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UVM Constructed Wetland Research Center
500 Spear St.
South Burlington, VT

Constructed Wetland Research Center
at the Paul Miller Dairy Farm

Dr. Aleksandra Drizo - Research Director

University of Vermont
Plant and Soil Science Department
100 Hills Building
Burlington, VT 05405
Office:  802.656.2717
Fax:  802.656.4656
Member:  

IRWE logo
Integrated Research on Water in Environment (IRWE)

Bio Sketch  (MS Word file)

 
Faculty and Staff


 Dr. Aleksandra Drizo
Research Assistant Professor
Department of Plant and Soil Science

Dr. Don Ross
Research Associate Professor
Department of Plant and Soil Science

Dr. Greg Druschel
Assistant Professor
Department of Geology

Dr. Heather Darby
Adjunct Extension Assistant Professor 
Department of Plant and Soil Science
Link to:  UVM Extension and Outreach Program
Link to:  UVM Nutrient and Manure Management

Colleen Armstrong
Greenhouse Manager
Department of Plant and Soil Science

Eamon Twohig
Research Technician
Department of Plant and Soil Science
135 Hills Bldg.
Burlington, VT 05405
Lab:  802.656.0488
Office:  802.656.1005

  Current Graduate Student Projects


Nitrogen Transformations and Removal in Constructed Wetlands
(project started Summer 2005 - ongoing)

Mathew Cunningham
Masters Student
Plant and Soil Science

matt sampling

 

Greenhouse Gas Emissions from
Constructed Wetlands
(project started Spring 2005 - ongoing)

Eamon Twohig
Masters Student
Plant and Soil Science

Hit Link to Visit Website

ETsample1   

ETsample2



Phosphorus Removal from Milk Parlor Waste Water Using EAF Slag Filters
(project started Spring 2005 - ongoing)

Simon Bird
Masters Student
Plant and Soil Science

SBFilters



Past Graduate Students
and
Current Endeavors

Alternative Phosphorus Filter Technology for Wastewater Treatment on
Vermont Dairy Farms

 David Weber
Masters Student (Feb 2006)
Plant and Soil Science

DW_Pshed

Current Employment:

Medium Farm Operations Manager
email

Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets
http://www.vermontagriculture.com

VT-Ag



Flow Patterns of Dairy Farm Wastewater
Constructed Wetlands in a Cold Climate

Pete Munoz
Masters Student (2006)
Civil & Environmental Engineering

Current  Employment:
 
CoFounder/President
SeedsLogo




Effects of Subsurface Constructed Wetland Environments on Emergent Wetland Plant Root Architecture, Biomass Accumulation, and Microbial Diversity

Tom DiPietro
Masters Student (Feb 2005)
Plant and Soil Science
hit link to view pdf of academic poster
Current Employment: 

Stormwater Superintendent
email
sb_storm_logo


Dave Whitney
Masters Student (2003)
Civil & Environmental Engineering


Constructed Wetlands Research

wetlandoverview

wetland landscape

Panoramic view of UVM constructed wetlands taken in August 2004. See more photos...

Wetland repairs carried out in September/October 2005

 

CWRC Objectives:
  • Develop research, education, and outreach projects at the Constructed Wetlands Research Center (CWRC) established at the UVM Dairy Farm.
  • Assess treatment efficiency (nitrogen, phosphorus, organic matter and suspended solids removal, temperature, pH and redox potential) of the CW system and evaluate changes in seasonal performance. 
  • Investigate nitrogen (N) transformations within the CW, and the ways N removal can be improved.
  • Evaluate greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions (N2O, CH4 and CO2) from the CW system.  
  • Determine the microbial populations at the root/plants and gravel interfaces.
  • Promote collaboration among various departments within UVM, University of Vermont Extension and Agricultural Experiment Station, as well as cooperative activities with State and Federal Agencies, private businesses, local schools, and researchers from other Universities.

Phosphorus Filters
Reseach

Alternative Technology for Phosphorus Reduction of Dairy Effluent
DW_AD_filters
 


Objectives
  • To reduce Phoshorus (P) concentration of the dairy farm effluent to environmentally acceptable levels.
  • Assess treatment efficiency of the filter systems (both as a stand alone unit and as an upgrade of constructed wetland system) in organic matter and P removal and evaluate changes in their seasonal performance.
  • Determine optimal filters design to achieve maximum treatment efficiency.

Hit Link to View PowerPoint Presentation Titled:

THE USE OF EAF STEEL SLAG FOR POINT
AND NON POINT SOURCES
PHOSPHORUS POLLUTION PREVENTION AND CONTROL


Phosphorus Removal from Milk Parlor Effluent
Using EAF Steel Slag Filters 
    

       slag
       
   Electric arc furnace slag in the phosphorus filter. 
 

Objectives

  • Assess treatment efficiency of the filter systems in organic matter removal and evaluate changes in their seasonal performance.

  • Assess filters potential for on-site farm applications.

  • Determine engineering requirements for the optimal filter design to achieve maximum treatment efficiency.

  • Assess the potential of re-using filters material as a fertilizer for on-farm applications.

           slag_fertilizer

See more photos...


Internships


Undergraduate Research/Opportunities
Phosphorus Removal from Dairy Effluents Using Steel Slag Mechanisms

 Undergraduate Honors Thesis Project
College of Agriculture and Life Science
Department of Animal Science

Also member of:

CREAM_logo
UVM Courses that are involved with the CWRC

Chemistry of Soil and Water (PSS 264)   D. Ross
Soil Water Movement (PSS 266)   D. Ross
Pollutant Transport in Soil, Water and Air (ENSC 101)
D.  Ross
Pollutant Transport in Soil, Water and Air (CE 295)
N. Hayden
Field Methods in Water Resources (NR 255)
A. McIntosh
Wetland Ecology & Mgmnt (NR 260)   S. Levine
Fundamentals of Soil Science (PSS 161)   W. Harper

Research Supported By

Senator Jeffords Office
USDA CSREES Special Research Grant
csreeslogo


Senator Pat Leahy
Earmark for VT Natural Resources Conservation Service to Promote Alternative Manure Management.
more information



EPSCORlogo
Mini - Grant for Use of UVM Facilities for UVM Facility




lcbp_logo
http://www.lcbp.org/