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Protecting Quality EPA 841-F-05-001 from AGRICULTURAL R UNOFF Clean Water Is Everybody’s Business he has more than T330 million acres of agricultural What Is Nonpoint Source ? that produce an abundant supply Nonpoint source (NPS) pollution, unlike pollution from point sources of and other products. Ameri- such as industrial and treatment , comes from many can is noted worldwide for its high productivity, quality, and diffuse sources. Polluted runoff is caused by rainfall or snowmelt efficiency in delivering goods to the moving over and through the ground. As the runoff moves, it picks consumer. When improperly managed up and carries away natural and human-made , finally however, activities from working depositing them into watersheds through , , , and can affect . coastal , and even our underground sources of . In the 2000 National Water Quality Inventory, states reported that agricul- Did you know that runoff from farms is the leading source of tural nonpoint source (NPS) pollution impairments to surveyed rivers and lakes? is the leading source of water quality impacts on surveyed rivers and lakes, to reduce pollution also increase In addition, other pollutants like the second largest source of impair- productivity and save and , , and heavy ments to wetlands, and a major ranchers money in the long run. are often attached to the particles contributor to of sur- and into the water bodies, causing There are many government programs veyed and ground water. algal blooms and depleted , available to help farmers and ranchers Agricultural activities that cause NPS which is deadly to most aquatic . design and pay for management pollution include poorly located or Farmers and ranchers can reduce approaches to prevent and control managed feeding operations; and sedimentation by 20 to NPS pollution. For example, over 40 overgrazing; plowing too often or at the 90 percent by applying management percent of section 319 Clean Water wrong time; and improper, excessive, or practices that control the volume and Act grants have been used to control poorly timed application of pesticides, flow rate of runoff water, keep the soil NPS pollution from working farms water, and . in place, and reduce soil . and ranches. Also, many programs Pollutants that result from farming and funded by the U.S. Department of ranching include , nutrients, Agriculture and by states provide , pesticides, metals, and salts. cost-share, technical assistance, and Farmers apply nutrients such as Impacts from agricultural activities on economic incentives to implement NPS , , and and ground water can pollution management practices. Many in the form of chemical fertilizers, be minimized by using management local organizations and individuals have , and sludge. They may also practices that are adapted to local come together to help create regional grow legumes and leave crop residues conditions. Many practices designed support networks to adopt technologies to enhance production. When these and practices to eliminate or reduce sources exceed needs, or are water quality impacts caused by applied just before it , nutrients agricultural activities. can wash into aquatic . There they can cause algae blooms, Sedimentation which can ruin swimming and boating opportunities, create foul and The most prevalent source of in drinking water, and kill fish by agricultural is soil removing oxygen from the water. High that is washed off fields. water of in drinking carries soil particles (sediment) water can cause methemoglobinemia, and dumps them into nearby lakes a potentially fatal in infants, or streams. Too much sediment also known as . can cloud the water, reducing the To combat losses, farmers can amount of that reaches implement plans aquatic plants. It can also clog the that help maintain high yields and save of fish or smother fish larvae. money on fertilizers. Animal Feeding Operations alternative sources of water and , and Pesticides By confining in small areas or lots, promote revegetation of ranges, pastures, , , and fungicides farmers and ranchers can efficiently feed and riparian zones. are used to kill agricultural pests. These and maintain . But these confined Irrigation chemicals can enter and contaminate water areas become major sources of animal . through direct application, runoff, and An estimated 238,000 working farms and Irrigation water is applied to supplement atmospheric deposition. They can poison ranches in the United States are considered natural or to protect crops fish and , contaminate food sources, animal feeding operations, generating against freezing or wilting. Inefficient and destroy the that animals use for about 500 million tons of manure each irrigation can cause water quality problems. protective cover. To reduce contamination year. Runoff from poorly managed facilities In arid areas, for example, where rainwater from pesticides, farmers should use can carry pathogens such as and does not carry deep into the Integrated Pest Management (IPM) tech- , nutrients, and oxygen-demanding soil, of irrigation water can niques based on the specific , climate, organics and solids that contaminate concentrate salts. Excessive irrigation can pest history, and crop conditions for a shellfishing areas and cause other water affect water quality by causing erosion, particular field. IPM encourages natural quality problems. Ground water can also transporting nutrients, pesticides, and barriers and limits use and be contaminated by waste seepage. Farmers , or decreasing the amount manages necessary applications to minimize and ranchers can limit discharges by storing of water that flows naturally in streams pesticide movement from the field. and managing facility and and rivers. It can also cause a buildup of runoff with appropriate selenium, a toxic that can harm systems. waterfowl reproduction. Farmers can Bill Conservation Funding reduce NPS pollution from irrigation by Livestock improving water use efficiency. They can In May 2002 President Bush signed the Overgrazing exposes soils, increases measure actual crop needs and apply only Farm Bill, providing up to $13 billion for erosion, encourages invasion by undesirable the amount of water required. Farmers may conservation programs for six years. plants, destroys fish habitat, and may also choose to convert irrigation systems to This Farm Bill represents an 80 percent destroy streambanks and floodplain higher efficiency equipment. increase above current levels of funding vegetation necessary for habitat and water available for conservation programs quality filtration. To reduce the impacts designed to prevent polluted runoff. of grazing on water quality, farmers and For more information, visit www.usda. ranchers can adjust grazing intensity, keep gov/farmbill. livestock out of sensitive areas, provide

Related Publications and Web Sites Funding Sources National Management Measures to Control Nonpoint Searchable Catalog of Federal Funding Sources for Source Pollution from Agriculture Watershed Protection epa.gov/nps/agmm epa.gov/watershedfunding This technical guidance and reference document is for use Agricultural Management Assistance Database by state, local, and tribal managers in the implementation of www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/ama nonpoint source pollution management programs. It contains information on effective, readily available, and economically Section 319(h) funding (epa.gov/nps/ achievable means of reducing pollution of surface and ground 319hfunds.html) is provided to designated state and tribal agencies water from agriculture. to implement approved nonpoint source management programs. Agricultural Nonpoint Source Pollution Management Environmental Quality Incentives Program (www.nrcs.usda. Web Site gov/programs/eqip) offers financial, technical, and educational epa.gov/nps/agriculture.html assistance to install or implement structural, vegetative, and management practices designed to conserve soil and other natural This web site features a collection of links to helpful documents, . federal programs, partnerships and nongovernmental orrganizations that convey advice and assistance to farmers and Conservation Reserve and Conservation Reserve ranchers for protecting water quality. Enhancement Programs (www.fsa.usda.gov/dafp/cepd/default. htm) implemented by the U.S. Department of Agriculture National Agriculture Compliance Assistance Center provide financial incentives to encourage farmers and ranchers to epa.gov/agriculture or call toll-free: 1-888-663-2155 voluntarily protect soil, water, and wildlife resources. EPA’s National Agriculture Compliance Assistance Center is the “first stop” for information about environmental requirements that For More Information affect the agricultural community. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Nonpoint Source Control Branch (4503T) Animal Feeding Operations (AFO) Web Sites 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW AFO Virtual Information Center: epa.gov/npdes/afovirtualcenter Revised

Washington, DC 20460 March 2005 Overview of and helpful links: epa.gov/npdes/afo epa.gov/nps