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CARBON CAPTURE FARMING CARBON CAPTURE FARMING USGS R&D Project in collaboration with CA DWR and many other state partners An Introduction to: DATE RECD. DOCKET 09-IEP-1P May 26 2009 May 26 2009

An Introduction to: CARBON CAPTURE FARMING

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Page 1: An Introduction to: CARBON CAPTURE FARMING

CARBON CAPTURE FARMINGCARBON CAPTURE FARMINGUSGS R&D Project

in collaboration with CA DWR and many other state partners

An Introduction to:

DATE RECD.

DOCKET09-IEP-1P

May 26 2009

May 26 2009

Page 2: An Introduction to: CARBON CAPTURE FARMING

1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006-10

-5

0

5

10

15

BIOMASS ACCRETION

PROBABLE SUBSIDENCE

YEAR

Land

Sur

face

Cha

nge

(in)

Punch Line

Page 3: An Introduction to: CARBON CAPTURE FARMING

Historic compactionMicrobial oxidation of peat soils dominant causePeat islands subsided up to 25 feet below sea levelOngoing subsidence of a few inches per year

20+ Years of Research on Delta

Subsidence

Page 4: An Introduction to: CARBON CAPTURE FARMING

Continuous Flooding Found to Stop Microbial Oxidation

Page 5: An Introduction to: CARBON CAPTURE FARMING

1997-presentDemonstration Pond

Experiment

Used existing water management infrastructure—siphons and island drainsCreated two 7½ acre wetlandsMaintained constant water levels

West Pond: 10 in. deep

East Pond: 22 in. deep

Page 6: An Introduction to: CARBON CAPTURE FARMING

Leveled Field Site

Page 7: An Introduction to: CARBON CAPTURE FARMING

Flooded and Planted With Tules and Cattails

Page 8: An Introduction to: CARBON CAPTURE FARMING

Site Studies…

Biomass accretionGas Fluxes

Page 9: An Introduction to: CARBON CAPTURE FARMING

Site Studies……

ET MeasurementsDecomposition

Water Budgets Wetland Management

and Dissolved Organic Carbon Characteristics

Page 10: An Introduction to: CARBON CAPTURE FARMING

Net CO2 Sequestered Varied Spatially

-20

-10

0

10

20

30

40

50CarbonCaptureWetland

Delta Corn Crops

Car

bon

Dio

xide

(met

ric to

ns p

er a

cre)

~30TCO2

Highest accretion in dense stands

No accretion in open water

Moderate accretion in shallow pond

Page 11: An Introduction to: CARBON CAPTURE FARMING

East Wetland, Land Surface Elevation

17.2 in

Year1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006

Land

Sur

face

Ele

vatio

n (in

)

-10

-5

0

5

10

15

Land Surface Accretion

Probable Subsidence

17.2 inches / 8 years = 2.15 inches/year

*

* 2003 - 2005: 3.9 inches/year

And temporally….

Page 12: An Introduction to: CARBON CAPTURE FARMING

-20

-10

0

10

20

30

40

50

Prairie ForestMarsh

CarbonCaptureWetland

Delta Corn

Car

bon

Dio

xide

(met

ric to

ns p

er a

cre)

Net CO2 Sequestered by Different Land Uses

Page 13: An Introduction to: CARBON CAPTURE FARMING

Emergent plants shaded water, lowered temp., algal activity, & DOMaximum accretion where water circulation lowRiver water nitrate rich, nitrate and methane emissions decreased along flow paths

→“Sweet spot” where conditions:• retard decomposition• minimal nitrate and methane emissions• high sequestration rates

Observations from Demonstration Ponds

Page 14: An Introduction to: CARBON CAPTURE FARMING

The Research Plan

Page 15: An Introduction to: CARBON CAPTURE FARMING

Characterize specifics of biogeochemical processesTest responses to flow rates, plant communities, sediment amendmentsTest responses across range of estuarine environmental conditionsCalibrate DNDC model to plot conditions

Research Elements

Page 16: An Introduction to: CARBON CAPTURE FARMING

Identify conditions which minimize methyl mercury production and exportCharacterize methyl mercury levels in wetland food chainQuantify formation of dissolved organic matter and offsite transportAssess linkages between manageable wetland conditions and GHG fluxes

Research Elements cont’d

Page 17: An Introduction to: CARBON CAPTURE FARMING

Quantify variability of GHG gas fluxes over time over wetland plots and adjacent landsCalibrate DNDC model to range of Delta conditions

Research Elements, cont’d

Page 18: An Introduction to: CARBON CAPTURE FARMING

Science Designed in Support OfCarbon credit protocolsFarm-scale economic decisionsDelta levee failure risk mitigation Regional-scale economic assessmentsState and federal hazard and recovery programs

Page 19: An Introduction to: CARBON CAPTURE FARMING