WERA205: Integrated Water Quality Research and Extension Programs for the Western United States
(Multistate Research Coordinating Committee and Information Exchange Group)
Status: Inactive/Terminating
WERA205: Integrated Water Quality Research and Extension Programs for the Western United States
Duration: 10/01/2000 to 09/30/2005
Administrative Advisor(s):
NIFA Reps:
Non-Technical Summary
Statement of Issues and Justification
Clean and abundant water is fundamental to life, both in natural ecosystems, as well as for human health and economic vitality. Although great progress has been achieved in the past 25 years in cleaning up Americ?s rivers, lakes and coastal waters, controlling water pollution remains a top national priority. In the Western US, water quality is recognized as being of critical environmental as well as economic importance. Key issues include protection of drinking water from agricultural chemical contamination, livestock waste management, preservation of aquatic habitat for the protection of endangered species such as salmon, irrigation management in arid lands, and protection of coastal and reef ecosystems. The importance of water quality was recognized when the Western AES Directors ranked conservation and enhancement of air, soil and water resources first among ESCOP research program areas and initiatives.
The Clean Water Action Plan developed in 1998 by the EPA and USDA provides guidelines for restoring the nations water resources and defines four tools for Clean Water: a watershed approach, strong federal and state water quality standards, natural resource stewardship, and informed citizens. In 1997, CSREES called together a team to create a National Strategic Plan for Extension Water Quality, which echos these four tools. This plan involves seven comprehensive goals; 1) reaching under-served audiences, 2) educating the public about watersheds and aquifers, 3) prevention pollution through best management practices, 4) educating public policy makers, 5) promoting individual actions to protect water quality, 6) promoting volunteerism, and 7) developing partnerships and liaisons with other agencies and organizations. These activities were promoted through existing Water Quality 3(d) program funds which supported faculty salaries and operating expenses. However, the passage of Section 406 of the Agriculture Research, Extension, and Education Reform Act of 1998 (AREERA) has moved this funding into an Integrated Research, Extension, and Education Competitive Grants Program in FY2000. To take advantage of this and other federal funding opportunities, better coordination is needed between states in the Western region. A Western regional Coordinating Committee would help to accomplish this research and extension integration and strengthen our continued participation in the existing national Water Quality Coordinators network.
Objectives
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Coordinate development of research and extension proposals for regional projects, from sources such as USDA (e.g. Section 406 of AREERA) or EPA (e.g. 319 and Environmental Education Grants), which facilitates collaboration and nonduplication of efforts and which results in funding or continuation of several regional projects per year.
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Promote collaboration on development of educational programs which encourage individual responsibility for pollution prevention and water quality protection through the use of Farm*A*Syst/Home*A*Syst educational materials in each Western State and Territory.
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Foster water quality monitoring and riparian area management through development of common guidelines, protocols, and training materials.
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Produce subregional (Northwest, Southwest and Pacific Island) recommendations on the management and use of livestock waste in agricultural systems, which increases development of comprehensive nutrient management plans in each state or territory.
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Procedures and Activities
Expected Outcomes and Impacts
- New and emerging water quality issues will be identified in the West for coordinated research and extension efforts resulting in funded regional projects and programs.
- Specialized publications will be produced to educate the public and local legislators about regional and multi-state water quality and quantity issues such as TMDLs, irrigation management for water quality protection, livestock waste management, individual farm and home pollution risk assessment, endangered species and coral reef protection.
- Standardized recommendations and protocols will be developed for training extension professionals and the public on water quality monitoring, riparian area protection, comprehensive nutrient management planning for livestock waste, and drinking water safety.
- Water quality education materials will be evaluated and promoted in schools and environmental education programs throughout the Western Region.
- Committee sponsored regional symposia or workshops and satellite or internet conferences will be conducted.
Projected Participation
View Appendix E: ParticipationEducational Plan
The Water Quality WCC will support regional conferences such as the Agriculture and Water Quality in the Pacific Northwest and the Western SARE conference on Sustainable Agriculture through participation by committee members and presentation of WCC information. Annual WCC meetings will be held in conjunction with a selected conference, when possible. Special workshops and symposia on current topics will be organized by the WCC either in conjunction with the conference or separately. Specialized publications will be produced, as described in the expected outcomes above.
Organization/Governance
The Committee Chair provides leadership for the committee and is responsible for coordination with the Western Directors and for planning the annual meeting. The Committee Chair Elect provides support to chair and becomes chair. The Secretary is responsible for submitting minutes and state reports from annual meetings and becomes the chair elect. Officers serve for one year. Subcommittees are established as needed to meet the planned programming of the Water Quality WCC .
Literature Cited