Activities in

Meeting the Needs of Idaho's Greatest Resource -- Its People

Cooperative Extension System
The Cooperative Extension System (CES) is a public-funded, nonformal, educational system that links the education and research resources and activities of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), land-grant universities and 3,150 county administrative units. As its stated mission, the Cooperative Extension System helps people improve their lives through an educational process that uses scientific knowledge focused on issues and needs. To accomplish its mission, Cooperative Extension sets program priorities based on the needs of the people it serves. As people's needs and priorities change, program priorities must change too.

The Idaho Cooperative Extension System has over 140 faculty strategically located throughout the state, including 84 agricultural agents and home economists stationed in 42 of 44 counties. In addition, faculty (specialists) are located on campus in Moscow and at research and extension centers in Aberdeen, Caldwell, Idaho Falls, Kimberley, Parma, Sandpoint, Tetonia and Twin Falls.

Water Quality Survey
Water is the lifeblood of Idaho, and water quality is an important part of Extension's effort in our state. Our traditional industries -- agriculture, forestry and mining -- are all water-dependent. Even a large portion of tourist revenues in Idaho is tied to attractions with water. We must protect water quality to maintain our high standard of living and uniquely rich quality of life in Idaho.

Extension has a tradition of working in areas that affect water quality. For instance, CES employees provide accurate fertilizer recommendations, pesticide information and irrigation management recommendations based on the latest research. These have a positive impact on water quality.

Extension faculty were surveyed in 1990 to document programming areas related to water quality and to quantify the amount of time expended in water quality related efforts.

Survey Results
In 1990, University of Idaho Extension faculty devoted over 6,000 employee days to programming in water quality-related issues. Some of this time was redirected from other areas. Water quality programming efforts were placed into 6 categories.

1. Crop Management (57.0% of effort)
2. Livestock/Range Management (16.1%)
3. House and Garden Chemicals (7.7%)
4. Youth Programs (7.2%)
5. Domestic Water (6.0%)
6. Forestry (6.0%)

Extension's programming efforts within each of these six categories are explained on the following pages.

Crop Management
Crop management practices in Idaho have a significant effect on water quality. The University of Idaho is working to develop farming practices that are both economically and environmentally sound. In 1990, 57% of extension's water quality effort was devoted to crop management. Most of the effort dealt with fertilizer, pesticide and irrigation management recommendations. The 1990 survey documented over 3,400 employee working days devoted to aspects of crop management impacting water quality. The following programs affect water quality:

• Provide accurate pesticide recommendations that protect water quality (1,143 days/year)
• Provide fertilizer recommendations for Idaho crops to maximize nutrient use efficiency, optimize economic yields and protect water quality (681 days/year)
• Provide irrigation management recommendations that maximize crop water use efficiencies, conserve water and minimize erosion and leaching of agricultural chemicals into groundwater (573 days/year)
• Provide information about erosion control to protect water quality from sediment and associated contaminants (287 days/year)
• Provide economic assessment of crop management strategies to protect water quality (186 days/year)
• Provide crop rotation information to use residual soil nutrients more efficiently (174 days/year)
• Provide training on pesticide storage, handling and application and disposal of pesticide containers (142 days/year)
• Provide information and training about integrated pest management systems that improve pest control and result in reduced pesticide use (110 days/year)

• Provide information on grazing and riparian management to increase the productivity of the system and also reduce soil erosion and protect water quality (448 days/year)
• Provide economic assessment of management practices that protect water quality (160 days/year)
• Provide information on current methods of livestock pest control that are both economically sound and environmentally responsible (153 days/year)
• Provide information on dairy waste management that maintains water quality (123 days/year)
• Provide information on how to maintain and protect water sources for livestock (92 days/year)

• Provide information on sustainable forest production based on soil and water quality (146 days/year)
• Provide information on timber management programs that consider water quality (138 days/year)
• Provide information on erosion control and road building that will minimize soil loss and stream sedimentation (36 days/year)

• 4-H youth natural resource programs (192 days/year)
• Natural resource camps that include water education programs (136 days/year)
• Direct contact with classroom teachers for development of natural resource curricula (38 days/year)
• Classroom education (34 days/year)
• FFA and FHA programs (24 days/year)

• Provide recommendations on laundry detergents that protect water quality (85 days/year)
• Provide water sampling to determine water quality on a local basis (50 days/year)
• Provide information on water storage and treatment (49 days/year)
• Provide information on adverse health effects of poor water quality (42 days/year)
• Provide information on how to evaluate water sources (41 days/year)
• Provide information on disposal of waste water (33 days/year)
• Provide information on proper disposal of hazardous waste (30 days/year)
• Provide economic assessments of water use and associated treatment (15 days/year)

Cooperation with Other Agencies
Extension shares its water quality expertise with other federal, state and local agencies operating in Idaho. Recent interagency water quality programs and projects include:

• Series of workshops targeted at managing pesticides wisely were conducted across the state in early 1991 in cooperation with the Soil Conservation Service, Soil Conservation Commission, Idaho Division of Environmental Quality and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
• Federally funded Demonstration Water Quality project in Cassia and Minidoka counties directed at implementing nutrient, pesticide and irrigation best management practices (BMP's) in agricultural systems. Joint project with the Soil Conservation Service and Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Service.
• Federally funded hydrologic unit project in Canyon, Gem, Payette and Washington counties to assess impacts of agricultural practices on groundwater quality. Joint project with the Soil Conservation Service and Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Service.
• Idaho Farm Bureau well testing program, a cooperative effort between the Idaho Farm Bureau, UI Cooperative Extension System, UI Agricultural Experiment Station, Division of Environmental Quality, Soil Conservation Service and Soil Conservation Districts.

This brochure, WQ-1, was prepared by R. L. Mahler, Water Quality Coordinator, Soil Science Division, University of Idaho, Moscow, Idaho 83844-2339.

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All contents copyright © 1997-2003.
College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, University of Idaho.
All rights reserved.

Revised: January 3, 2003

URL: http://www.uidaho.edu/wq/wqbr/wqbr1.html