Funding Source
Funding provided by General Land Office as part of the Coastal
Management Program.
Background
The Arroyo Colorado is an ancient channel of the Rio Grande
River that extends eastward for about 90 miles from near the City
of Mission through southern Hidalgo County to the City of Harlingen
in Cameron County, eventually discharging into the Laguna Madre
near the Cameron-Willacy County line. The tidal segment of the
Arroyo Colorado, as classified by the Texas Commission on
Environmental Quality, is between the confluence with Laguna Madre
in Cameron/Willacy County to a point 100 meters (110 yards)
downstream of Cemetery Road south of Port Harlingen in Cameron
County. This part of the river is also defined as a coastal natural
resource area (CNRA) and a coastal wetland in the Coastal
Coordination Act.
Water quality monitoring over the past decade has confirmed low
oxygen levels, as well as escalated ammonia and nitrate
concentrations, that have contributed to multiple fish kills in the
tidal segment. These sub-optimal aquatic conditions resulted in
this portion of the Arroyo Colorado being placed on the 303(d) list
for high aquatic life use impairment in 2002. Numerous urban
sources, such as point source wastewater discharges, have
contributed to this impairment; however, according to the Arroyo
Colorado Watershed Protection Plan, nonpoint source agricultural
runoff accounts for much of the water quality issues in the tidal
segment.
These coastal issues and other water quality issues in the
watershed have been addressed by the more than 500-member Arroyo
Colorado Watershed Partnership in the Arroyo Colorado Water
Protection Plan (ACWPP). That plan identifies needs specific to
water quality protection and improvement for the agricultural
community as well as addressing nonpoint source pollution from the
urban environment such as landscapes . Therefore, Texas Water
Resources Institute (TWRI) proposes to work through the Texas
AgriLife Extension Service (Extension) to implement an educational
program for agricultural producers including turfgrass producers as
well as those managing athletic fields such as school district
personnel. The agricultural effort will be an integrated farm
management program focused on pesticide education and proper
nutrient management for Cameron and Willacy Counties to address
water quality issues related to agricultural production in the
tidal segment of the Arroyo Colorado. While the turfgrass community
will also be invited to the education programs provided through the
agricultural effort, a targeted educational conference will be held
for turf producers and managers to better their skills at nutrient,
pesticide and irrigation management to reduce the potential for
nonpoint source pollution.
Goals
This education plan will help fulfill two of the goals of the
Texas Coastal Management Program. First, agricultural and turfgrass
producers and managers in Cameron and Willacy County will be
educated on water quality issues and how the proper application of
pesticides meets current laws and regulations and can improve the
water quality and fish community in the Arroyo CNRA. Second,
utilization of proper pesticide application practices by producers
and managers will reduce the potential for nonpoint source
pollution, which will improve the water quality in the Arroyo CNRA
and enhance the ability of this area to continue to support
valuable aquatic life and meet water quality goals outlined in the
ACWPP. An additional benefit not associated with the Coastal
Management Program, but still an environmental success for this
area given the over-allocation and availability of clean surface
waters will be the added water savings attributed to the irrigation
management education program provided through this effort.
Objectives
The overall objective of this project is to implement components
of an integrated farm management program to educate agricultural
and turfgrass producers about laws and regulations and on how to
better manage their land through safe use of crop protection
chemicals, nutrients and irrigation and in doing so, reduce the
potential for nonpoint source pollution. Extension will utilize its
already developed resources and delivery system to enhance their
programs and educate producers on pesticide laws, use regulations,
and management and application techniques. The Pesticide Applicator
Safety Training and Continuing Education program will address the
following topics: principles of integrated pest management,
non-chemical alternatives, pest features, ground and surface water
protection, laws and regulations, pesticide labels, endangered
species protection, Worker Protection Standards, record keeping,
personal protection, application equipment, and calibration. The
Sports Athletic Field Education Program addresses the following
principles: effective and economic nutrient applications; reduced
pesticide management techniques including proper soil and plant
management; maintained turf health for proper playing surface;
reduced water use and efficient irrigation management; and
continued support for program implementation to ensure sustained
success of the program.
TWRI and Extension will host educational meetings and produce
educational materials for producers on the importance of proper
pesticide application and use of integrated pest management
practices to protect water quality in Cameron County as they
implement the Arroyo Colorado Watershed Protection Plan. Funds to
support the development and delivery of the educational programs
will be provided by the EPA Strategic Agricultural Initiative
Program. In addition, the EPA program will cover the delivery of an
IPM and Best Management Practice (BMP) Newsletter and a fact sheet
directed at implementing BMPs for proper natural resources
management. TWRI and Extension will document project participation
at all events and meetings. Programs will have pre and post
assessment surveys where knowledge gained can be gauged. Follow-up
surveys will be used to quantify implementation of BMPs. Overall
success will be measured by the number of individual producers the
project reaches and estimates of BMP implementation.
