This action approves an award in the amount of $1,499,837 to the louisiana state university agricultural center to enhance and protect the water quality of the gulf of mexico by reducing nonpoint…

This action approves an award in the amount of $1,499,837 to the louisiana state university agricultural center to enhance and protect the water quality of the gulf of mexico by reducing nonpoint source nutrient loads. This project will demonstrate how modifications to an existing natural wetland, disturbed by urban expansion, can be implemented efficiently to reduce excess nitrogen and phosphorus loading in urban stormwater runoff.activities:bamboo and giant cane will be planted on the earthen weir to act as a living filter to exclude /catch litter from entering the wetlands. Two abandoned borrow pits will be connected to the primary outfall into the wetlands and act as the primary sediment trap for stormwater nutrient remediation. A wood chip bioreactor will be used as a secondary system to remove nutrients and fine sediments draining from the borrow pits prior to discharge of treated stormwater into a stormwater canal.subrecipient:subrecipient activities will be funded to design, procure, implement, and maintain biofilters, in addition to water sampling analysis and reporting of all results. Outcomes:the deliverables and outcomes of this project are changes in nitrogen and phosphorus rates in addition to the demonstration of litter and solid detention via innovative bioreactor technology and a two borrow PIT system. Ultimately, the reduced nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorus), coarse particulates (sedimentation), and litter will result in improved habitat and water quality of louisiana gulf of mexico watersheds, and consequently the gulf of mexico as a whole. The residents of baton rouge, louisiana and the communities along coastal louisiana in the northern gulf of mexico will benefit from improved water quality.