f USE OF A RESISTANCE METER TO MONITOR GROUNDWATER IMPACTS NEAR WASTEWATER HOLDING PONDS

Mineral and organic salts from beef feedlot manure contained in precipitation runoff from pen surfaces can alter soil conductivity. The integrity of liquid runoff holding ponds has come under increased scrutiny since leakage has the potential to affect soil and groundwater quality. Traditionally, ponds are monitored by installing monitoring wells at key locations on the perimeter of a pond. Monitoring wells are expensive to install and subject to ambiguous interpretation. An approach that may supplement traditional methods has been investigated. A subsurface resistivity array was installed at a beef cattle feedlot located at the U.S Meat Animal Research Center, Clay Center, NE.