The Farm Water Quality Plan Plan components compiled by MARY BIANCHI, UC Cooperative Extension Farm Advisor, San Luis Obispo County; DANIEL MOUNTJOY, Area Resource Conservationist, USDA–NRCS; and ALISON JONES, Watershed Management Initiative Coordinator, Central Coast Regional Quality Control Board. Use these sections to formalize a Farm Water Quality Plan for your farm. This is the Farm Water Quality Plan for _____________________________________________ Prepared by: ____________________________________________________________________ Date: _________________ CONTENTS Section page Property Information ...................................................................................2 Operations and Land Use ............................................................................3 Statement of Goals........................................................................................5 Basin Water Quality Information .................................................................7 Farm/Ranch Map ........................................................................................14 Site Assessment and Practices Planning.....................................................16 Managing Sediment..................................................................17 Managing Irrigation .................................................................27 Managing Pesticides.................................................................32 Managing Nutrients .................................................................37 Managing Salinity ....................................................................41 Practices to Improve Water Quality in Waterways..........................43 Self-Evaluation............................................................................................48 PUBLICATION 8332 UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources http://anrcatalog.ucdavis.edu In partnership with http://www.nrcs.usda.gov Farm Water Quality Planning A Water Quality and Technical Assistance Program for California Agriculture http://waterquality.ucanr.org This PLAN is part of the Farm Water Quality Planning (FWQP) series, developed for a short course that provides train- ing for growers of irrigated crops who are interested in implementing water quality pro- tection practices. The short course teaches the basic con- cepts of watersheds, nonpoint source pollution (NPS), site- assessment techniques, and evaluation techniques. Management goals and prac- tices are presented for a variety of cropping systems. http://anrcatalog.ucdavis.edu http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/ http://waterquality.ucanr.org/ 2ANR Publication 8332 PROPERTY INFORMATION Farm/Ranch Farm/Ranch Name: Mailing Address or P.O. Box: City, State and Zip Code: Phone: Size (acres): Owner Name(s): Mailing Address or P.O. Box: ■■Same as Farm/Ranch Address City, State and Zip Code: Phone: E-mail: Lessee/Manager Name(s): Mailing Address or P.O. Box: ■■Same as Farm/Ranch Address City, State and Zip Code: Phone: E-mail: Location County: Legal Description (Township, Range, Sections): ANR Publication 8332 3 OPERATIONS AND LAND USE Current farm/ranch enterprises or activities and the acreage devoted to each Land use activity Area in acres/sq.ft. farming (field production) farming (greenhouse/nursery production) grazing livestock dairy feedlot processing (winery, cold storage, etc.) public facilities (winery tasting rooms, etc.) forestry (timber) wildlife preserve camping hunt club Water sources for farming enterprises: Surface water Groundwater Municipal Reclaimed/Recycled ANR Publication 8332 4 Operations and Land use, cont'd. Farming Enterprises Current farm/ranch enterprises or activities and the acreage devoted to each Alfalfa/other hay Cotton Strawberries Caneberries Field crops Tree/fruit/nut crops Corn (grain) Irrigated pasture Vegetable crops Corn (silage) Oil crops Vineyard Other silage Rice Wheat, barley, oats Greenhouse Container Ground Shade & temporary Container Ground Outdoor flowers Container Ground Schedule for rotated crops: Livestock Enterprises Number of pastures for grazing _________ Types of livestock Livestock access to water cow/calf–spring calving troughs and tanks cow/calf–fall calving springs cow/calf–year-round calving streams or creeks stocker production stock ponds goat production water gaps llama