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