Table Of ContentHistoric, Archive Document
Do not assume content reflects current
scientific knowledge, policies, or practices.
aTD223
W384
.
1997
USDA
A
Report of Progress
United States
Department of
Agriculture
111
!
National Agricultural Library
Preface
During this century, advances in agricultural science researchers, technical and financial assistance special-
and technology have profoundly affected our stan- ists, economists, and educators.
dard of living and way of life. Agricultural chemicals
are an important component of these advances. They USDAhas coordinated its Water Quality Program
contribute substantially to the productivity and effi- with other Federal agencies to provide assistance to
ciency of agriculture and to the well-being of rural State and local governments, and to the landowner; to
and urban communities. Even so, many people are improve its data bases; and to focus its efforts to better
concerned about the possible risks to human health, assess and address water quality problems.
water quality, and a safe environment resulting from
This report summarizes USDAachievements for
the use of these chemicals. Better methods of detecting
developing the scientific, educational, technical and
minuscule amounts of chemicals in water have alerted
financial assistance, data base, and evaluation needed
us to the need to be more judicious in their use and
to enhance and maintain the quality of our Nation's
more careful in their management.
water resources. It is based on the program achieve-
The U.S. Department ofAgriculture is committed to ments of the Agricultural Research Service,
Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension
ensuring that this Nation meets the challenge ofmain-
taining the efficiency and productivity of agriculture Service, Farm ServiceAgency, Economic Research
without compromising the quality of our water Service, National Agricultural Statistics Service,
resources or the safety of our environment. Many Natural Resources Conservation Service, and National
farmers view their relationship with natural resources Agricultural Library.
as one of stewardship. This partnership, however,
USDA's Water Quality Program, and its Working
requires knowledge about environmental problems,
Group on Water Quality (WGWQ), provide mecha-
such as water contamination, and the adoption of
nisms to respond to both continuing and new chal-
appropriate practices to enhance or protect water WGWQ
lenges. The provides a focus for departmental
quality.
perspectives; for communicating with partners from
The preservation and enhancement ofwater quality in both the agricultural and environmental communities;
to provide insight from both communities; and to
agricultural areas calls for the timely delivery of
research, educational materials, conservation technol- facilitate the search for mutually acceptable solutions.
ogy, and financial assistance. The USDAstrongly The WGWQ's very existence is a powerful message to
encourages voluntary actions to protect and conserve both communities that USDAis aware of, and con-
water resources. To assist land users with soil and cerned about, the need to protect water quality with-
water resource problems, USDAoffers a strong insti- out unnecessarily handicappingAmerican farmers in
the global marketplace.
tutional framework, and an established network of
Background
I
Agricultural Nonpoint Source Contamination:
How USDA Addressing the Problem
is
Introduction
s
Problems 2
Programs
3
Progress 4
Current Situation 6
Remaining Challenges 7
Summary
7
USDA’sWater Quality Program: Lessons Learned 8
MSEA
information 12
Demonstration Projects - Selected Impacts 14
Hydrologic Unit Area (HUA) Projects - Selected Impacts 16
Data and Evaluation 18
The Water Quality Information Center
at the National Agricultural Library
Summary ofWQIC/NAL
Progress/
Accomplishments since 1990 20
Epilog
Water Quality Issues 22
WGWQ .
Responses 22
.
Continuing Activities 23
.
Contributors: D. Bucks,ARS S. Rives, NASS
M. Horton, CSREES D. Smith, NRCS
WGWQ
M. Ribaudo, ERS L.Adams,
WGWQ
L. Howard, FSA F. Swader,
Makuch, NAL
J.
The U.S. Department ofAgriculture (USDA) Water Quality Program estab-
lished environmental qualityas a priority in the Department.
Principles:
• The Nation's water resources mustbe protected from contaminationby
fertilizers and pesticides withoutjeopardizing the economic vitality of
U.S. agriculture
• Water qualityprograms must accommodate the immediate need to halt
contamination and the future need to alter farm production practices
• Ultimately farmers mustbe responsible for changing production prac-
tices to avoid contaminating water resources
Goal
Farmers and ranchers will have the knowledge, technical means, and
financial assistance to respond independently and voluntarily in address-
ing farm-related environmental concerns and related State water quality
requirements.
Objectives and related activities:
Three objectives were established to assist in reaching the goal. For each
of these, a series of results-oriented activities were identified. While there
is some obvious overlap, the activities are most closely related to the
objectives in the following way(s).
