1. Farm Practices and Environmental Impacts Water Quality Area of Expertise Team

2. Farm Practices and Potential Water Quality Impacts Potential Environmental Impacts of Crop Production Potential Environmental Impacts of Crop Production Runoff and/or leaching Pesticide Fertilizers Air particulates, dustAir particulates, dust Erosion and sedimentationErosion and sedimentation Engine exhaustEngine exhaust Equipment noiseEquipment noise MGSP Field*A*Syst MAEAP Field Assessment, winter 2003

3. Farm Practices and Potential Water Quality Impacts Potential Farmstead Environmental Impacts Pesticide storage Fertilizer storage Fuel StorageFuel Storage Mixing and loading areas Septic systemsSeptic systems Improperly maintained water wellsImproperly maintained water wells MGSP Farm-A-Syst MAEAP Farmstead Assessment, fall 2002

4. Farm Practices and Potential Water Quality Impacts Potential Livestock Environmental Impacts vary with choice. Top Spreading: + Quick and time efficient +Flexible about soil conditions + Low labor and equipment cost -Lose half of the nitrogen -High odor Direct Injection +Reduced odor +Preserve nitrogen value - High labor and equipment cost -Very high application rates -Requires tillage

5. Farm Practices and Potential Water Quality Impacts Potential Livestock Environmental Impacts vary with choice. Irrigation Equipment Application : + time efficient - low labor +flexible about soil conditions - High application rates -High odor Side Dress + nutrients at crop time of need + Reduces storage capacity needed -Slow, high labor Very high

6. Farm Practices and Potential Water Quality Impacts The Water Cycle

7. Farm Practices and Potential Water Quality Impacts  Urban, suburban, and rural Urban sprawl (increased development)Urban sprawl (increased development) Stormwater runoffStormwater runoff Runoff from constructionRunoff from construction Septic systemsSeptic systems Lawn fertilization and runoffLawn fertilization and runoff Improperly maintained wellsImproperly maintained wells Household hazardous wastesHousehold hazardous wastes  Business and industry Hazardous wastesHazardous wastes Thermal dischargeThermal discharge Air particulatesAir particulates Wastewater dischargeWastewater discharge Potential water quality impacts: non-farm

8. Farm Practices and Potential Water Quality Impacts Michigan river miles not supporting designated uses (by source category) Source: MI/DEQ/SWQ 2000 Section 305(b) Report Based on 1997-99 monitoring watersheds.

9. Farm Practices and Potential Water Quality Impacts Potential on-farm sources of contamination  Manure application  Manure handling  Manure storage  Livestock yard runoff  Livestock mortalities  Milking center wastewater  Silage leachate

10. Farm Practices and Potential Water Quality Impacts Types of impacts on surface water  Acute impact:  spills, releases, deposition and/or runoff events  Chronic impact:  long-term loadings due to erosion, runoff, etc.

11. Farm Practices and Potential Water Quality Impacts Acute impact on surface water Example: high concentrations of organic matter may cause:  Rapid increase Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD)  Causes fish kills  Disrupts aquatic ecosystem balance

12. Farm Practices and Potential Water Quality Impacts Chronic impacts on surface water Example: long-term phosphorus and nitrogen loading may:  increase rooted plant growth  cause algal blooms  reduce water clarity  lead to fish stunting  lead to increased BOD  lead to fish stress and fish kills  reduce biodiversity

13. Farm Practices and Potential Water Quality Impacts Impacts of sediment runoff into surface water Impacts of sediment runoff into surface water Sediment runoff may:  carry attached pollutants  increase turbidity  reduce water clarity  decrease light penetration  clog fish gills  impair other aquatic organisms  degrade habitat  reduce fish reproduction  reduce biodiversity Potential Sources ; Erosion from fields; farmstead and feedlot runoff; cattle access sites Potential Sources ; Erosion from fields; farmstead and feedlot runoff; cattle access sites

14. Farm Practices and Potential Water Quality Impacts Concerns about coliform bacteria in surface water Coliform bacteria may:  indicate presence of more harmful human and animal health pathogens  compromise recreational activities partial or full body contact recreation advisories dependent on E. coli concentrations Potential Sources Farmstead and feedlot runoff; manure; dead animals; milk center waste Potential Sources Farmstead and feedlot runoff; manure; dead animals; milk center waste

15. Farm Practices and Potential Water Quality Impacts Concerns about coliform bacteria in groundwater (drinking water) Coliform bacteria in groundwater may:  contaminate well water if wells are cracked, unsealed, or exposed to surface runoff  indicate the presence of more harmful human and animal health pathogens  cause health problems when consumed Potential Sources Farmstead and feedlot runoff; manure; septic systems; dead animals; milk center waste Potential Sources Farmstead and feedlot runoff; manure; septic systems; dead animals; milk center waste

16. Farm Practices and Potential Water Quality Impacts Concerns about nitrates in groundwater (drinking water) Nitrates in groundwater may:  cause health problems in infants and pregnant women when consumed  cause health problems in adults after prolonged consumption  be an indicator of other contaminants which may cause health problems Potential Sources Farmstead and feedlot runoff; manure; septic systems; dead animals; milk center waste Potential Sources Farmstead and feedlot runoff; manure; septic systems; dead animals; milk center waste

17. Farm Practices and Potential Water Quality Impacts Concerns about phosphorus in groundwater Phosphorus:  tightly binds to soil particles  excessive amounts can be released to groundwater or subsurface tiles  can move from groundwater to surface water  is not usually a health concern in drinking water Potential Sources Farmstead and feedlot runoff; manure; septic systems; dead animals; milk center waste Potential Sources Farmstead and feedlot runoff; manure; septic systems; dead animals; milk center waste

