CICEET Progress Report for the period 3/01/04 through 8/31/04

Project Title: Developing a Desktop DNDC Tool for Evaluating Best Management Practices for Reducing Nutrient Loading to Elkhorn Slough NERR.
Principal Investigator(s): Changsheng Li, William Salas

Accomplishments
Scheduled Tasks:
During the third six-month project period we had identified four main tasks in our previous report. However, after further discussions with users and collaborators from the first workshop held in 2003, we modified our objections for this project period to the following 6 tasks:
(1) Refine our Product Generation System (PGS) to enable users to create a suite of a priori defined output products.
(2) Refine ES-DNDC model by adding fertigation and further improving physiological and phenological parameters for the vegetable/fruit crops in CA
(3) Model testing
(4) hold second workshop at Elkhorn Slough NERR in June 2004 for distribution of the final product and training of local stakeholders,
(5) create and distribute final ES-DNDC tool, and
(6) write final report.

Progress on Tasks
Task 1: Refining our Product Generation System
The ES-DNDC Product Generation System (PGS) utilizes the functionality of ArcView 3.2 geographic information system (GIS) software to allow for the display of geospatial and statistical output from ES-DNDC. The PGS utilizes the easy-to-use ArcView interface and its inherently powerful scripting capabilities to create an intuitive environment with advanced functionalities. The ES-DNDC PGS allows for the mapping of regional-scale results as single scenarios (Figure 1) or dual comparative scenarios on a single page (Figure 2). The PGS also allows for the mapping of individual ES-DNDC site level results and the display of accompanying Monte Carlo statistics and histograms single page (Figure 3). The PGS also allows for the mapping of individual ES-DNDC site level results and the display of accompanying Monte Carlo statistics and histograms.

The ES-DNDC PGS interface is composed of four primary components, the main map chooser window (Figure 4), the scenario chooser window (Figure 5), the navigational control panel (Figure 5) and the main map display window. The main map chooser window allows users to select one of the above-mentioned maps (e.g. regional, site, land use, etc.) for display. The scenario chooser window allows for the selection of ES-DNDC model run scenarios and variables for mapping modeled results. The scenario chooser window also allows for the turning on/off of base layer overlays within the main map display window. These overlays include a standard graticule, a water layer, streams, parcels, land use, and roads. The navigational control panel is a suite of tools for zooming in/out and moving within the main map display window. The main map display window contains many static elements such as titles, north arrows, logos and project text, but also contains dynamic elements such as the scenario/variable map, an automatic scale bar, a dynamic locus map, and summary tables.

Task 2: Model Refinements
Based on requests from the users in CA, functions for fertigation were added into the model to simulate the combined irrigation and fertilization practices. An interface was set to allow users to select their fertigation files which contain daily amount of water used for irrigation and N concentration in the water. In addition, crop parameters (e.g., crop residue fraction etc.) for strawberry, lettuce, citrus, grape etc. were modified based on new data from references.

Task 3: Model Testing
While there are some data available, they are not well suited for model validation. For example, we have obtained some tile flow data for a small region in the watershed. The tile flow data contained nitrate concentration and flow rates. However, without information on the drainage area feeding the tiles, we cannot simulate the tile loading. Therefore, availability of field data for a comprehensive validation continues to be a concern. However, we anticipate that more field data will be available in the near future through new activities in the region (e.g. Santa Clara Valley Water District irrigation and fertilizer project) and plan to continue to look for suitable data for validation. Now that we have begun to distribute this tool, we anticipate validation efforts will continue. These efforts will include our own validation efforts, as well as independent validation as users being to apply the tool for their own applications.

Task 4: Hold 2nd Workshop
We held our 2nd two-day workshop on June 7th and 8th 2004 at the Elkhorn Slough NERR and Moss Landing Computer Labs. Through consultation with staff at Elkhorn Slough NERR and UC Santa Cruz researchers, we decided to have a smaller number of workshop participants so that we could be more focused and have more hands on time with each interested user.

Task 5: Model Distribution
Each workshop participant received a copy of the ES-DNDC tool and databases on CD-ROM. In addition ES-DNDC tool and databases can be downloaded from http://www.dndc.sr.unh.edu.

Task 6: Final Report
Final report is being generated and will be submitted within 3 months of project end date.

Difficulties Encountered
Availability of suitable validation data for these unique agricultural systems of Coastal California continues to be a problem. Based on our discussion with local researchers there is not a large amount of nitrate leaching data available within the Elkhorn Slough watershed.

Anticipated Success in Meeting Project Objectives in Scheduled Project Period
We have met all our modeling objectives, as well as developing a strong outreach component of interested users from regional and state level stakeholders.

Preliminary Data
The goal of this project is to create a tool for the local regulators, farmers, or researchers. As our major product, ES-DNDC is available now. It can be downloaded from http://www.dndc.sr.unh.edu.

Tasks and activities for the next reporting period

A final project report will be submitted to the CICEET program office within 3 months of project end date.

Concerns or difficulties
We have no major concerns.

Expenditures
Our project expenditures are in line with expected costs.