Water Quality Management

Options to Protect and Improve our Watershed

Water Quality Management Resources

Water Quality Information Pages

Station Publications on Water Quality

Other Resources

Water Quality Issues and Practices

The following table displays current water issues and management practices. The management practices that are beneficial in helping solve the problems are marked "X". The appropriateness of any specific practice has to be determined for each site.

Irrigation Induced Erosion Improve productivity Irrigation water use efficiency Erosion control and phosphate losses: Irrigated land Erosion control and phosphate losses: Non-irrigated land Groundwater protection Pesticide losses Riparian water quality
Laser leveling X X X   X X X
Gated pipe X X X   X X X
Filter strips     X     X X
Sediment ponds   X X     X X
Mechanical straw mulching X X X   X X X
PAM (polyacrylamide)   X X   X X X
Surge irrigation   X X   X X X
Reduced tillage   X X     X X
Field Slope Engineering & Furrow design X X X   X X X
Nitrate Contamination in Groundwater Improve productivity Irrigation water use efficiency Erosion control and phosphate losses: Irrigated land Erosion control and phosphate losses: Non-irrigated land Groundwater protection Pesticide losses Riparian water quality
Soil sampling X   X   X   X
N rates, budgeting based on crop needs and soil test results X       X   X
N budgeting, credits from N mineralization X       X   X
N timing X       X   X
N adjusted using tissue testing X       X   X
Use of deep rooted rotation "sop up crops" X       X   X
Irrigation criteria by soil water potential, ET X X X   X X X
Nutrient management X X X X X   X
Irrigation System Conversion Improve productivity Irrigation water use efficiency Erosion control and phosphate losses: Irrigated land Erosion control and phosphate losses: Non-irrigated land Groundwater protection Pesticide losses Riparian water quality
Irrigation system redesign X X X   X X X
Drip irrigation              
Irrigation scheduling X X X   X X X
Sediment retention ponds   X X X   X X
Pump back system   X X     X X
Buried tail water pipelines X   X X   X X
Dryland Farming Improve productivity Irrigation water use efficiency Erosion control and phosphate losses: Irrigated land Erosion control and phosphate losses: Non-irrigated land Groundwater protection Pesticide losses Riparian water quality
Grass waterways       X   X X
Chemical application options         X X  
Reduced tillage       X   X X
Riparian Management Improve productivity Irrigation water use efficiency Erosion control and phosphate losses: Irrigated land Erosion control and phosphate losses: Non-irrigated land Groundwater protection Pesticide losses Riparian water quality
Grazing management X     X X   X
Riparian plantings       X     X
Fish screens             X
Upland Pasture Management Improve productivity Irrigation water use efficiency Erosion control and phosphate losses: Irrigated land Erosion control and phosphate losses: Non-irrigated land Groundwater protection Pesticide losses Riparian water quality
Forest practices X     X X   X
Watering facilities X     X X   X
Fencing X     X X   X
Planting and reseeding X     X X   X
Controlled burns X     X X   X
Juniper control X     X X   X
Noxious weed control X     X     X
Dacthal Breakdown Product in Groundwater Improve productivity Irrigation water use efficiency Erosion control and phosphate losses: Irrigated land Erosion control and phosphate losses: Non-irrigated land Groundwater protection Pesticide losses Riparian water quality
Dacthal banding on 1/3 of the soil along onions         X X  
Dacthal elimination, use of Prowl and Poast         X X  
Urban Areas Improve productivity Irrigation water use efficiency Erosion control and phosphate losses: Irrigated land Erosion control and phosphate losses: Non-irrigated land Groundwater protection Pesticide losses Riparian water quality
Recycling of chemicals and oils         X X X
Nutrient management     X X X   X
Runoff management X X X     X X