Best Management Practices and Cost-Share Funds at Work in the Murderkill
Local Farm Receives Cost-Share to
Implement Improvements

The BMP and farm improvement project involves the installation of fencing to remove direct livestock access to the streams that enter McColley’s Pond, the addition of water troughs to provide water for the cattle in place of the streams, and manure storage shed.  These improvements and BMPs, now under construction, will eliminate direct fecal deposition (bacteria and pathogens) and minimize run-off (sediment and nutrients) in the streams.

This particular farm was identified by Murderkill Tributary Action Team members during the Pollution Control Strategies (PCS) process as an agricultural operation that would be ideal for BMP implementation and related farm improvements.   McColley’s Pond has experienced slight sedimentation and poor water quality (high nutrients causing algal blooms) for many years.  

This past summer a DNREC intern extensively monitored the water quality upstream and downstream of the site to get a “before” picture of water quality.  Next year DNREC will again monitor the streams to determine the impact of the new practices on the streams and pond.  We anticipate that the BMPs will result in tangible improvements in water quality.  As the benefits of These practices gain wider acceptance, we hope more farmers will participate in cost-share programs and implement similar BMPs and improvements on their own properties.

Agricultural activities such as confined animal facilities, grazing, plowing, pesticide spraying, irrigation, fertilizing, planting, and harvesting can contribute nonpoint source pollution, including sediments, nutrients, pathogens, pesticides, and salts to local streams and water bodies.  These activities may also damage habitat and stream channels.  Farm improvements and BMPs help to minimize adverse impacts to surface and groundwater from farming routines and help restore habitat and stream quality.

There are many agricultural BMPs farmers can implement to minimize nonpoint source pollution.  Putting a nutrient management plan into operation helps maintain high yields and saves money on fertilizers while reducing nonpoint source pollution.  Applying management measures to control the volume and flow rate of stormwater and irrigation runoff helps keep the soil in place, reducing soil transport, erosion and sedimentation in streams by 20 to 90 percent. 

Sedimentation:

• clouds the water, thus reducing the amount of sunlight available to aquatic plants.
• covers fish spawning areas and food supplies.
• clogs the gills of fish.

Soil particles also carry other pollutants such as phosphorus, metals, and pathogens from their points of origin into water bodies.

Confined animal facilities and livestock grazing contribute to nonpoint source pollution.  Installation of appropriate waste management systems limits the discharge of polluted runoff water from confined animal facilities.  These systems store and manage facility wastewater and runoff, reducing the amount of pathogens, nutrients, and organics that can cause surface and ground water quality problems.

Overgrazing by livestock can cause many problems including (but not limited to) exposure of soil, increased erosion, invasive species growth opportunities, and habitat degradation.  By keeping livestock away from sensitive areas, such as streambanks and streams, providing alternative sources of water and shade, such as troughs or ponds, and revegetating pastureland, farmers and ranchers can reduce adverse mechanical impacts and pollution of waterways.

Irrigation and application of agricultural chemicals, including pesticides, herbicides, and fungicides, can contribute to nonpoint source pollution.  Inefficient irrigation can lead to environmental problems because nutrients, pesticides, pathogens, and salts can become concentrated in deep soils.  Improving irrigation efficiency helps eliminate nonpoint source pollution by limiting both soil oversaturation and excessive runoff.

Chemicals added to fields to reduce pests, weeds, and fungus can contaminate water through direct application, runoff, wind, and atmospheric deposition. They can kill fish and wildlife, poison food sources for animals and humans, and destroy habitat.  Implementing integrated pest management (IPM) and related techniques based on the specific conditions of each field limits chemical applications, minimizes chemical movement, and ultimately saves money.

Integrated pest management is an ecosystem-based strategy focusing on long-term of pest infestations and the damage they do.  IPM uses a combination of techniques, including biological control, habitat manipulation, modification of cultivation technique, and use of pest-resistant varieties of crops.  Pesticides are used only after monitoring indicates they are needed according to established guidelines.  Pesticides are selected and applied with the goal of removing only the target organism.  Application is accomplished with practices that minimize risks to human health, beneficial or non-target organisms, and environmental quality.

There are numerous government programs available to help farmers design and pay for BMPs and farm improvements that limit or prevent non-point source pollution.  Several US Department of Agriculture and state-funded programs provide cost-share, technical assistance, and economic incentives to implement nonpoint source pollution management practices.  Typical cost-share programs will provide 50-75% of the cost of BMPs and/or farm improvements, leaving the farmer to cover the remaining 25-50%.  Farmers can apply for cost-share funding by contacting their county conservation district, the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) or through the Department of Agriculture.

As we help farmers move toward improved practices, we'd like to remind you that you can help improve Delaware's water quality through modifying the many things you do to maintain your own lawnscapes and gardens.  It's not too difficult for us to identify problem areas on a farm and help the owner make changes that improve water quality and save money in the long term.  It's a bit harder for us to identify the sources of increased nutrient loading in the suburban landscape.

As we move forward, we'll be discussing many of the ways you can keep your lawns and gardens at their best without excess application of the chemicals most of us use at home.  If you have expertise in this area, please feel free to send us your tips and techniques.