Orchard Orchard Management Practices Management Practices for Protecting Waterfor Protecting Water

CURES: Non-profit organization: agricultural, urban projectsCURES: Non-profit organization: agricultural, urban projects

Promote stewardship, Best Management Practices (BMPs) Promote stewardship, Best Management Practices (BMPs)

Parry Klassen, Executive DirectorParry Klassen, Executive Director

www.curesworks.orgwww.curesworks.org

                     

Scrutiny of Agricultural Runoff Scrutiny of Agricultural Runoff (Farm inputs and sediment)(Farm inputs and sediment)

PesticidesPesticides- Organochlorines, carbamates, organophosphates, Organochlorines, carbamates, organophosphates,

pyrethroids, herbicidespyrethroids, herbicides

NutrientsNutrients- Organic nitrogen, phosphate, potassiumOrganic nitrogen, phosphate, potassium

MetalsMetals- Cadmium, copper, lead, nickel, zinc, selenium, arsenic, Cadmium, copper, lead, nickel, zinc, selenium, arsenic,

boronboron

Pathogens, Ambients Pathogens, Ambients - E ColiE Coli, Flow, Temperature, pH, EC, Turbidity, Dissolved , Flow, Temperature, pH, EC, Turbidity, Dissolved

Oxygen, Total Organic CarbonOxygen, Total Organic Carbon

Approaches for BMPsApproaches for BMPsThe Toolbox / MenuThe Toolbox / Menu

PesticidesPesticides Application BMPsApplication BMPs

- Spray drift managementSpray drift management- Lower label ratesLower label rates- Mix and load properlyMix and load properly- Calibrate equipmentCalibrate equipment- New sprayer technology New sprayer technology

Farm Site BMPs Farm Site BMPs - Buffer zones to sensitive sitesBuffer zones to sensitive sites- Grassed drainage waterwaysGrassed drainage waterways- Vegetative filter stripsVegetative filter strips- Drainage managementDrainage management

Pesticide Application BMPsPesticide Application BMPs

Managing Drift from Ground Applications Managing Drift from Ground Applications Most drift comes from outside rows near sensitive areasMost drift comes from outside rows near sensitive areas

Watch wind speed directionWatch wind speed direction Leave adequate buffer zoneLeave adequate buffer zone Use larger droplet nozzles where possibleUse larger droplet nozzles where possible

Aerial Application Drift Management: Aerial Application Drift Management: Pilot needs to know drain / waterway locationsPilot needs to know drain / waterway locations

Application BMPsApplication BMPs

Managing Drift From Airblast Managing Drift From Airblast Sprayers Sprayers Most drift comes from first Most drift comes from first

and last passes through the and last passes through the orchardorchard

Don’t spray inside of rows 1, 2 Don’t spray inside of rows 1, 2 and last 2and last 2

Spray outside - inward on Spray outside - inward on perimeter rows, slow down to perimeter rows, slow down to improve coverage.improve coverage.

Farm Site BMPsFarm Site BMPs

Sediment Basins Sediment Basins

Basins for water & sediment Basins for water & sediment run-offrun-off

Requires modification of Requires modification of drainage system to protect drainage system to protect surface watersurface water

Cover Crop Effectiveness Study Cover Crop Effectiveness Study Overall ResultsOverall Results

Ground cover and soil type affected the loads of diazinon Ground cover and soil type affected the loads of diazinon and esfenvalerate in runoffand esfenvalerate in runoff- Orchard with planted cover had far less water runoff than Orchard with planted cover had far less water runoff than

orchard with bare ground.orchard with bare ground.- Vegetation reduced the concentration of esfenvalerate in runoff.Vegetation reduced the concentration of esfenvalerate in runoff.

Study Results Study Results

Planted cover crop Planted cover crop - 3x less runoff than the disked plot 3x less runoff than the disked plot - ~2x less than the bare ground plot.~2x less than the bare ground plot.

Planted cover crop Planted cover crop - ~3x less diazinon total load than the disked plot~3x less diazinon total load than the disked plot- 2x less than the bare ground plot2x less than the bare ground plot- 2.5x less esfenvalerate than the disked plot or the bare ground 2.5x less esfenvalerate than the disked plot or the bare ground

plotplot

Field Perimeter “Filter Strips”Field Perimeter “Filter Strips”

Strips or areas of herbaceous vegetation situated between field and Strips or areas of herbaceous vegetation situated between field and ……- Environmentally Sensitive areas (steams, rivers, wetlands, riparian Environmentally Sensitive areas (steams, rivers, wetlands, riparian

areas, etc.) areas, etc.) - Other croplandOther cropland- grazing landgrazing land- forestlandforestland- disturbed landdisturbed land

Biggest benefit to orchard/vineyard growers:Biggest benefit to orchard/vineyard growers:

Storm RunoffStorm Runoff Filter strips reduce winter storm runoff from fields Filter strips reduce winter storm runoff from fields

- Reduce erosionReduce erosion- Improve water penetration into soilImprove water penetration into soil

Filter strips slow runoff velocity, capturing sediment Filter strips slow runoff velocity, capturing sediment

Ideal LocationsIdeal Locations-- -- Lower edges (down-gradient edge) of orchards or crop fields where runoff occursLower edges (down-gradient edge) of orchards or crop fields where runoff occurs-- Above conservation practices, such as ponds, drainageways, and terraces-- Above conservation practices, such as ponds, drainageways, and terraces

Farm Site BMPsFarm Site BMPs

Tailwater Return Tailwater Return Systems Systems

Recirculate drain water back Recirculate drain water back into irrigation systeminto irrigation system

““Cadillac” system but costly Cadillac” system but costly

Tailwater Return Tailwater Return Systems Systems

Can operate with low Can operate with low horsepower pumpshorsepower pumps

In salty areas, can cause In salty areas, can cause build up of saltsbuild up of salts

Water savingsWater savings

Potential BMPs Potential BMPs Vegetative DitchesVegetative Ditches

Allow grass in drainage ditchesAllow grass in drainage ditches

-- Circulate drain water through -- Circulate drain water through vegetated ditches or field areasvegetated ditches or field areas

West Stanislaus CountyWest Stanislaus County-- BMP effectiveness research-- BMP effectiveness research-- Alfalfa -- Alfalfa

Cost of not succeeding Cost of not succeeding

Potential for individuals to be required to file Report of Waste Discharge Potential for individuals to be required to file Report of Waste Discharge

with Water Boardwith Water Board

- Water Board dictates Waste Discharge Requirements Water Board dictates Waste Discharge Requirements

- On farm testing of discharges to ensure complianceOn farm testing of discharges to ensure compliance

- Coalition spending +$40,000 per site annually for sampling, reportingCoalition spending +$40,000 per site annually for sampling, reporting

Let’s don’t go there!Let’s don’t go there!

Enormous Task At HandEnormous Task At Hand

1.1. Identify and promote practices that reduce farm runoff in riversIdentify and promote practices that reduce farm runoff in rivers

Orchard runoff from dormant spraysOrchard runoff from dormant sprays Almonds, Peaches, Plums/PrunesAlmonds, Peaches, Plums/Prunes

Irrigation runoff carrying pesticides/nutrientsIrrigation runoff carrying pesticides/nutrients Row, field crops (alfalfa, tomatoes, cotton)Row, field crops (alfalfa, tomatoes, cotton) OrchardsOrchards

Promote adoption by growers /PCAsPromote adoption by growers /PCAs

Parry KlassenParry Klassen

Executive DirectorExecutive Director

559-288-8125559-288-8125

pklassen@unwiredbb.compklassen@unwiredbb.com

"Education For Environmental Responsibility"