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Historic, Archive Document Do not assume content reflects current scientific knowledge, policies, or practices. United States Department of ^riculture Update on Water Quality Progress Update #12 January/Fefaaiaiy 1992 W(^ RrstWQIP InFehnisry,fannenandrancfaenincusting incendvepaymentswiHbeforintegrated Signups Held HydrologicUnitAreaa,WaicrQuaJiry cropmanagementandothermanagementpractices DmonstritianIVcqectt,and 1991 WaierQuality suchaswasteudlizatian,contourfarming, in February SpecialIVpjecabegansigningupfortechnical conservationtillage,nutrientmanagement,and tfaroughWaterQualityIncentiveProjects Sunils’culturalpractices. Althoughtheymaybea (WQIP). partoftheWaterQualityResourceManagement Befotethesignupsbegan,thethreeU.S. Plan,structuralpracticessuchasterraces, DepanmetuofAgricultureagenciescoopgatingto waterways,animalwastestoragefacilities, carryoutthenewprogram,ASCS,ESandSd^ inigatioasystems,ponds,andothersimils heklfivejoattteleccnfereocesbetweennational practices,willnotbeeligibleforWQIPincentive programleadenandstateandlocalwaterquality piaymenis. However,theycouldbecostshared projectmanagerstoanswerquesdonsonWQEP. withregulsACPfundsorothercostshare FundedthroughASCS'sAgricultural programs. GxiservationProgram(ACP),WQIPisparto£the Formoreinfonnatian,contactDanSmith.Soil WaterQualityIncentiveProgramauthorizedbythe ConservationService,at(202)720-3524,Mike Food,Agriculture,ConservadonandTradeActof Linsenbigler,Agricultural Stabilizadonand 1990. Thegoalissourcereductionofagncultural ConservationService,at(202)690-0224,or pollutantsbyuseofenvironmentallyand FrancisThicke,ExtensionService,at(202) economicallysoundmanagementpractices. 720-5369. Water Quality Threemultiagencycommiueesrecentlyheard ThecompletereportwasscutoStateExtension Proiects theUniversityofNebraska's asscssmciuofthe Directon,StateAdministratorsoftheSoil Assessed organizadanandinq^ememadonofUSDA’seight ConservationandAgriculturaiStabilizadonand FY 1990-94waterqualitydemonstradonprojects. (TonservatianServices, andtothe74nonpoint Findingsandrecommendationsfromthe hydrologicunitsacross theUniiedStates. For assessmentby KayRodcweilandOe LynnHay,et furtherinfonnadon,oradditionalcopiesofthe aL,havealreadybeenusedtoimprovetheWater report,contaaGaudr Bennett,ExtensionService, Quality DemonstradonProjectsimdaiedinFY90 USDA.at202-6904550. andFY91 USOA Ljooks Atrazine,acornherbicidethatiswidelyused Following thepresentaden.thePolicy Anew At inthe UpperMidwest,hascomeundercareful AdvisoryCommioee,whichincludes Atrazine; reviewoverthepast3tnonihs. USDA'$Working lepresentadvesfion theEnvironmentalProtecdon uses, ERA GrouponWats’(^lalityPolicyAdvisory Agency(EPAXtheNadcnalOceanicand Committeerequestedareviewofbothpolicyand AtmosphericAdmiuisoation(NOAA),theCorps Complete Team Review progTrhaimssactthiaotnrwelaasteptroomthpetheedrbbiyciadeU..S. TofenEnnegsisneeeerVsa,DtheeyFAiusthhaonridtWyi(ldTlViAf)e,SearnvdicUe,SDthAe GeologicalSurvey(USGS)iniarunreportby agenciesincludingtheAgriculturalResearch DonaldGoolsby,entitledT3ismbutianof Service(ARS),theAgriculturalStabilizadanand SelectedHerbicidesandNitrateintheMississippi ConservadooService(ASCSXCooperativeState RiverandItsMajorTributaries,AprilThrough ResearchService(CSRS),EconomicResearch Jtme 1991.’ Goolsbyreportedhisfindingsina Service(ERSXExtensionService(ES),Nadonal publicbriefingheldatUSDA, November20, AgriculturalStadsdesService(NASS),andthe 1991. SoilConservadonService(SCSXestablishedtwo Atrazinewasdetectedinall 146samples workgroups,onetoreviewpolicyquesdons,and collectedinApril,May,atxlJune 1991,with asecondtoreviewtechnical issuespresentedby medianconcentrationsranging fitan0.29parts theUSGSfindings. psbillion(ppb)to3.2pipb. The Environmental Theseworkgroupsrepeatedtheirinitial ProtecdonAgency’sMaximumContaminant findingsataFebruary4PolicyAdvisory Level(MCL) wasexceededatfiveoftheeight Committeemeeting.Addidonalreviewis samplingsites: WnteRiver.IN;Illinois