Pesticide Contamination of Groundwater in Virginia: BMP Impact Assessment

1993 ◽  
Vol 28 (3-5) ◽  
pp. 379-387 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Mostaghimi ◽  
P. W. McClellan ◽  
R. A. Cooke
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Land Use ◽  
Best Management Practices ◽  
Water Samples ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Water Quality Monitoring ◽  
Pesticide Contamination ◽  
Cropping Patterns ◽  
Creek Watershed ◽  
Surface And Groundwater

The Nomini Creek Watershed/Water Quality monitoring project was initiated in 1985, as part of the Chesapeake Bay Agreement of 1983, to quantify the impacts of agricultural best management practices (BMPs) on improving water quality. The watershed monitoring system was designed to provide a comprehensive assessment of the quality of surface and groundwater as influenced by changes in land use, agronomic, and cultural practices in the watershed over the duration of the project. The primary chemical characteristics monitored include both soluble and sediment-bound nutrients and pesticides in surface and groundwater. Water samples from 8 monitoring wells located in agricultural areas in the watershed were analyzed for 22 pesticides. A total of 20 pesticides have been detected in water samples collected. Atrazine is the most frequently detected pesticide. Detected concentrations of atrazine ranged from 0.03 - 25.56 ppb and occurred in about 26 percent of the samples. Other pesticides were detected at frequencies ranging from 1.6 to 14.2 percent of all samples collected and concentrations between 0.01 and 41.89 ppb. The observed concentrations and spatial distributions of pesticide contamination of groundwater are compared to land use and cropping patterns. Results indicate that BMPs are quite effective in reducing pesticide concentrations in groundwater.

scholarly journals Trends in water quality of five dairy farming streams in response to adoption of best practice and benefits of long-term monitoring at the catchment scale

2013 ◽  
Vol 64 (5) ◽  
pp. 401 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert J. Wilcock ◽  
Ross M. Monaghan ◽  
John M. Quinn ◽  
M. S. Srinivasan ◽  
David J. Houlbrooke ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Land Use ◽  
Best Management Practices ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Stream Water ◽  
Dairy Farming ◽  
E Coli ◽  
Long Term Monitoring ◽  
Term Monitoring

Five streams in catchments with pastoral dairy farming as the dominant land use were monitored for periods of 7–16 years to detect changes in response to adoption of best management practices (BMPs). Stream water quality was degraded at the start with respect to N, P, suspended solids (SS) and E. coli concentrations, and was typical of catchments with intensive pastoral agriculture land use. Trend analysis showed a decrease in SS concentration for all streams, generally increasing water clarity, and lower E. coli concentrations in three of the streams. These are attributed to improved stream fencing (cattle exclusion) and greater use of irrigation for treated effluent disposal with less reliance on pond systems discharging to streams. Linkages between water quality and farm actions based on survey data were used to develop BMPs that were discussed at stakeholder workshops. Generic and specific BMPs were developed for the five catchments. The 3–7 year periodicity of major climate cycles, as well as market forces and a slow rate of farmer adoption of simple BMPs mean that monitoring programs in New Zealand need to be much longer than 10 years to detect changes caused by farmer actions. Long-term monitoring is also needed to detect responses to newly legislated requirements for improved water quality.

Using a weight-of-evidence approach for management of watersheds

2006 ◽  
Vol 54 (3) ◽  
pp. 71-76 ◽  
Author(s):  
S.C. Long ◽  
J.D. Plummer ◽  
T. Tauscher ◽  
M. Aull
Keyword(s):  
Land Use ◽  
Best Management Practices ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Water Quality Monitoring ◽  
Weight Of Evidence ◽  
Source Tracking ◽  
Septic Systems ◽  
Plant Nursery ◽  
Agricultural Animal ◽  
Industrial Operations

This research used a weight-of-evidence approach to evaluate sources of contaminants in a drinking water watershed that serves as part of the City of Boston's water supply. The approach incorporated land use analysis using GIS, sanitary surveys, traditional water quality monitoring and microbial source tracking (MST) tools. Case-study tributaries were selected based on elevated faecal coliform counts. Land use analysis and sanitary surveys were used to identify suspected microbial sources, including residential septic systems, agricultural animal operations, commercial/industrial operations and wildlife activity. Sampling sites were selected to hydrologically isolate potential contamination sources. Samples were collected seasonally over 1 year and analysed for traditional and MST parameters. Results demonstrated that both septic systems and a horse stable were contributing microbial loads in the first tributary. In the second tributary, septic systems from the townhouses were contributing microbial loads while a plant nursery was contributing organic matter. This evidence was used to evaluate best management practices to mitigate the contamination.

