Engineered biochar mixed media filtration systems to removephosphorus from irrigation tailwater returns to upper klamathlake phase 2 pilot projectbenefit to fisheries restorationengineered biochar…

The Klamath Watershed Partnership will receive $175,000 from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service under the Partners for Fish and Wildlife cooperative agreement program to support engineered biochar mixed media filtration systems to remove phosphorus from irrigation tailwater returns to Upper Klamath Lake. The project aims to build on previous efforts evaluating the utility of engineered biochar mineral media to decrease external total phosphorus loads associated with irrigation tailwater pumped to Upper Klamath Lake, particularly during winter months. A secondary goal is to determine if spent engineered biochar media saturated with phosphorus has value as an agricultural fertilizer or for carbon sequestration. By addressing total phosphorus loading to Upper Klamath Lake, the project supports the survival and recovery of endangered Lost River and shortnose suckers under the Endangered Species Act and aligns with tribal management priorities in the Upper Klamath Basin.

Engineered biochar mixed media filtration systems to removephosphorus from irrigation tailwater returns to upper klamathlake phase 2 pilot projectbenefit to fisheries restorationengineered biochar mineral media ebmm is an increasingly popular and economic option totreat nutrient rich waters this is relevant because the survival and recovery of ESA listedsuckers in UKL depends in large part on reducing the scale, scope, and duration of cyanobacteriablooms in upper klamath lake UKL , and subsequent improvement of water qualityconditions a 40 percent reduction in external TP load to UKL is necessary to controlcyanobacteria blooms furthermore, recent research indicates that wintertime TP load inparticular drives P availability for cyanobacteria during the summer numerous actions, including reduction or treatment of irrigation tailwater returns to UKL, are recommended toreduce external TP load the primary purpose of the proposed project is to build on previous work in the basininvestigating the utility of ebmm to decrease external TP load associated with irrigationtailwater pumped to UKL, particularly during the winter the secondary purpose of the proposedwork is to determine if spent ebmm that is, ebmm fully saturated with P to the point that PIS no longer sequestered is an effective means to store carbon and has value as an agriculturalfertilizer this project therefore directly addresses a key limiting factor water quality in UKL tothe survival and recovery of suckers, and has additional benefits related to carbon sequestrationand agricultural production in the basin please refer to attached proposal for additional details alignment with tribal prioritiesactions that improve survival and facilitate recovery of ESA listed suckers support tribalpriorities in the upper klamath basin the proposed project aims to reduce external TP load toukl and therefore directly aligns with tribal priorities indeed, staff of the klamath tribeshave shown considerable interest in this work and are supportive of the proposed project