Objective:
To determine the relationships between agricultural activities and water
quality
Activities:
• Develop methods for sampling, measuring, and evaluating groundwa-
ter contamination
• Conduct research to provide the basis for improved management of
chemicals used in agriculture
• Improve agrichemical management and agricultural production sys-
tems
• Evaluate the economic, social, technical and environmental impacts of
new and improved managementpractices and systems
Objective:
To develop agricultural production systems that enhance or protectwater
quality
i
Activities:
• Build National and State data bases on agrichemical use and related
farm practices
• Develop mathematical models to assist in State and Federal evaluation
ofalternative policies and program strategies
• Improve agrichemical management and agricultural production sys-
tems
• Evaluate the economic, social, technical and environmental impacts of
improved management practices and systems
Objective:
To induce farmer's voluntary adoption ofenhancement strategies at sig-
nificant levels in problem areas
Activities:
• Improve State and staffcapacity to deliver assistance to producers for
agrichemical and waste product management, and for environmental
stewardship
• Deliver technologies and management systems for voluntary adoption
and implementation by farmers, ranchers, and foresters
• Provide financial assistance to accelerate the installation ofmeasures to
improve water quality
• Assist in meeting State water quality requirements through education
and technical assistance
• Inform the public of program activities and achievements
The U.S. Department ofAgriculture (USDA) has moved vigorously to
reduce agricultural nonpoint sources ofwater impairments. USDApro-
grams have aggressively encouraged farmers to develop and implement
voluntary practices to reduce agricultural nonpoint source (NPS) pollu-
tion. The effort has resulted in dramatic reductions in the use of agricul-
tural chemicals in designated project areas, without major decreases in
crop yield levels, and in greatly reduced loadings to the environment.
ii
Working Group on Water Quality
hi
1
II
II
IS
INTRODUCTION
Such a lackofinformation datahasbeen identified as a
Our Nation has made tremendous progress in keybarrier to State and local efforts to controlnonpoint
addressing the various aspects ofwater pollution. As a source pollution. There are few credible data on the
result ofthe Clean WaterAct, industrial discharges scope and impacts ofnonpoint sourcepollution, or on
havebeen controlled bypermits; raw sewage dis- the effectiveness ofpotential solutions.
chargeshavebeen reducedby the construction of
sewage treatment plants; and phosphorus discharges Human activity contributes to the degradationofwater
havebeen greatly reduced by a combinationoftechnol- resources,but the actual extentis unknown. Such a lack
ogy, education and laws (e.g., the widespread banning ofinformation facilitates genericpronouncements,
which cannotbe addressed. The Federal and State gov-
ofphosphorus-based detergents). Because ofsuch
efforts. Lake Erie (once proclaimed “dead") hasbeen ernments, and their componentDepartments and agen-
resurrected, the Cuyahoga River (which once caught cies, mustbe concerned withpractical solutions to iden-
fire) hasbeen rendered non-flammable, and many tified site-specific problems. Cities, industries, farmers,
major rivers have improved water quality. ranchers and other landowners maybe convinced to
alleviate identified nonpoint source (NPS) problems,
We havenot dealtwith all ofthe problems, ofcourse; but they are hesitantto investinunspecified, or
combined sewer overflows still occur in over 1,000 untried, solutions to generic problems.
communities. The high costs ofremediation preclude
programs to dealwith the problem. Fiscal reality over- Given this situation, some important questions should
be addressed:
shadows theproblem, and its expensive solutions.
"Biosolids" disposal also presents some challenges. • What are the remaining water quality problems?
Many disposal schemes disregard the nitrogen con-
• Which are the most important in terms ofenviron-
tent,while agriculture isbeing "encouraged" to control
mental impact?
the application offertilizers and animal manures to
reduce the environmental impacts ofexcess nitrogen. • How should we address them in a realistic manner?
This nationhas implemented one ofthe world'sbest, These questions are relevant to everyone who makes
mostaggressive, mostprogressive waterpollution con- or implements water quality policy. Apragmatic
trol programs; it is not unreasonable to ask ourselves approach must recognize both that there are problems,
what more we want, how muchmore we canafford, and that they are being addressed. Many States are
and how itshouldbe spent. We have made significant conducting successful interagency programs to
progress; the remainingproblems are the tough (i.e., address agricultural NPS pollution. More could
expensive) ones. alwaysbe done, given the necessary resources and
policy direction. The difficulty lies in the reality that
The restoration ofthe chemical andbiological integrity
resources are in short supply, and that unfunded man-
ofthe Nation's waters is an elusive goal, complicated dates have become a rallying point among those who
by the lackofdocumentationofthe sources and extent
must spend real dollars to solve real problems.
ofthe impairment, on the onehand; and the lackof
specification ofachievable and realistic levels ofreme-
diationin chemical,biological orecological terms, on
the other.
