**Daniel Devlin Professor and Extension Specialist,**  **Env ironmental**  **Quality** 

# Implementation of BMPs in the **Little Arkansas River W**  **atershed**

# Little Arkansas **River Watershed**
 Agricultural watershed
 78% cropland  19% grazingland 

###  TMDLs set for the watershed
 52% of stream segments required TMDLs 

###  Water quality concerns include bacteria, nutrients, sediments, pesticides  Drinking water source for city of Wichita and numerous smaller cities and towns  Source for aquifer recharge

# Little Arkansas **Watershed WRAPS Implementation**  **Goals**
 Reduce atrazine herbicide in water to reach goal of 3 μg/L, with no seasonal spikes

.  Reduce fecal coliform bacteria in water to < 200 cfu/100 ml water for swimming and < 2,000 cfu/100 ml water for wading (boating and fishing).  Reduce nutrients and sediments to achieve goal of DO > 5mg/L, BOD < 3.5 mg/L, TDS < 808 mg/L and TSS < 101 mg/L in lake waters.

# Project Funding
 USDA CSREES 406 Project, “Measuring Success of a TMDL Implementation Plan: Land, Stream, and Economic Responses to Targeted Stakeholder Actions”  EPA 319 Project, “Little Arkansas River Watershed Restoration and Protection Strategies”  City of Wichita  Kansas State Conservation Commission  Landowner Contributions

# Project Overview

 Stream geomorphologic assessment on targeted streams to assess stream condition and sediment sources.  Watershed modeling is being used to estimate the extent of target

- BMP implementation to achieve measurable changes in water quality.  Economic analysis is being conducted to determine the impact on net return per acre associated with potential improvements in water quality.

# Project Overview
 Automated and grab sample water quality monitoring system established throughout watershed.  Biomonitoring on targeted streams.  Education and information.  BMP implementation.

# BMP Implementation
 Focused on reducing atrazine herbicide runoff from corn (2007, 2008) and grain sorghum (2006, 2007, 2008) fields.  Targeted three (2006), five (2007), and six (2008) watersheds for rapid implementation of atrazine herbicide BMPs.  Installed automated water quality monitoring stations at the base of the six targeted watersheds and two adjoining watersheds

– “paired watersheds.”

# Elements **of BMP Implementation** 
 Developed and delivered educational meetings to farmers and pesticide dealers.  Research/demonstrations of BMPs on farmer fields  Incentive payments for atrazine BMP adoption.  Met one

- on - one with farmers in targeted watersheds.  Evaluated progress.

# BMP Incentive Program

 Incentive $ program developed for atrazine BMPs

- $20,000 (2006), $40,000 (2007), and $50,000 (2008).  Hired an Extension agronomist to meet one

- on - one with farmers in the targeted watersheds. Our goal was to have 50 (2006), 70 (2007),and 100 (2008) farmers adopt BMPs.  Farmers signed up for program in the field. Payments based on level of protection.

### Form Used Calculate **Incentive Payment -**  **2006** Reduction in Atrazine BMPs Utilized (Check all that apply) Runoff Factor ☐ Incorporate atrazine into the first 2 inches of soil prior to planting .70 ☐ Apply atrazine in the fall or prior to April 15 .50 ☐ Apply atrazine as part of a postemergence premix .60 ☐ Reduce soil

- applied atrazine rates to 1 lb ai/acre or less .33 ☐ Use split applications of atrazine, e.g. 2/3 prior to April 15 and 1/3 at planting .25 ☐ Band apply atrazine at planting .50 ☐ Use no atrazine 1.00 TOT AL A TRAZINE BMP RUNOFF EFFECTIVENESS (T ABRE) ______ Add Reduction in Runof f Figure Incentive Payment Per Acre $6.00 X TA BRE $______ (Maximum payment per acre $6.00) TOT AL FIELD P AY MENT

_______ Acres X $______Incentive Payment Per Acre = $______

# BMP Implementation Results  Visited one

- on - one with 50 (2006), 77 (2007), and 100 (2008) farmers.  41 (2006), 74 (2007), and 95 (2008) farmers committed to implementing atrazine BMPs.  (2006) 4,792 acres of grain sorghum had BMPs implemented.
 Dry Turkey Creek 44% of grain sorghum acres  West Upper Emma Creek 33% of grain sorghum acres  Black Kettle Creek 33% of grain sorghum acres

# BMP Implementation Results
 (2007) 10,512 acres of corn and grain sorghum had BMPs implemented.
 Dry Turkey Creek 34% of corn and grain sorghum acres  West Upper Emma Creek 61% of corn and grain sorghum acres  Black Kettle Creek 37% of corn and grain sorghum acres  Blaze Fork Creek 41% of corn and grain sorghum acres  Sand Creek 32% of corn and grain sorghum acres. 

###  (2008) 13,044 acres of corn and grain sorghum had BMPs implemented.

### Atrazine Concentrations **in W atersheds with**  **and without BMP** 

**I mplementation** 

**0 0.5**  **1 1.5**  **2 2.5**  **3 3.5**  **4**

**Wi th**  **Practi ces**  **Wi thout**  **Pr acti**  **ces 2006**  **2007 A** **v g** **. A** **t r** **a z** **i n** **e C** **o n** **c .** **( p** **p b** **)** 2006

- Predicted 27% less atrazine runof f in targeted watersheds. A ctual 40% reduction. 2007

– Predicted 23% less atrazine runof f in targeted watersheds. Actual 18% reduction.

# Summary  A watershed plan was developed for the watershed.  Watersheds were targeted for rapid implementation of pesticide BMPs.  Research/demonstration BMP sites were established on farmer fields.  An education program taught BMPs to farmers and consultants.  An incentive program was developed and funded.

# Summary  An extension agronomist met one

- on - one with farmers.  Farmers implemented BMPs on the targeted acres.  Monitoring of paired watersheds found reductions in atrazine runoff.