CSREES PNW Region Water Quality Program logo

Fall 2006
PNWWATER 097

IPM and Water Quality Programs Develop an Integrated Strategy for the Pacific Northwest

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The Pesticide TreadmillOn November 15, 2006 the Integrated Pest Management (IPM) and Water Quality (WQ) coordinators from the Pacific Northwest Land Grant and Indian College institutions met in Seattle, WA to discuss the possibilities of joint projects. There were 11 participants representing the University of Alaska, Washington State University, University of Idaho, Oregon State University, Northwest Indian College, Western IPM Center (WIPMC), and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Prior to the meeting, ideas had been generated by the participants through e-mail to be discussed at the meeting. A facilitator from the Western IPM Center guided the participants through a process of identifying priorities and setting goals for the projects that came up at the top of the list.

Each of the projects were presented and discussed and ranked as high, medium, or low in two categories, priority as an IPM-WQ project and on their feasibility. The projects that were rated higher in both rankings moved on for consideration as joint efforts. Four projects were identified as feasible and were further developed.

One of the projects identified as important to the region in both Water Quality and IPM is the ability to “Measure IPM Impacts on Water Quality.” The difficulty in identifying the impacts is due in part to the complexity of the water and land use systems. The workshop group identified this project as high priority but since the topic is too complex the group has set a goal of sending a proposal to the WIPMC for funds to bring experts and partners such as the Natural Resource and Conservation Service (NRCS) to a workgroup to discuss and move the project forward.

Another project identified as a priority is to host annual workshops, such as the one recently held at the University of Idaho, that bring county Extension agents together to work on multi-state projects and develop skills that meet both the regional and local needs. Outreach materials that will be consistent throughout the region and updated with recent research developments will be developed at the workshops. Measurable outputs would result from these workshops as well as outreach materials that could be used in individual counties and districts. The group would select attendance at the workshops as those agents that are likely to use the information in their programming, similarly to the selection process used in the October workshop. The WQ and IPM programs would share funding for these workshops.

Washington State University logo University of Idaho logo Oregon State University logo University of Alaska Fairbanks logo Northwest Indian College logo Environmental Protection Agency logo USDA-CSREES logo

Pacific Northwest Regional Water
Quality Coordination Project
Partners

Land Grant Universities
Alaska
Cooperative Extension Service
Contact Fred Sorensen:
907-786-6311
http://www.uaf.edu/ces/water/index.html
University Publications:
http://www.alaska.edu/uaf/ces/publications/

Idaho
University of Idaho
Cooperative Extension System
Contact Bob Mahler: 208-885-7025
http://www.uidaho.edu/wq/wqhome.html
University Publications:
http://info.ag.uidaho.edu/Catalog/catalog.html

Oregon
Oregon State University
Extension Service
Contact Mike Gamroth: 541-737-3316
http://extension.oregonstate.edu/
University Publications:
http://extension.oregonstate.edu/catalog/

Washington
Washington State University
WSU Extension
Contact Bob Simmons:
360-427-9670 ext. 690
http://wawater.wsu.edu/
University Publications:
http://pubs.wsu.edu/

Northwest Indian College
Contact Michael Cochrane: 360-392-4299
mcochrane@nwic.edu or
http://www.nwic.edu/

Water Resource Research Institutes
Water and Environmental Research
Center (Alaska)
http://www.uaf.edu/water/

Idaho Water Resources
Research Institute
http://www.boise.uidaho.edu/

Institute for Water and Watersheds
(Oregon)
http://water.oregonstate.edu/

State of Washington
Water Research Center
http://www.swwrc.wsu.edu/

Environmental Protection Agency
EPA, Region 10
The Pacific Northwest
http://www.epa.gov/r10earth/

Office of Research and Development,
Corvallis Laboratory
http://www.epa.gov/wed/

For more information contact
Jan Seago at 206-553-0038 or
seago.jan@epa.gov

A third project was to host a one-time Summit that focused on an IPM-WQ Roadmap for the Pacific Northwest based on baseline information in both WQ and IPM. Participants would:
  1. Discuss the state of the science including research results, educational efforts, regulatory aspects, and watershed-wide efforts;

  2. Determine where everyone is on relating plant protection to enhance water quality;

  3. Identify the types of leadership needed to produce an effective regional effort; and

  4. Develop a master plan/framework that is a shared institutional strategy to meet the integrated efforts of IPM and enhance water quality.

The participants, from 50 to 100, will be invited from PNW State Departments of Agriculture, State Environmental agencies, University Extension, IPM programs, University Experiment Stations, NRCS, EPA, University WQ programs, and Non-Governmental Organizations. Mid-level agency staff would be recruited to attend because of the identified need for the technical knowledge combined with their access to policy makers at higher levels of government. A “White Paper” will be produced from this summit that will hopefully direct policy and change in the IPM-WQ arena, reduce duplication, and increase information linkages in the region.

The fourth project identifies topics that within the region are a high priority but are less feasible and need some ‘data mining’ and further development. Some of the topics are:

  • Urban IPM/WQ curriculums need to be identified and information consolidated and disseminated.
  • Maximizing the role of Master Gardeners as a resource and educational tool for IPM and Water Quality issues and change.
  • Education of landscapers about IPM and WQ issues.
  • Educating homeowners on the effects of pesticides on water.

The workgroup has identified individuals and formed committees to work on these projects. Progress will be monitored and reported on in the coming year. Look for updates in future bulletins.

Columbia River gorge

National Water Quality Program Areas

The four land grant universities in the Pacific Northwest have aligned our water resource extension and research efforts with eight themes of the USDA's Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension System.

  1. Animal Waste Management
  2. Drinking Water and Human Health
  3. Environmental Restoration
  4. Nutrient and Pesticide Management
  5. Pollution Assessment and Prevention
  6. Watershed Management
  7. Water Conservation and Agricultural Water Management
  8. Water Policy and Economics
CSREES is the Cooperative States Research, Education and Extension Service, a sub-agency of the United States Department of Agriculture, and is the federal partner in this water quality program.

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A cooperative program consisting of the USDA Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service
and
the Land Grant Colleges and Universities.

- a Regionally-Based National Network -

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USDA Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service
CSREES PNW Regional Water Quality Program