Journal of Great Lakes Research 35 (2009) 1–2 Contents lists available at ScienceDirect Journal of Great Lakes Research journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/jglr Editorial Using competitive grants to address water resource challenges at the local level: The Conesus Lake Watershed project nutrients, bacteria, and chemical contaminants that are potential Index words: Water quality, Agriculture, USDA, Management practices, Lakes health threats to drinking water and ultimately human health. Identifying a water quality problem in receiving waters is often the first step in the watershed management process. Effective watershed The Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service management results in a reduction of contaminants within water- (CSREES) of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) was created in sheds and in the improvement of water quality and is an on-going 1994 and is the leading source of extramural funding for agricultural process that must be flexible enough to adapt to the unique research, education, and extension projects and programs (http:// characteristics of different watersheds as well as to the changing www.csrees.usda.gov/). The CSREES National Water Program offers two circumstances within a single watershed. competitive grant programs: the National Research Initiative (NRI) Water quality monitoring is also critical to ensure that watershed Water and Watersheds Program and the National Integrated Water management strategies are improving water quality. Research within Quality Program (NIWQP). Funding from these two programs is used to the National Water Program is improving sampling design and create and disseminate knowledge that insures a safe and reliable watershed monitoring approaches, enhancing monitoring methods source of water of the appropriate quality and to meet the needs of: and techniques, and examining data credibility. Research, such as the CSREES' competitively funded research on the Conesus Lake watershed, • Food, fiber, and energy production; improves the understanding of local water resources and helps • Human health, use, and economic growth; and communities make informed decisions that improve water quality. • Maintenance and protection of natural environmental systems and With people in the Great Lakes region depending on a safe water supply ecosystem functions. for both drinking and recreation, it is critical to protect these waters by CSREES' unique niche is conducting research, education, and conducting quality research, disseminating results, and educating extension programs to protect and improve water resources in citizens concerning the wise use and management of these waters. agricultural, rural, and urbanizing watersheds including forest lands, Watershed management recognizes that the water quality of our rangelands, and croplands — agricultural working lands. Funded streams, lakes, and estuaries results from the interaction of upstream projects lead to science-based decision making and management features. Because of the loss of soil from the land and the effects this practices that improve the quality of the USA's surface water and may be having on downstream environments, local agricultural groundwater resources in these watersheds. Technology and product agencies with participation of local farmers joined with scientists to development to promote improved water resource management also take an integrated and collaborative approach to focus attention on is encouraged through Small Business Innovation Research programs the Conesus Lake watershed to foster their sense of stewardship and sponsored by CSREES. to assist and coordinate collaboration between academic researchers, The CSREES National Water Program unites social, economic, and governing bodies, and the agricultural community. This special edition environmental concerns with research and education devoted to represents an integrated approach to conduct hypothesis-based “scaling-up” the cumulative effects of site-specific actions on range- research at the watershed level that has tested the impact of Best lands, forests, agricultural lands, and rural communities. CSREES Management Practices (BMPs) on mitigation of nonpoint sources of works through a national network of water resource projects to nutrient and soil loss. The goal of the Conesus Lake Watershed project engage stakeholders in the watershed management process, which was to demonstrate, through the experimental watershed approach, includes watershed scale planning and implementation, resulting in that implementation of BMPs in agriculturally dominated watersheds changing attitudes and behaviors that reduce contamination through- will preserve soil and reduce nutrient loss from a series of sub- out watersheds and consequently improve water quality to down- watersheds while having positive impacts on the downstream lake stream systems while increasing the scientific and public community, especially the nearshore of a large lake. understanding that human well-being is inextricably linked to the The goal of the USDA National Water Program is to protect and sustainable use and management of ecosystems. Activities of all land improve the quality of water resources throughout the United States uses within the Great Lakes' watershed impact the water quality of and its territories and has identified Watershed Management as a downstream water bodies. Water resources in the Great Lakes region theme on which to focus these efforts. This special issue highlights a are part of complex natural systems that are increasingly viewed as critical interest of the CSREES Water Program — restoration of aquatic being at risk due to a variety of chemical and biological pollutants. and estuarine ecosystems impacted by agriculture. From 2005 through Point and nonpoint sources of pollution in a watershed contribute 2007, the NIWQP included a priority to fund watershed-scale projects 0380-1330/$ – see front matter © 2009 Published by Elsevier Inc. doi:10.1016/j.jglr.2009.01.001 2 Editorial that addressed “hydrologic, geomorphic, and ecologic conditions biological processes that control nearshore eutrophication in deep- necessary to restore the structure and function of aquatic or estuarine water lakes. Papers highlighting the Extension component of the work ecosystems impacted by agricultural water use or agricultural nonpoint demonstrate the need to establish partnerships with local landowners source pollution.” These projects combined research, education, and and build trust among landowners and the project team. Finally, the extension activities to address impacts of agriculture onwater resources importance of education is exemplified by young professionals at the watershed scale. Successful projects were required to involve completing undergraduate (7) and graduate (4) degrees participating stakeholders in project management — seamlessly integrating dis- as co-authors on these papers. Their professional development covery through research with dissemination through outreach and intricately links research and extension aspects of the project. extension. Projects also offered new opportunities for students — Through extension and education, the research completed demon- focusing education on holistic approaches to watershed restoration. strates to the farming community the utility and effectiveness of the Overall, CSREES supported 11 competitively reviewed watershed-scale implemented BMPs. The research allows regional policy makers and projects nationwide aimed at identifying and restoring impacts of managers to develop strategies not only for improving land usage in agriculture on water resources. The papers in this special issue are watersheds but also for improving water quality and decreasing products of CSREES' funding in support of this restoration focus. abundance of nuisance plant species in downstream ecosystems. As Using the small watershed approach, the “Conesus Lake Watershed such, the results of this project are a logical step, a catalyst, and a Project” directly targets the identification and resolution of agriculturally mechanism for the farming community to be proactive in watershed related degradation of water quality to address issues of concern to the issues. region and the nation. At Conesus Lake, these included the following: Special Editor's Note: The Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service (CSREES) will transition to the National • Evaluate the efficacy of currently recommended management Institute for Food and Agriculture (NIFA) by 1 October 2009. practices and strategies to improve water quality; • Assess the sources of water quality impairment in targeted watersheds; Michael P. O'Neill* • Evaluate the impact of land management practices on downstream James P. Dobrowolski bacteria, algae and macrophytes; Mary Ann Rozum • Develop and recommend options for continued improvement of National Program Leader, Cooperative State Research, water quality in targeted watersheds; Education, and Extension Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, • Evaluate the relative cost and benefits associated with cleanup 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Stop 2201, Washington, from all responsible sectors; and DC 20250-2201, USA • Develop and validate cost-effective means to reduce the contribu- E-mail addresses: [email protected]; tion of agriculture to the development of algal blooms, including [email protected]; harmful algal blooms. [email protected]. *Corresponding author. Lastly, this issue highlights the importance of integrating