Daniel Devlin

Professor and Extension Specialist, 

Environmental Quality

Implementation of BMPs in the 

Little Arkansas River Watershed
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

TOTAL ATRAZINE BMP RUNOFF EFFECTIVENESS (TABRE) ______

Add Reduction in Runoff Figure

Incentive Payment Per Acre $6.00 X TABRE $______

(Maximum payment per acre $6.00)

TOTAL FIELD PAYMENT 

_______ 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 Watersheds with 

and without BMP Implementation 

0

0.5

1

1.5

2

2.5

3

3.5

4

With Practices Without Practices

2006

2007

Av

g. A

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a

zin

e

C

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c. (

p

p

b

)

2006 - Predicted 27% less atrazine runoff in 

targeted watersheds. Actual 40% reduction.

2007 – Predicted 23% less atrazine runoff 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.