Preliminary Evaluation of Effects of Best Management Practices in the Black Earth Creek, Wisconsin, Priority Watershed

1993 ◽  
Vol 28 (3-5) ◽  
pp. 539-548 ◽  
Author(s):  
John F. Walker ◽  
David J. Graczyk
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Mass Transport ◽  
Best Management Practices ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Nonpoint Source ◽  
Transitional Period ◽  
Preliminary Evaluation ◽  
Best Management ◽  
Creek Watershed ◽  
Basin Scale

Nonpoint-source contamination accounts for a substantial part of the water quality problems in many watersheds. The Wisconsin Nonpoint Source Water Pollution Abatement Program provides matching money for voluntary implementation of various best management practices (BMPs). The effectiveness of BMPs on a drainage-basin scale has not been adequately assessed in Wisconsin by use of data collected before and after BMP implementation. The U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, monitored water quality in the Black Earth Creek watershed in southern Wisconsin from October 1984 through September 1986 (pre-BMP conditions). BMP implementation began during the summer of 1989 and is planned to continue through 1993. Data collection resumed in fall 1989 and is intended to provide information during the transitional period of BMP implementation (1990-93) and 2 years of post-BMP conditions (1994-95). Preliminary results presented for two subbasins in the Black Earth Creek watershed (Brewery and Garfoot Creeks) are based on data collected during pre-BMP conditions and the first 3 years of the transitional period. The analysis includes the use of regressions to control for natural variability in the data and, hence, enhance the ability to detect changes. Data collected to date (1992) indicate statistically significant differences in storm mass transport of suspended sediment and ammonia nitrogen at Brewery Creek. The central tendency of the regression residuals has decreased with the implementation of BMPs; hence, the improvement in water quality in the Brewery Creek watershed is likely a result of BMP implementation. Differences in storm mass transport at Garfoot Creek were not detected, primarily because of an insufficient number of storms in the transitional period. As practice implementation continues, the additional data will be used to determine the level of management which results in significant improvements in water quality in the two watersheds. Future research will address techniques for including snowmelt runoff and early spring storms.

scholarly journals Modeling effectiveness of broiler litter application method for reducing phosphorus and nitrogen losses

2019 ◽  
Vol 50 (4) ◽  
pp. 1047-1061 ◽  
Author(s):  
Palki Arora ◽  
Jasmeet Lamba ◽  
Puneet Srivastava ◽  
Latif Kalin
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Best Management Practices ◽  
Surface Runoff ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Swat Model ◽  
N Losses ◽  
Broiler Litter ◽  
Application Method ◽  
Creek Watershed ◽  
Total P

Abstract The linkages among the best management practices implemented at the field level and downstream water quality improvement at the watershed level are complex, because the processes that link management practices and watershed-level water quality span a range of scales. However, it is important to understand the effect of nutrient management strategies on watershed-level water quality because most of the water quality evaluation occurs at the watershed scale. The overall goal of this study was to quantify the effect of broiler litter application method (surface vs. subsurface application) on phosphorus (P) and nitrogen (N) losses in surface runoff using the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) model. The research was conducted in the Big Creek watershed (8,024 ha) located in Mobile County, Alabama, USA. At the hydrological response unit level, the subsurface application of broiler litter to pastures reduced average annual (1991–2015) total P and N losses in surface runoff by 72% and 33%, respectively, compared to surface application of broiler litter. At the watershed outlet, subsurface application of broiler litter to pastures (covered 43% of the watershed area after the land use change scenario) reduced average annual (1991–2015) total P and N losses by 39% and 20%, respectively.

scholarly journals A multi-objective optimization tool for the selection and placement of BMPs for pesticide control