production wells horses river ratite (ostrich, emu, etc.) production 5ANR Publication 8332 STATEMENT OF GOALS Production Goals ■■to pass the farm/ranch on to the next generation ■■to reduce family/farm debt so that only minor borrowing for operating capital is necessary in a typical year ■■to expand existing enterprises ■■to increase income by developing new enterprises ■■to increase profitability ■■to purchase or lease more property ■■to reduce short-term production costs ■■to achieve long-term reduced production costs ■■to increase the value of the land ■■ ■■ ■■ Quality of Life Goals ■■to reduce energy consumption in our home and in the farm/ranch operation ■■to reduce family debt ■■to provide support for our children’s college education ■■to provide financial or other support to community organizations ■■to reduce household operating expenses ■■to build an emergency fund ■■to be involved in at least one significant community activity that is important to our family’s goals, health, values, or well-being ■■to build a retirement fund ■■to grow crops or raise livestock during my retirement ■■to enhance relationships with neighbors and the community ■■to enhance health and well-being on the farm ■■ ■■ 6ANR Publication 8332 Statement of Goals, cont’d. Natural Resource/Water Quality Goals ■■to protect cropland, nursery area, rangeland, pastureland, and/or forestland from erosion ■■to manage farm or ranch roads to reduce movement of sediment into streams, and other water bodies ■■to reduce human-caused erosion of stream banks ■■to increase canopy and/or ground cover in riparian areas or along streams and other water bodies ■■to protect and enhance fish populations and other aquatic resources. ■■to reduce concentration of livestock in or near riparian areas, streams or other water bodies ■■to reduce the opportunity for nutrients, pesticides, and pathogens to enter streams or other water bodies. ■■to maintain and enhance riparian plant communities ■■to reduce wildfire hazard ■■to maintain and protect oak woodland and other upland native plant communities ■■to maintain or improve wildlife habitat ■■to reduce/manage invasive weeds ■■ ■■ ■■ ANR Publication 8332 7 REGIONAL AND LOCAL WATER QUALITY INFORMATION This section is a place for you to document information about your watershed, groundwater basin, and downstream waterbodies that has been collected by a variety of agencies. This information is documented in the following resources: California Coastal Commission (CCC) CCAs http://www.coastal.ca.gov/nps/cca-nps.html California Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) GWPA Maps http://www.cdpr.ca.gov/docs/gwp/gwpamaps.htm GWPA Lists by Legal Description http://www.cdpr.ca.gov/docs/gwp/gwpa_lists.htm National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) – National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) Protected Resources Division ESUs http://swr.ucsd.edu/psd/ps1inf.htm#Salmon State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) – Regional Water Quality Control Board (RWQCB) Beneficial Uses - Basin Plan http://www.swrcb.ca.gov/rwqcb3/BasinPlan/BP_text/chapter_2/ figs_n_tables/table_2-1.doc Beneficial Use Support - California Water Quality Assessment Report 1998 - Staff Report Part A http://www.swrcb.ca.gov/general/publications/index.html#Cc Clean Water Act Section 303(d) List http://www.swrcb.ca.gov/tmdl/docs/2002reg3303dlist.pdf CCAMP Monitoring Data http://www.ccamp.org/ca/3/3.htm How to complete this section Draw from the above resources to complete this section. If you don’t have access to one of these resources, contact your Watershed Coordinator or contact the agency directly. ANR Publication 8332 8 Regional and Local Water Quality Information, cont’d. Location of the Operation — “Watershed Address” Water Quality Control Board Region ■ Region 1: North Coast ■ Region 2: San Francisco Bay ■ Region 3: Central Coast ■ Region 4: Los Angeles ■ Region 5: Central Valley ■ Region 6: Lahontan ■ Region 7: Colorado River Basin ■ Region 8: Santa Ana ■ Region 9: San Diego Name of the Hydrologic Unit (HU): Name of the Hydrologic Area (HA): Downstream Waterbodies Type(s) of streams on and adjacent to the farm/ranch: ■ Perennial – flow all year ■ Intermittent – flow during and for a period following rainfall ■ Ephemeral – only flow in direct response to rainfall ■ None List names of all downstream