(Rough) Plan

• Research sediment make-up of various locations along the Mississippi river
• Identify variances in sediment composition 
• Use said variances to acquire data on hydraulic conductivity in laboratory setting
• Replicate sediment make-up for each chosen location and test using simple in lab model 

       

      Ag runoff increases the nitrogen and phosphorous levels in the river. This increased nutrient ratio eventually reaches the Gulf of Mexico thus creating a hypoxic zone, or dead zone. Sediment serves as a natural filter which can help keep water nutrients balanced by removing excess nitrogen and/or phosphorous. Testing the hydraulic conductivity of different sediment make-ups could allow for identifying which types of sediment may be more efficient filters. Assuming that time spent flowing through the sediment correlates with increased filtration, the sediment variation with the most efficient filtration would result in a longer time period while still allowing the water to move through freely.

     Samples from local areas may be collected (weather permitting) for testing and ratios of sediment layers based on the chosen research locations will be recreated to the approximate specifications found using (possibly) a variety of local and acquired materials.

     It is possible that extra time spent in the sediment layers may not improve the filtration, however, research and simple water testing may allow for further insight. (I have a small tester that will detect various minerals at a basic level however, the precision is not ideal). Previous studies and DNR resources may show certain sediment capabilities.

Possible sediments include: clay, sand (of various coarseness), pebbles, and several mixtures of each.