18. Farm Practices and Potential Water Quality Impacts Phosphorus movement to groundwater

19. Farm Practices and Potential Water Quality Impacts Concerns about livestock mortalities Properly managed livestock mortalities can prevent:  Coliform bacteria and other pathogens entering surface water and/or groundwater  Nutrients entering surface water or groundwater

20. Farm Practices and Potential Water Quality Impacts Why the concern?  Milking center wastewater may include:  Organic matter  Equipment cleansers  Disinfectants  Medications Special considerations for milking center wastewater

21. Farm Practices and Potential Water Quality Impacts Why the concern?  Improper management can create leachate flow  High in organic matter  Low in pH Special considerations for silage leachate Special considerations for silage leachate

22. Farm Practices and Potential Water Quality Impacts Reducing the potential for water quality impacts Taking a whole-farm approach Taking a whole-farm approach Wellhead protection Wellhead protection Soil erosion control (BMPs) Soil erosion control (BMPs) Nutrient management Nutrient management Proper disposal of livestock mortalities Proper disposal of livestock mortalities Silage leachate collection Silage leachate collection Milking center wastewater collection and treatment Milking center wastewater collection and treatment Summary

23. LakesStreamsWetlandsGroundwater Milking Center Wastewater Excess plan growth Excess plan growth Accelerated eutrophication Accelerated eutrophication Beach closings Beach closings Fish kills Fish kills Sedimentation Sedimentation Decreased fish reproduction Decreased fish reproduction Excess plant growth Excess plant growth Pathogens/toxins in downstream water supplies Pathogens/toxins in downstream water supplies Fish kills Fish kills Sedimentation Sedimentation Decreased fish reproduction Decreased fish reproduction Sedimentation Sedimentation Habitat loss Habitat loss Decreased fish reproduction Decreased fish reproduction Toxins Toxins Nitrates Nitrates Silage Leachate Fish kills Fish kills Decreased fish reproduction Decreased fish reproduction Fish kills Fish kills Decreased fish reproduction Decreased fish reproduction Nitrates Nitrates Toxic metals Toxic metals Potential impacts in receiving waters

24. Farm Practices and Potential Water Quality Impacts Michigan inland lakes not supporting designated uses by Source Category (as acres) Source: MI/DEQ/SWQ 2000 Section 305(b) Report

25. Leading Sources of Water Quality Impairment RankRiversLakesEstuaries 1 AgricultureAgricultureMunicipal Point Sources 2 MunicipalUrban Runoff Urban Runoff Point Sources & Storm Sewers & Storm Sewers 3 Urban Runoff &Hydrologic/HabitatAgriculture Storm SewersModification 4 ResourceMunicipal Industrial ExtractionPoint Sources Point Sources Source: EPA National Water Quality Inventory Report to Congress, 1993

26. Farm Practices and Potential Water Quality Impacts

27. The Water Cycle

28. - Cola Silage

29. Potential impacts to water sources OrganicMatter Equipment Cleansers DisinfectantsMedications Increased BOD X Nutrient loading XX PathogensX ToxinsXXX Components of milking center wastewater and potential impacts

30. Potential impacts in water sources Alcohols Organic acids NutrientsSolids Increased BOD XX Lowered pH X Nutrient loading X Toxic metals X Components of silage leachate Note: Low pH organic acids moving through soils can free up naturally occurring metals for release into surface and groundwater.

31. 1. 3. 2. 4. 5. Septic Tank Private Well Unsaturated Zone Water Table Sand & Gravel Aquifer Bedrock Manure Storage Precipitation What are the Pathways by which Manure Contaminates Water?

32. 1. Surface runoff 3. 2. 4. 5. Septic Tank Private Well Unsaturated Zone Water Table Sand & Gravel Aquifer Bedrock Manure Storage Precipitation What are the Pathways by which Manure Contaminates Water? 1

33. 1. Surface runoff 3. 2. 4. 5. Septic Tank Private Well Unsaturated Zone Water Table Sand & Gravel Aquifer Bedrock Manure Storage Precipitation What are the Pathways by which Manure Contaminates Water? 1

34. 1. Surface runoff 3. 2. Leaching to groundwater 4. 5. Septic Tank Private Well Unsaturated Zone Water Table Sand & Gravel Aquifer Bedrock Manure Storage Precipitation What are the Pathways by which Manure Contaminates Water? 1 2 2 2

35. 1. Surface runoff 3. Well casings 2. Leaching to groundwater 4. 5. Septic Tank Private Well Unsaturated Zone Water Table Sand & Gravel Aquifer Bedrock Manure Storage Precipitation What are the Pathways by which Manure Contaminates Water? 1 2 3 2 2

36. 1. Surface runoff 3. Well casings 2. Leaching to groundwater 4. Ammonia deposition 5. Septic Tank Private Well Unsaturated Zone Water Table Sand & Gravel Aquifer Bedrock Manure Storage Precipitation What are the Pathways by which Manure Contaminates Water? 1 2 3 4 2 2

37. 1. Surface runoff 3. Well casings 2. Leaching to groundwater 4. Ammonia deposition 5. Macropore flow Septic Tank Private Well Unsaturated Zone Water Table Sand & Gravel Aquifer Bedrock Manure Storage Precipitation What are the Pathways by which Manure Contaminates Water? 1 2 3 4 5 2 2