River.H,; underwaytoconsiderwhatfurtherstepsshouldbe PlatteRiver,NE; MissouriRivo’atHemumn, takentoprogrammaticallyaddressthisminer. MO, andtheMississippi RiveratThebes,MO. (aarnmtmiatpcigiZJ laMu%imifnmpa!feJJ another25 pocouappliedby farmers mIndiana, Iowa,andKansas. uossaegAietnnl(z9SiS3n8Je.mwMiaoHsrifemirdsptuoruneng8dis0si)pereicsrdocnfeoucrooUtfnni.tftaeIetdaanSltnsauotaeilss B(MPQTA.h)reebSqeuaiferesetsDartbihlnaitksihmneadgxfWioarmtduerrminAokcoitnn,gtamwdiraintia9innitsTileherveeedlsby usedonsarghuni,sugarcane,macadamianutand MCL . gusva r.Christmastreeplantations,andon 1991,ifsor3aptarratzsinpee,rpbr0o1miaunl.gatEePdAonreJgaunlautairoyns30r,equire noii-ctoppedindustriallands. piblicdrinkingwatersupplierstobeginmonitcring Morethan70percentofCheatrazineusuageis foratrazineinJanuary 1993. Foraddidonal in10Midwestgates, Nearly2S mfccmaiion,comaaFredSwadcr,WGWQ,(202) citheatrazineusedinthose 10statesis 720^751. appliedbyfarmersinIllinoisandNefanska,with Area Study ERSandNASSrecentlyconpietedselectionof Soidiestobeoondnetedthisyearincludethe atesSet AreaStudysisveysites. Eachsiteconespondstoa Albematie-PamliooDramage(NCVA);Souhem By ERS NationalWaterQualityAssesnnentStudyUnit Georgia(GA.FL);Iowa-411inois(LA.MN,IL);nd establisiiedbytheUSGS. Upper.SnakeRiverBasin(ID,WY,NV). NewlyselectedsitesincludetheMississippi Areastudiesstartedin 1991 includedCentral Embcyinent(MS,LA,AR,TJf,KY,MO);San Nebraska(NE);WhiteRiverBasin(IN);Lower Joaquin-Tulare(CA);SouthernArizona(AZ); SusquehannaBasin(PAMD);andMid-Columbia SouthernHighPlains(TXNM);andRedRiverof Basin(WA). theNorth(MN,ND). Foraddidonalmfonnaden. coiuactBob Kellogg.ERS.(202)219-0403. Soil Testing, ParticipantsinareceiuNitrogenWorkshop needed,toassesstheimpactsofnitratesonwater Nitrate Usage madesuggesdons foranexpandedresearch quality,iruegradon soiltestsintofarm-scale Issues Emerge programinsoiltestingandapositionpaperonthe nitrogenrecommendationsystems,and From Workshop levelofnitrateneededinthesoilforeconomical developmentorimpiuvementofteststodetermine produebenofcrops. excessnitrateandtheleachingpotendalattheend Workshopparticipants includedrepresentatives ofthecropproductionsystem. Fundingwas fiom ARS.ES.SCS,EPA theNitrogenAction identifiedtoiiddateneworenhanceongomg Conumoee(EPA andUSDA),andscientistsfiom researchprograms. fiveCSRSregionalresearchcommittees. Theposidonpaperonnitrogenistargetedfor TheSoilTesting ResearchProgramwilladdress muipictiu^litAp^fi. improvemenBinpresenttestsfornitrogen Foraddidonalinfonnadencotiiact, Maurice availabilitytocrops;devdopmcniofnewtests,as Horton,CSRS,(202)40M504. The Hidden AnoftenoverlookedbenefitofaFederal ACaliforniaHUAprojectattracted30growers Benefits of piogi'amisattractingprivatesourcestowater whocommitted 13.034acrestoimproved Water Quaiity quaiityprp}cctswithahighprobabilityofsuccess. practices. Cooperatingagenciesexpandedto Programs Thenonpoiiuhydrologicunitareas(HUA),in includetheCaliforniaDepartmentsofFishand Ohioareonecase inpoint. Oneareareceivedan Game,FoodandAgriculture,andRegionalWater addidoiialS300,CXX)infunding from an QualityControlBoard; theCenterforIrrigation environmentalorganization,andSIOO.OOOfirma Technology andEngineeiing Insdtutes,bothat majorindustryinthewatershed. Inanother,the CaliforniaStateUnivosity,Fresno;threekical EPAparticipatedinthepurchaseofS500,(XX) waterdistricts;ARS;theU.S.FishandWildlife worthofoonservadonequipmentfor Service;ndtheLjemooreNavalAirStadoiLThis demonstradonpurposes. HUAhasattractedinexcessof$200,000in furtdingfirmnon-HUAsources. Nitrate GipiesoftheUSDA’sWorkingGroupon asargamzadonsintheprivatesector. For Occurrence WaterQuaiitypublicatian'TIitrateOccurrenceIn addidonalmformation,contactJohnFedldw, In U.S U.S.Waters'*remainavail^efollowinginidal OBPA(202)720-7963. Waters distributiantoFederalandstateagencies,aswell Harry C. Mussman Chaiiman, USDAWorkingGroupon WaterQuality PublishedbyU^. DeoanmentofAgriculture's WaterQualityInformaaon Committee, PatriciaCalvert