In August 2012, more than 20 legislative aids, adminstrative personnel and congressional assistant held their annual tour on the Columbus campus at Ohio State University. The tour had a focus on Lake Erie and phosphorous issues in Ohio. The tour stopped at the Waterman Farm two-stage ditch to talk about nutrients, water and environmental issues related to agricultural management and nutrients including the communication problems around this topic. The Waterman Farm two-stage ditch serves as an excellent demonstrates innovative, cost-effective practices that farmers can adopt to help reduce nutrient and sediment loading to Lake Erie and the Gulf of Mexico.