Under this program, TWRI and Extension will supplement the
agricultural educational programs and field days with outreach
materials that address specific practices to reduce the potential
for nonpoint source pollution from pesticides, nutrients,
irrigation and sediment. These materials will encourage the
adoption and implementation of proper integrated pest management
practices. For example, signs will be distributed to growers to use
on-farm to designate areas of pesticide mixing, clean-out and the
proper disposal of used pesticide containers. Additionally, growers
can participate in soil-testing campaigns to encourage proper
nutrient applications. Finally, a fact sheet will be produced that
can be used outside of the Arroyo Colorado Watershed to address
water quality issues in other coastal areas impacted by
agricultural nonpoint source pollution.
A targeted turfgrass educational program will also be included
in this program. Extension will couple the already successful
Sports Athletic Field Education (SAFE) Program with its resources
for turfgrass producers to present proper management techniques
through an educational conference, hands-on learning techniques,
soil-testing campaigns to encourage proper nutrient applications,
and on-site visits to ensure proper implementation of the suggested
practices. The SAFE Program offers turf management assistance for
sports field maintenance personnel and many turfgrass producers
operate within the Arroyo Colorado floodplain. Thus, a program
targeting both turfgrass managers and producers has great potential
to reduce nonpoint source pollution to the Arroyo Colorado.
Measures of Success
The overall impact of this project will be that it will provide
landowners with accurate technically sound information that they
can utilize to reduce the potential for nonpoint source pollution
caused by improper use of land management techniques and to
maintain and improve water quality in the Arroyo Colorado
Watershed. TWRI and Extension will document project participation
at all events and meetings. Education programs will have a pre and
post assessment survey where knowledge learned can be gauged.
Overall success will be measured by the number of individual
producers the project reaches.
Task 1: Project Coordination
TWRI will effectively coordinate and monitor all technical and
financial activities performed under this contract, prepare
progress reports, and maintain project files and educational
materials. TWRI will be responsible for hiring and supervision of
all project personnel.
Deliverables/Timeline:
- Quarterly Progress Reports (QPRs) - March 15, 2009; June 15,
2009; September 15, 2009; December 15, 2009; March 15, 2010.
- Agendas, attendance and summaries from regularly scheduled
meetings submitted with QPRs - March 15, 2009; June 15, 2009;
September 15, 2009; December 15, 2009; March 15, 2010.
- Quarterly Reimbursement Forms - March 31, 2009; June 30, 2009;
September 30, 2009; December 31, 2009; March 31, 2010.
- Final report - March 31, 2010
Task 2: Supplement Integrated Farm Management System Education
Programs
Through the EPA Region VI SAI Program, Extension will host
educational programs promoting the adoption of an integrated farm
management system. Agricultural producers will learn how to better
manage their land and resources through the adoption of IPM,
nutrient, irrigation and production practices that reduce the
potential for nonpoint source pollution. The programs will
typically be held as multi-county events. Under the General Land
Office, Extension will produce educational materials (including a
fact sheet and signage encouraging proper pesticide management
practices) and implement a soil testing campaign.
Deliverables/Timeline:
- At least 300 pesticide disposing signs will be distributed at
pesticide applicator safety training and continuing education
programs, which are held quarterly.
- At least 1 fact sheet will be produced addressing identified
regional needs
- At least 700 producers (400 in year 1 and 300 in year 2) will
participate in the soil testing campaign. Estimates of nutrient (N
and P) reduction will be provided as a result of the soil testing
campaign.
Task 3: Conduct Turfgrass Production and Management Education
Program
Extension will host a one-day educational programs for turfgrass
producers and managers promoting the adoption of best management
practices to reduce pesticide use, encourage efficient applications
of nutrients and irrigation, and implement management techniques
that reduce nonpoint source pollution. As a follow-up to the
educational program, Extension will provide on-site visits to
turfgrass managers encouraging irrigation audits, soil testing
(clegg impact meter) and the adoption of practices learned through
the education program. The SAFE program will be utilized where
possible.
Deliverables/Timeline:
- A one-day education program for turfgrass managers and
producers will be held in the spring 2009. Results from pre- and
post-evaluation surveys or knowledge assessment surveys conducted
at the program will be provided.
- Extension will conduct on-site visits for at least 5 school
districts to encourage participation in the SAFE program and
conduct an irrigation audit.