Dredged sediment for agriculture: Lake Paradise

Lembke, W.D.; Mitchell, J.K.; Fehrenbacher, J.B.; Barcelona, M.J.

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/89878 Copy

Description

Title

Dredged sediment for agriculture: Lake Paradise

Author(s)

• Lembke, W.D.
• Mitchell, J.K.
• Fehrenbacher, J.B.
• Barcelona, M.J.

Contributor(s)

• University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
• Illinois State Water Survey

Issue Date

1983-01

Keyword(s)

• Water resource development
• Water resource development--Illinois
• Agriculture
• Water supply
• Sediment
• Terraces
• Irrigation
• Drainage
• Water quality
• Agricultural production

Geographic Coverage

Illinois (state)

Abstract

Lake Paradise, a water supply lake for Mattoon, Illinois, has lost much of its capacity due to sediment. This was a study to determine the agricultural benefit of Lake Paradise sediment when applied to farmland on the lake watershed. About 170 cubic yards of sediment were hauled to a demonstration site. While this method is probably not practical economically on an agricultural scale, it did provide a way to evaluate the sediment productivity during the short (one year) term of this project. About 2100 yards of sediment were also pumped to the demonstration site using a hydraulic dredge. This was stored behind agricultural terraces and is being dewatered using three subsurface drainage methods. A study was also conducted of the water chemistry of Lake Paradise during the dredging operation. Results showed a significant yield increase of corn yields on the hauled sediment plots compared to the original farmland. About $100 per acre increased net returns resulted which would help defray some costs of lake reclamation. It was found that the costs of lake reclamation by applying dredged sediment to farmland using terraces is directly related to the steepness of the land slope. Spray irrigating sediment was found to be comparable in cost to storing behind terraces with the disadvantage that spray irrigation is limited to soils or special soil management practices where erosion can be controlled. A study was conducted of the water chemistry of Lake Paradise during the dredging operation. Results showed that the project had a minimal effect on lake water quality.

Publisher

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Water Resources Center

Type of Resource

text

Language

English

Permalink

http://hdl.handle.net/2142/89878

Sponsor(s)/Grant Number(s)

• U.S. Geological Survey
• U.S. Department of the Interior

Copyright and License Information

Copyright 1983 held by the authors

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