Bruce Seelig and John Nowatzki

Ag & Biosystems Engineering Department

North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND

ABSTRACT: This is a GIS application of an assessment system for potential groundwater contamination from nitrogen use in North Dakota. The system includes both natural and human factors. The GIS generated sensitivity maps are served on the Internet using ArcIMS 3.1 and Internet Information Server, SP6. The interactive GIS maps of the North Dakota nitrogen assessment systems is located on the Internet at http://134.129.78.15/website/nitrogen. Individuals use a web browser to choose their location and determine potential water contamination from nitrogen. A map is served showing the most sensitive areas in red and the least sensitive areas green. The user can overlay themes that indicate why each area has the specified sensitivity. The assessment system used for this GIS application is Diffuse Sources of Nitrogen Related to Water Quality Protection in the Northern Great Plains Seelig, B. D. 2000. This publication is available on the Internet at http://www.ext.nodak.edu/extpubs/. The factors included in the groundwater assessment are: soil aeration, soil texture, depth to aquifer, hydrologic recharge area, concentrated human activity, cultivated land, crop rotations, fallow and irrigation. The factors included in the surface water assessment are: surface water proximity, soil aeration, mobilization in solution, mobilization with sediment, land slope, flooding frequency, concentrated human activity, cultivated land, crop rotations, fallow and irrigation .

Nowatzki, John, North Dakota State University, 1221 Albrecht Boulevard, Fargo, ND 58105, USA, Phone: 701-231-8213, Fax: 701-231-1008, jnowatzki@ndsuext.nodak.edu,

Oral, Water Quality & Quantity