united states department of agriculture cooperative state, research, education and extension service...
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United States Department of AgricultureUnited States Department of Agriculture
Cooperative State, Research, EducationCooperative State, Research, Educationand Extension Serviceand Extension Service
Impacts of Agriculture on Water Quality:Impacts of Agriculture on Water Quality:The role of USDAThe role of USDA
Michael P. O’Neill Dale A. BucksUSDA- CSREES USDA-ARS
The Impact of Agriculture on Water The Impact of Agriculture on Water QualityQuality
• Agriculture is the leading source of non-point source pollution in the United States.– “The glass is half empty”
• Through research, education, technical and financial assistance, USDA helps agriculture become part of the solution.– “The glass is half full”
Non-Point Source (NPS) Definition Non-Point Source (NPS) Definition
Legal
from the Clean Water Act
. . . any source of water that does not meet the legal definition of point source
NPS DefinitionNPS Definition
DescriptiveNonpoint Source pollution generally results from
precipitation, land runoff, infiltration, drainage, seepage, hydrologic modification, or atmospheric deposition. As runoff from rainfall or snowmelt moves, it picks up and transports pollutants from human activity and from natural sources, ultimately depositing them into rivers, lakes, wetlands, coastal waters, and ground water.
Water PathwaysWater Pathways
Top Impairments Top Impairments (reported by states)(reported by states)
General Impairment NameImpairments
ReportedPercent
Reported
SEDIMENT / SILTATION 7448 15.44
PATHOGENS 6048 12.54
METALS 5721 11.86
NUTRIENTS 5460 11.32
ORGANIC ENRICHMENT / LOW DO 4641 9.62
PH 2546 5.28
OTHER HABITAT ALTERATIONS 2311 4.79
THERMAL MODIFICATIONS 1929 4.00
BIOLOGICAL CRITERIA 1852 3.84
FLOW ALTERATION 1665 3.45
PESTICIDES 1518 3.15
Impacts of AgricultureImpacts of Agriculture
• Sediment• Nutrients (N, P)• Pesticides• Pathogens• Salinity• Metals
• Temperature• Habitat Loss• Pharmaceuticals
Achieving Enduring Achieving Enduring Conservation on the LandConservation on the Land
Water resource protection and enhancement
Research(ARS, CSREES, EPA,
ERS, FS, USGS)
Information(All Agencies)
Education(CSREES)
Technical Assistance(EPA, FS, NRCS, CSREES)
Financial Assistance(EPA, FSA, FS, NRCS)
Regulatory Oversight(EPA, F&WS, CoE)
OtherOther
ARSARS $820
CSREESCSREES $600
FSFS $120
ERSERS $60
$50
USDA RESEARCH FUNDS--2000
Research Needs for Water QualityResearch Needs for Water Quality
• Research at the watershed scale– Build upon the sound tradition of plot and
field-based efforts
• Research led by stakeholder involvement– Solving problems at the local level– Recognize and build upon regional
differences
Research ActivitiesResearch Activities
• Agricultural Research Service (ARS)– Instrumented Watersheds– Field and Plot Investigations– Laboratory Studies
• Economic Research Service (ERS)– Costs and Benefits of Programs and Practices
• Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension Service (CSREES) – University Research
ARS Mission (Water Resources)ARS Mission (Water Resources)
• To develop innovative concepts for determining the movement of water and its associated constituents in agricultural landscapes and watersheds.
• to develop new and improved practices, technologies, and strategies to manage the Nation's agricultural water resources.
Agricultural Research Service (ARS)Agricultural Research Service (ARS)
• Research Focus Area (Water Resources)– Agricultural Watershed Management– Water Quality Protection and Management– Irrigation and Drainage Management
http://www.nps.ars.usda.gov/programs/programs.htm?NPNUMBER=201
Economic Research Service (ERS)Economic Research Service (ERS)
• Research Focus Area: Harmony Between Agriculture and the Environment– Irrigation and Water Use– Conservation and Environmental Policy– Agricultural Chemicals and Production
Technologyhttp://www.ers.usda.gov/Emphases/Harmony/
Cooperative State Research, Education Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension Service (CSREES)and Extension Service (CSREES)
• Land Grant Universities (CSREES)– Basic and Applied Research– Watershed Scale Water Quality
Investigations– Combining Research with
Outreach/Extension Activities– Eight Research “Themes”
http://www.usawaterquality.org
CSREES Research ThemesCSREES Research Themes
• Animal Manure Management (AFO/CAFO)• Drinking Water and Human Health• Environmental Restoration (Aquatic and Riparian Habitat)• Nutrient and Pesticide Management• Pollution Assessment and Prevention• Watershed Management• Water Conservation and Agricultural Water Management• Water Economics and Policy
Trends during runoff events of may 1-14, 2001 at Site 4.
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1-May-01 4-May-01 7-May-01 11-May-01 14-May-01
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Q (mm/day)
NO3-N
SUMMARYInfiltration rate and degree of subsurface drainage, is critical in determining mode and amount of nutrient transport/loss.
Understanding Nutrient Transport in an Intensively Cropped WatershedJames L. Baker, Iowa State Univ.
Assessing Bacterial Loading in Estuarine Environments
Nancy White, NC State Univ.
Average Annual Bacterial Loading to Shellfish Bed
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19
64
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Sample Events: 1964-1998
MP
N
MAR ResultsResistant: Sensitive:Woodpecker SquirrelSeptic Samples RaccoonDog CatHorse BearDeer HawkDuckOpossum
Education Needs for Water QualityEducation Needs for Water Quality
• Place-based educational programs– Tailor programs to local environments
• Connecting urban and rural audiences– Link urban consumers to food and fiber production
• Education built upon “sound science”– Assure that educational materials reflect current
state-of-the-science research and information
CSREES Water ProgramCSREES Water Program
The CSREES National Water Quality Program (www.usawaterquality.org) State anchored, regionally coordinated, national
coalition Research, education, and extension practitioners
from institutions across the United States and its territories
Focused on addressing issues related to the quality and quantity of the nation’s water resources.
Education MaterialsEducation Materials
Chet Arnold Univ. of Connecticut
Daniel FagerlieWashington State Univ.
SummarySummary
• Continued research at the watershed scale is needed to understand the complex interactions among pollution sources.
• Locally relevant education programs that deliver state-of-the-science information are needed to sustain management practices that protect and improve water quality.
USDA National Program Contacts USDA National Program Contacts (Research & Education)(Research & Education)
• CSREES– Mike O’Neill
– Nancy Cavallaro
• ARS– Dale Bucks
• ERS– Marc Ribaudo
202-694-5488 [email protected]