Protecting Water Quality
The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) uses Pesticide Stewardship Partnerships (PSP) to identify potential problems and improve water quality associated with pesticide use around Oregon. Established in 2000, the PSP approach uses local expertise combined with water quality sampling to encourage voluntary changes in pesticide use and practices. These changes can lead to measurable environmental improvements, thus making water safer for aquatic life and humans. The partnerships use both water quality and crop quality as measures of success. Pest management and water quality management must both be effective for long-term stewardship of natural resources.
Early Success Stories
Working closely with local stakeholders in the early 2000s, DEQ started two pilot projects in Columbia Gorge watersheds: Hood River and Mill Creek. DEQ and other partners assessed whether currently used pesticides were detectable in local surface waters at concentrations of concern. In both basins, initial data showed repeated detections of several pesticides. Local partners, including Columbia Gorge Fruit Growers and the Oregon State University Extension Service, used the water quality data and local expertise to help pesticide users implement best management practices to reduce the risk of drift, runoff and leaching of pesticides into area waterways. Within a short time frame both pilot projects showed substantial improvements in water quality associated with changes in pesticide management practices.
Growth of the PSP Program
The Hood River and Mill Creek successes showed that the Pesticide Stewardship Partnership approach could be an effective, timely alternative to traditional regulatory approaches dealing with “non point” sources of chemicals in water, such as agricultural lands and residential areas.
To date, there are nine PSP watersheds in the state and DEQ has been able to increase the number of pesticides it analyzes to over 140. As a result, the state can detect some newer-generation pesticides in PSP watersheds, while others have not been seen or are seldom detected. This data helps focus outreach and technical assistance efforts in the watersheds.
During the 2015-17 biennium, the PSP program funded several projects to demonstrate the use of new tools for monitoring natural enemies of pear psylla and an air blast sprayer optimization training program. Both programs were designed to help local and regional orchardists minimize negative impacts of pesticide use while maximizing efficacy and efficiency. The Hood River SWCD receives funds to collect and ship water samples to the lab for analysis.
Hood River PSP Today
The Hood River PSP program has continued to analyze water samples from the same five sites: Neal Creek, Lower Lenz Creek, Odell Creek, and alternating East and West Forks of Neal Creek. In addition to grab (instantaneous) sampling, sediment samples and passive (long term deployment) samples have been taken at several sites. In recent years, all water samples have been analyzed for insecticides, fungicides and herbicides. Starting in 2015, a third of the samples were analyzed for a suite of glyphosate and phenoxy (2, 4-D) herbicides.
Across the basin from 2015-2017, numerous pesticides were detected. However, with the exception of the insecticide imidacloprid, none of the detections have exceeded established U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s aquatic life benchmarks.
The herbicide diuron has been detected at frequencies at or above 60% for several years within the watershed. It’s use is thought to be primarily for weed control in rights-of-way (roads, railroads, etc) and other non-crop weed control. Detections during the 2015-17 period were highest in Neal Creek at the mouth, Lenz Creek at the mouth, and Odell Creek above the Waste Water Treatment Plant.
What You Can Do
Landowners can do their part to minimize pesticide pollution by: 1) applying, storing, and disposing of pesticides according to the label, 2) using pesticides as part of a multi-pronged approach to pest control, with pesticide usage as a last resort, and 3) using the least-toxic pesticide possible to address the problem.
For more information about this team and its activities, visit the PSP webpage. For other pesticide and fertilizer questions, see the Oregon Department of Agriculture page.
Future Direction
The Oregon Water Quality Pesticide Management Team helps guide current and future direction for the Pesticide Stewardship Partnership program. This interagency collaboration along with the watershed-based partnerships will ensure the program’s continued effectiveness and improvement.
For More Information
Contact Kathryn Rifenburg, Pesticide Stewardship Partnership (PSP) Coordinator
Oregon Department of Agriculture – Pesticides Program
635 Capitol St NE, Salem, OR 97301-2532
971.600.5073
Kathryn.RIFENBURG@oda.oregon.gov