2008 ◽  
Vol 5 (4) ◽  
pp. 1821-1862 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Maringanti ◽  
I. Chaubey ◽  
M. Arabi ◽  
B. Engel
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Best Management Practices ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Multi Objective Optimization ◽  
Implementation Cost ◽  
Multi Objective ◽  
Pesticide Pollution ◽  
Atrazine Concentration ◽  
Creek Watershed ◽  
Daunting Task

Abstract. Pesticides (particularly atrazine used in corn fields) are the foremost source of water contamination in many of the water bodies in Midwestern corn belt, exceeding the 3 ppb MCL established by the U.S. EPA for drinking water. Best management practices (BMPs), such as buffer strips and land management practices, have been proven to effectively reduce the pesticide pollution loads from agricultural areas. However, selection and placement of BMPs in watersheds to achieve an ecologically effective and economically feasible solution is a daunting task. BMP placement decisions under such complex conditions require a multi-objective optimization algorithm that would search for the best possible solution that satisfies the given watershed management objectives. Genetic algorithms (GA) have been the most popular optimization algorithms for the BMP selection and placement problem. Most optimization models also had a dynamic linkage with the water quality model, which increased the computation time considerably thus restricting them to apply models on field scale or relatively smaller (11 or 14 digit HUC) watersheds. However, most previous works have considered the two objectives individually during the optimization process by introducing a constraint on the other objective, therefore decreasing the degree of freedom to find the solution. In this study, the optimization for atrazine reduction is performed by considering the two objectives simultaneously using a multi-objective genetic algorithm (NSGA-II). The limitation with the dynamic linkage with a distributed parameter watershed model was overcome through the utilization of a BMP tool, a database that stores the pollution reduction and cost information of different BMPs under consideration. The model was used for the selection and placement of BMPs in Wildcat Creek Watershed (located in Indiana, for atrazine reduction. The most ecologically effective solution from the model had an annual atrazine concentration reduction of 30%, from the baseline with a BMP implementation cost of $18 million. The pareto-optimal fronts generated between the two optimized objective functions can be used to achieve desired water quality goals with minimum BMP implementation cost for the watershed.

Watershed-scale response to agricultural diffuse pollution control programs in Vermont, USA

1996 ◽  
Vol 33 (4-5) ◽  
pp. 197-204 ◽  
Author(s):  
Donald W. Meals
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Best Management Practices ◽  
Pollution Control ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Technical Assistance ◽  
Water Quality Monitoring ◽  
Nutrient Concentrations ◽  
Watershed Scale ◽  
Control Programs ◽  
General Response

From 1979 to 1990, the LaPlatte River Watershed and the St. Albans Bay Watershed Rural Clean Water Program projects in Vermont (USA) sought to reduce sediment, nutrient, and bacteria loads to parts of Lake Champlain impaired by eutrophication. Best Management Practices (BMPs) to control diffuse sources of pollution from dairy agriculture were widely implemented through a voluntary program of technical assistance and cost-sharing by agencies of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Intensive water quality monitoring was undertaken to document water quality changes resulting from the land treatment programs, including studies of BMP effectiveness and long-term watershed-scale trend monitoring. Some BMPs significantly reduced edge-of-field pollutant delivery to surface waters. Phosphorus export from corn fields was up to 1500% higher where manure was winter spread and up to 15% of the phosphorus applied in winter-spread manure was lost in runoff. A vegetated filter strip retained more than 90% of sediment and nutrients in milking center waste and functioned effectively year-round. Watershed-level response, however, was not simply the sum of edge-of-field changes. Sediment concentration and export decreased in both project areas, but anticipated decreases in nutrient concentrations and loads did not occur. The most significant water quality trends observed were 50–75% reductions in indicator bacteria counts in all study watersheds. Factors contributing to the lack of general response in nutrient levels, recommendations for future agricultural pollution control projects, and implications for planning of diffuse source pollution control programs are discussed.