waterbodies, beginning at the property and ending at the ocean: Pollutants identified in downstream waterbodies: ■ Sediment/Silt Waterbody: _____________________________ Source: ■ 303(d)* ■ Cooperative Monitoring ■ Other ___________________ ■ Nutrients/Nitrate Waterbody: _____________________________ Source: ■ 303(d)* ■ Cooperative Monitoring ■ Other ___________________ ■ Pesticides Waterbody: _____________________________ Source: ■ 303(d)* ■ Cooperative Monitoring ■ Other ___________________ ■ Other(s) Waterbody: _____________________________ Source: ■ 303(d)* ■ Cooperative Monitoring ■ Other ___________________ *Waterbodies on Federal 303(d) list are subject to Total Maximum Daily Loads. Is the watershed you are in designated by the Department of Fish and Game as being within a known range of an Evolutionary Significant Unit (ESU) for Coho or Steelhead? Coho ESU? ■ Yes ■ No If yes, are the Coho Threatened or Endangered? ■ T ■ E Steelhead ESU? ■ Yes ■ No If yes, are the Steelhead Threatened or Endangered? ■ T ■ E ANR Publication 8332 9 9 Regional and Local Water Quality Information, cont’d. Is a coastal zone downstream of the operation designated by the California Coastal Commission as a proposed Critical Coastal Area (CCA)? ■ Yes ■ No Groundwater Basin Name and Number of the Groundwater Basin: Is the farm/ranch within an area designated by the California Department of Pesticide Regulation as a Ground Water Protection Area (GWPA)? ■ Yes ■ No Include maps that indicate your watershed, groundwater basin, and flow of water from your operation to the ocean. 1 1ANR Publication 8332 Farm/Ranch Map, cont’d. Fences and Roads Total Miles ■■ Fences ■■ Dirt road ■■ Gravel road (label) ■■ Paved road ■■ Hydrologic Features Total Number ■■ Irrigation ditches ■■ Irrigation ditches, lined (label) ■■ Streams and creeks ■■ Springs ■■ Irrigation reservoirs ■■ Recycling reservoirs (label) ■■ Irrigation settling ponds (label) ■■ Stockwater ponds ■■ Tailwater recovery systems (label) ■■ Bridges ■■ Stream crossings ■■ Domestic wells (label) ■■ Irrigation wells ■■ Stockwater wells (label) ■■ FORD gravel recycling settling pond lined well domestic well tailwater recovery system 1 2ANR Publication 8332 You have completed the basin water quality information that lists important water bodies in your area and the water quality problems that have been identified for these water bodies. You have also created a map of your farm or ranch that lists land uses, facilities, and resources. The following section can help identify areas of your farm or ranch where you’ve already imple- mented management practices to protect water quality. It can also help determine what areas of your farm or ranch can receive the most benefit from the implementation of new management practices. These items can be added to your map. A trip around the property in a vehicle or on foot may be necessary to complete this assessment. Some of the assessment may involve accessing your pesticide use reports, or operations budget for nutrients applied to specific fields. Keep this section and the following self-evaluation section as a working document to record your decisions and your progress. You should keep records or take photographs before and after implementation to document changes that occur as a result of practices or groups of practices. If you conclude that you need to make some changes, it may take you a while to decide how to proceed. You may want to compare practices that can accomplish the same thing. Not all prac- tices listed may be applicable or available for your situation. Discuss these options with other farmers, consultants, or technical advisors from UCCE, NRCS, RCDs or other organizations. You should estimate costs of implementation. You may want to seek cost share funding with NRCS or other sources. How to complete this section: If you answer “yes” to any of the questions, look at the following table(s) for Management Practices. Select Practices that you are currently using or that you think might be useful. Update annually and keep notes that help with record keeping. If you would like to be more specific, you can record block designations, square footage, or acres of each selected Practice in the “loca- tion(s)” column. NRCS Conservation Practice Standards that you might want to use are listed where applicable. (e.g., Sediment Basin #350). SITE ASSESSMENT AND