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STEWARDSHIP IMPLEMENTATION PROJECT (SIP)
The project will focus on seven reservoirs and watersheds and will be evaluated in the comprehensive study. These include the City of Vandalia reservoir, the Monroe City Route J Lake, the three-reservoir system serving the City of Cameron including Grindstone Lake, Smithville Lake and Salt River Basin of Mark Twain Lake. These lakes are listed by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources on the EPA Clean Water Act Section 303(d) list for the pollutant, Atrazine. The primary cause of this listing has been identified as agricultural non-point source pollution.
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
In 1998, the Watershed Research, Assessment, and Stewardship Program (WRASP) was created. The goal of WRASP is to develop a better understanding of the causes of agricultural runoff and to help local people improve water quality in watersheds across the state. Building upon the successful implementation of WRASP and its programs, the Stewardship Implementation Project (SIP) will begin an implementation phase that will take the knowledge gained and apply it on the ground by working with farmers in their fields. The goal of SIP will be to accelerate implementation of agricultural production practices that increase the level of protection for the environment while maximizing profitability for producers through on-farm crop, conservation, and information management assistance. A specific goal of SIP is that the targeted watersheds be delisted from the Section 303(d) listing.
This project will accomplish its goals through direct one-on-one on-farm technical assistance and through field scale demonstrations of selected production practices, new technologies and management strategies. The program will utilize an Integrated Crop Management (ICM) systems approach to crop production. It will be unique to the specific watershed, field and grower. The program will demonstrate how ICM can improve profitability for the producers while decreasing the potential for pesticide, nutrient and sediment contamination of water runoff. The ICM production system, as utilized in this project, will encompass the best production techniques in terms of pesticide and nutrient management for both agricultural productivity and environmental stewardship. It is recognized that several individual activities and management techniques will comprise the components of the ICM system.
Participating farmers for their farmer neighbors will offer field tours of the side-by-side demonstration sites. These sites will provide in-field comparisons of conventional production systems and a comprehensive ICM system. Key producers in selected watersheds can share the details of their production practices and personal experiences with those in attendance, what was done, why, and how it worked on their farms. Information transfer, grower education and adoption begin here. Each demonstration site will be signed identifying the location as utilizing products, technologies, production practices and ICM systems for their economic and environmental benefits.
OBJECTIVES
1. Identify to the extent possible the areas in watershed with the greatest potential impact on water quality as targets.
2. Establish and maintain working relationships with key producers and in areas targeted for greatest potential impact.
3. Establish and maintain field scale demonstration sites.
4. Data information management and decision support system developed.
5. Data information management and decision support system utilized by demonstration site cooperators.
6. Economic analysis completed on demonstration sites.
7. Field days conducted on demonstration sites.
8. Conduct information/education activities for the watershed.
9. Develop and implement the survey instrument for all landowners within the watersheds.
10. Develop, review, revise and implement water quality monitoring plan for assessing effects of BMP implementation on water quality.
11. Collect and analyze lake-level water samples for pesticide, nutrient, and sediment contamination
12. Collect and analyze stream-level water samples for pesticide, nutrient, and sediment contamination.
PRODUCTS
Water samples will be collected in streams and lakes in the project watersheds. The samples will be analyzed for various contaminants including pesticides, nutrients, and sediment. The sampling plan will not be as rigorous as the original WRASP project whereas the purpose of this sampling will be to document progress made in implementation.
As a component of this project, a survey instrument will be developed. This survey will measure the extent by which practices being promoted by the project are being adopted by the producers in the watersheds. The survey will estimate adoption of the pesticide, nutrient, and sediment management practices. The survey will be conducted throughout the project in order to access progress on an on-going basis. The Soil and Water Conservation Districts in the targeted watersheds will be asked how many acres they have enrolled in integrated pest management and nutrient management planning cost-share programs to measure adoption and implementation trends.
PROJECT SPONSOR
Environmental Resources Coalition (ERC)
COOPERATING AGENCIES
The partners of WRASP are expected to continue to support SIP. These organizations include: the Missouri Corn Growers Association, Missouri Department of Natural Resources, Missouri Department of Agriculture, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Syngenta, Inc., U.S. Department of Agriculture-Natural Resources Conservation Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture- Agriculture Research Services, and the University of Missouri-Columbia. Besides Syngenta, it is expected that more corporate partners will participate in SIP.
CONTACT
Environmental Resources Coalition (ERC)
3118 Emerald Ln.
Jefferson City, MO 65109
Steve Taylor 573-893-4181
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