Development of SPAWM: selection program for available watershed models

2014 ◽  
Vol 70 (3) ◽  
pp. 387-396
Author(s):  
Yongdeok Cho ◽  
Larry A. Roesner
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Land Use ◽  
Best Management Practices ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Watershed Modeling ◽  
Visual Basic ◽  
Watershed Model ◽  
Selection Program ◽  
Best Management ◽  
Watershed Models

A selection program for available watershed models (also known as SPAWM) was developed. Thirty-three commonly used watershed models were analyzed in depth and classified in accordance to their attributes. These attributes consist of: (1) land use; (2) event or continuous; (3) time steps; (4) water quality; (5) distributed or lumped; (6) subsurface; (7) overland sediment; and (8) best management practices. Each of these attributes was further classified into sub-attributes. Based on user selected sub-attributes, the most appropriate watershed model is selected from the library of watershed models. SPAWM is implemented using Excel Visual Basic and is designed for use by novices as well as by experts on watershed modeling. It ensures that the necessary sub-attributes required by the user are captured and made available in the selected watershed model.

scholarly journals Management Scale Assessment of Practices to Mitigate Cattle Microbial Water Quality Impairments of Coastal Waters

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (19) ◽  
pp. 5516 ◽  
Author(s):  
David J. Lewis ◽  
Dylan Voeller ◽  
Tina L. Saitone ◽  
Kenneth W. Tate
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Best Management Practices ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Initial Period ◽  
Quality Improvements ◽  
Managerial Control ◽  
Microbial Water Quality ◽  
Cattle Movements ◽  
Coastal Watersheds ◽  
Creek Watershed

Coastal areas support multiple important resource uses including recreation, aquaculture, and agriculture. Unmanaged cattle access to stream corridors in grazed coastal watersheds can contaminate surface waters with fecal-derived microbial pollutants, posing risk to human health via activities such as swimming and shellfish consumption. Improved managerial control of cattle access to streams through implementation of grazing best management practices (BMPs) is a critical step in mitigating waterborne microbial pollution in grazed watersheds. This paper reports trend analysis of a 19-year dataset to assess long-term microbial water quality responses resulting from a program to implement 40 grazing BMPs within the Olema Creek Watershed, a primary tributary to Tomales Bay, USA. Stream corridor grazing BMPs implemented included: (1) Stream corridor fencing to eliminate/control cattle access, (2) hardened stream crossings for cattle movements across stream corridors, and (3) off stream drinking water systems for cattle. We found a statistically significant reduction in fecal coliform concentrations following the initial period of BMP implementation, with overall mean reductions exceeding 95% (1.28 log10)—consistent with 1—2 log10 (90–99%) reductions reported in other studies. Our results demonstrate the importance of prioritization of pollutant sources at the watershed scale to target BMP implementation for rapid water quality improvements and return on investment. Our findings support investments in grazing BMP implementation as an important component of policies and strategies to protect public health in grazed coastal watersheds.

Modeling Water Quality and the Effects of Agricultural Best Management Practices in the Iowa River Basin

1985 ◽  
Vol 17 (6-7) ◽  
pp. 1141-1153 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. R. Bicknell ◽  
Anthony S. Donigian ◽  
T. A. Barnwell
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
River Basin ◽  
Best Management Practices ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Agricultural Runoff ◽  
Large River ◽  
Water Quality Modeling ◽  
Hydrological Simulation ◽  
Best Management ◽  
Creek Watershed

This paper describes a demonstration application of comprehensive hydrology and water quality modeling on a large river basin to evaluate the effects of agricultural nonpoint pollution and proposed best management practices (BMP). The model application combines detailed simulation of agricultural runoff and soil processes, including calculation of surface and subsurface pollutant transport to receiving water, with subsequent simulation of instream transport and transformation. The result is a comprehensive simulation of river basin water quality. The investigation of the Iowa River Basin described in this paper was part of a large study which included application and evaluation of the Hydrological Simulation Program - FORTRAN (HSPF) to both the data-intensive Four Mile Creek watershed and the Iowa River above Coralville Reservoir. In this study, the methodology developed on Four Mile Creek was extrapolated to the Iowa River Basin to demonstrate its applicability and functionality on a large river basin. Many model parameter values from Four Mile Creek were applied directly to the study area without adjustment while other parameters were modified based on available information and calibration. This study allowed the exploration of problems associated with modeling hydrology, sediment, and chemical fate and transport in a large river basin with varying meteorologic conditions, soils, and agricultural practices.

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