PRACTICES PLANNING ANR Publication 8332 13 Site Assessment and Practices Planning–Sediment, cont'd. Managing Sediment Upstream/Upslope Land Use S1. Is your property affected by sediment from upstream/upslope land uses? Yes No Notes: Practices to Manage Sediment from Upstream/Upslope Year(s) used Used or could be helpful Location(s) 20 04 20 05 20 06 20 07 20 08 20 09 20 10 A structure to collect the sediment is installed and maintained Sediment Basin #350 Water and Sediment Control Basin #638 A structure to divert the sediment is installed and maintained Diversion #362 Grassed Waterway #412 Lined Waterway #468 Open Channel #582 Structure for Water Control #587 Surface Drainage Ditch #607 & #608 Underground Outlet #620 Vegetation is established to filter the sediment Conservation Cover #327 Filter Strip #393 Tree/Shrub Establishment #612 Soil erosion and sediment deposition are primary contributors to lowered surface water quality from farmlands. In areas where there are steep slopes, erodible soils, and intense storm characteristics, sediment delivery from farmlands can be relatively high. Roads and other areas of disturbed ground where bare soils are susceptible to the erosive action of water and wind can also be major contributors of sediment to waterbodies. ANR Publication 8332 14 Site Assessment and Practices Planning–Sediment, cont'd. Fields and Other Growing Areas S2. Do you notice soil erosion from fields and other growing areas with steep slopes or long lengths of run? Yes No Notes: Develop a Field Layout to Minimize Erosion Potential Year(s) used Used or could be helpful Location(s) 20 04 20 05 20 06 20 07 20 08 20 09 20 10 Rows are placed on slopes and grades that minimize erosion Contour Farming #330 Contour Orchard and Other Fruit Area #331 Row Arrangement #557 Long runs are broken up Access Road #560 Contour Buffer Strip #332 Diversion # 362 Irregularities that cause concentrated runoff on slopes are removed Land Smoothing #466 ANR Publication 8332 15 Site Assessment and Practices Planning–Sediment, cont'd. S3. During rain events, do you notice soil erosion from fields with bare soil or sparse ground cover? Yes No Notes: Cover Bare Fields to Reduce Rainfall Runoff Potential Year(s) used Used or could be helpful Location(s) 20 04 20 05 20 06 20 07 20 08 20 09 20 10 Bare soil is covered with vegetation Conservation Crop Rotation #328 Cover Crop #340 Alternate rows are cultivated and cover cropped Cover Crop #340 Plant residues or other materials are applied to or managed on the soil surface Mulching #484 Residue Management #329 Strips of vegetation are placed along rows that are farmed on the contour Contour Buffer Strip #332 Critical Area Planting #342 ANR Publication 8332 16 Site Assessment and Practices Planning–Sediment, cont'd. S4. During irrigation, do you notice sediments in runoff from fields? Yes No Notes: Manage Irrigation Water to Minimize Erosion Potential Year(s) used Used or could be helpful Location(s) 20 04 20 05 20 06 20 07 20 08 20 09 20 10 Amendments are used to improve infiltration - PAM, gypsum, organic amendments Anionic Polyacrylamide (PAM) #450 Deep tillage is performed to fracture restrictive soil layers and increase deep percolation where leaching of pollutants to groundwater is not a significant risk Deep Tillage #324 Soil or substrate moisture status is monitored using tensiometers or other sensors The application rate of the irrigation system (in/hr) is known Irrigation system is redesigned or converted to another type Fields are graded for uniform application of irrigation water Irrigation Land Leveling #464 Irrigation Water Management #449 ANR Publication 8332 17 Site Assessment and Practices Planning–Sediment, cont'd. S5. During high winds, do you notice dust blowing from fields with bare soil or sparse ground cover or from field roads? Yes No Notes: Reduce Wind Erosion Potential Year(s) used Used or could be helpful Location(s) 20 04 20 05 20 06 20 07 20 08 20 09 20 10 Vegetation is established along the field edges to shield the field from wind Hedgerow #422 Herbaceous Wind Barrier #603 Windbreak/Shelterbelt Establishment #380 & 650 The bare soil is covered with vegetation Cover Crop #340 Conservation Crop Rotation #328 Residue Management #329 The soil surface is roughened Cross Wind Ridges #589A Surface Roughening #609 Road surfaces are protected with mulch, gravel, water or an e
