water in kentucky 90,000+ miles of streams and rivers

Fertilizer and Pesticide Usage and Water Quality

Amanda GumbertWater Quality Liaison

UK College of Agriculture/KY Division of Conservation

Water in Kentucky• 90,000+ miles of streams and rivers

Sensitive Areas

• Where ground water is near the surface or easily accessed (wells, sinkholes, porous soil, etc.)

• In karst regions, there may be little infiltration into the soil before contaminants reach ground water

Karst Regions of Kentucky

Cane Run

Water Quality Goals

Streams Meet Designated Uses– Domestic Water Supply– Primary Contact Recreation (PCR) – water is safe

for human swimming– Secondary Contact – safe for contact (body not

submerged)– Aquatic Habitat – water quality sufficient to

promote a healthy population of plants and animals living in the water

Impaired Waters

• 6,985 stream miles impaired (KDOW 2010)

What is an impaired stream?

• An impaired stream does not meet one or more of its designated uses– aquatic life, swimming, wading, drinking water

supply use, fish consumption, etc.• Impairments caused by– Sediment– Pathogens– Nutrients–Organic enrichment– Chemical contamination

USGS Report on Pesticides in U.S. Streams

2002-2011Pesticide contamination based on land use

• Nearly 2/3 of ag land use streams and nearly ½ of mixed land-use streams exceeded chronic Aquatic Life Benchmarks (ALBs)

• For urban land use, 90% exceeded a chronic ALB.• Fipronil, metolachlor, malathion, cis-permethrin, and dichlorvos exceeded

chronic ALBs for more than 10 percent of the streams. • Only one stream monitored had pesticide concentration exceeding Human

Health Benchmarks

Source: Stone, W.W., Gilliom, R.J., and Martin, J.D., 2014, An overview comparing results from two decades of monitoring for pesticides in the Nation’s streams and rivers, 1992–2001 and 2002–2011: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2014–5154, 23 p., http://dx.doi.org/10.3133/sir20145154.

USGS Report on Pesticides in U.S. Streams

• Across all land-use streams, ALB for fipronil was greater than all other insecticides.

• Fipronil uses: Termite treatmentsFlea treatments (Frontline®)Rice pests

Source: Stone, W.W., Gilliom, R.J., and Martin, J.D., 2014, An overview comparing results from two decades of monitoring for pesticides in the Nation’s streams and rivers, 1992–2001 and 2002–2011: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2014–5154, 23 p., http://dx.doi.org/10.3133/sir20145154.

Source: Stackelberg, P.E., Barbash, J.E., Gilliom, R.J., Stone, W.W., and Wolock, D.M., 2012, Regression models for estimating concentrations of atrazine plus deethylatrazine in shallow groundwater in agricultural areas of the United States. Journal of Environmental Quality 41(2)

Gulf of Mexico Hypoxic Zone

• This year: 5,840 sq. miles (3.7m acres/size of Connecticut)• Average over last 5 years: 5,176 sq. miles (3.3m acres)

2014: 5,052 sq. miles (3.7m acres/size of Connecticut)

Best Management Practices(BMPs)

Fertilizer Application

• Apply only what is needed– Use a soil test

Fertilizer Application

• Apply only what is needed– Use a soil test

• Sweep up excess – On to lawn, not into water body

Fertilizer Application

• Apply only what is needed– Use a soil test

• Sweep up excess – On to lawn, not into water body

• Watch the weather• Consider compost instead

Protect Storm Drains

• Anything that goes down a storm drain, goes to a stream, lake, or river

Untreated

Don’t blow clippings into street or storm drains

Don’t blow leaves into street or storm drains

Consider Lawn Alternatives

• Rain Gardens– Filter and store stormwater runoff– Uptake nutrients– Break down pesticides

Pesticide/Fertilizer BMPsStorage

• Locate new storage facilities at least 100ft away from wells, springs, cisterns, open channel sinkholes and perennial streams.

• Store pesticides and fertilizers separately and away from feed.

• Keep pesticides and fertilizers in original containers.

• Follow all label requirements.

Protect Water Resources from Pesticides

• Choose pesticides wisely• Read pesticide labels– Use pesticides labeled for intended use

Protect Water Resources from Pesticides

• Choose pesticides wisely• Read pesticide labels– Use pesticides labeled for intended use– Follow label instructions/restrictions

Do not mix or load atrazine within 50 ft of any stream or river. Do not apply atrazine within 66 ft of any point where field surface water runoff enters a stream or river.

Protect Water Resources from Pesticides

• Choose pesticides wisely• Read pesticide labels– Use pesticides labeled for intended use– Follow label instructions/restrictions

• Be cautious with mixing

Protect Water Resources from Pesticides

• Choose pesticides wisely• Read pesticide labels– Use pesticides labeled for intended use– Follow label instructions/restrictions

• Be cautious with mixing• Be cautious with application– Avoid drift

Avoid Drift

• Use a drift retardant• Use proper nozzle type

and size• Avoid windy

application conditions• Be mindful of your

surroundings

Protect Water Resources from Pesticides

• Choose pesticides wisely• Read pesticide labels– Use pesticides labeled for intended use

• Be cautious with mixing• Be cautious with application– Avoid drift– Avoid overspray

Photo: Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food

Container Disposal

• DO NOT dump or burn containers• Triple or pressure-rinse• Puncture• Recycle or return containers– KY Dept of Agriculture sponsors Rinse and Return

programs coordinated through local Cooperative Extension Service offices

Riparian Area Protection

What are Riparian Buffers?

• Also called riparian areas, buffer zones, streamside management zones

What does a Riparian Buffer do?

• Filters runoff water– Reduces sediment entering a stream– Captures/uptakes nutrients in surface and

groundwater– Intercepts pesticide runoff from adjacent

landscape

What does a Riparian Buffer do?

• Filters runoff water• Protects streambanks from erosion– Dissipates energy of water– Vegetative roots hold soil in place

Unprotected Streambanks

Unprotected Streambanks

Unprotected Streambanks

Protected Streambanks

Protected Streambanks

Protected Streambanks

What does a Riparian Buffer do?

• Filters runoff water• Protects stream banks from erosion• Provides wildlife habitat– Enhances in-stream habitat – shading from trees

regulates water temperature– Provides vegetative production for wildlife food

source– Provides shelter

Provides Wildlife Habitat

Owl photo courtesy Doug McLaren.

Impacts to the EnvironmentPesticides– Impair watersheds by

threatening aquatic life/non-target species

– Larval stages of aquatic insects• Larvae feed on undesirable

pests• Provide food source for fish

and amphibians

Photos by Blake Newton

Then we destroy…If we destroy…

Case Studies

KY Horse Park

KY Horse Park

KY Horse Park

Questions?

Amanda Gumbertamanda.gumbert@uky.edu

859-257-6094