Evaluation of a Water Conservation Program: Is there a "silver bullet"?

Transcription

1 Evaluation of a Water Conservation Program: Is there a "silver bullet"? Water Conservation: half-empty or half-full? Regional Webinar Series May 10, 2011

2 Wendi Hartup & Stephen Greer

3 17 River Basins of North Carolina

4 Characteristics of the Yadkin- Pee Dee River Basin 7,400 square miles 5,855 stream miles 15.6% of the state 1.5 million people 23 counties

5 Characteristics of Winston-Salem Watersheds 190 square miles 334 miles of storm-water conveyance 220,000 people 15 sub-watersheds

6 Indicators of a healthy stream? Presence of aquatic life Clear stream No funny smells Water is flowing in a pool, riffle, run pattern Good mixture of sand, pebbles, rocks Shade available to stream Stable stream banks No trash or debris present

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8 Uses of Water Resources Aquatic life habitat Recreation: Swimming, Boating, Fishing Food Production Drinking humans Animals

9 Urbanization Increases Stormwater Flows

10 Photos: Mitch Woodward Did you know only 38% of North Carolinians know the difference between these two drains?

11 Pollutants in North Carolina s Surface Waters Sediment Nutrients Phosphorus and nitrogen Bacteria Some can cause diseases Organics pesticides oil and grease

12 Too Much of a Good Thing: Nutrients & Water Quality Algae mats cause problems with: shade-submerged vegetation diversity of fish populations smell low oxygen toxins recreational uses aesthetics NRCS

13 Soil Test Recommendations In pounds per 1000 square feet for greens, tees, lawns, and gardens

14 Pesticide Use Can Affect Water Quality

15 Top 10 Most Used Pesticides in US Active Ingredient Common Brand Glyphosate Roundup Atrazine AAtrex 2,4-D Weedone Metolachlor (-s) Dual Pendimethalin Prowl Trifluralin Treflan Chlorothalonil Bravo Copper Hydroxide Kocide Chlorpyrifos Dursban Alachlor Lasso

16 2,4-D Atrazine Carbaryl Chlorpyrifos Pesticides Detected in Urban Streams Diuron Malathion Metolachlor Prometon Deethylatrazine Diazinon Simazine Tebuthiuron Wendy Patoprsty

17 Pesticides Detected in Stormwater very toxic to aquatic life Pyrethroids (can persist for several months) Bordeaux mixture & Fixed Copper Fungicides Chlorpyrifos (Dursban) Diazinon Malathion

18 Improper Dursban/ Diazinon application: can lead to deformities can alter the food pyramid Water Flea

19 Integrated Pest Management Determine pest by scouting for weeds, insect and diseases. Select low impact pesticides when possible. Read and follow all labels. Calibrate equipment.

20 Incorporate Good Housekeeping Keep chemicals contained safely and organized Spill kits available Master plan Spill Containment Inc. Jim Monroe, CES

21 Store chemicals in a safe place Properly dispose of chemicals

22 Don t water before heavy use=compaction & runoff

23 Applying Pesticides near Stormwater BMPs Currently labels do not directly address stormwater BMPs Use best judgement Do not over apply near or on storm drains, outlets or inlets. Pooled pesticide could runoff to local waterbody.

24 Riparian Buffers Filter runoff Facilitate denitrification Nutrient uptake Streambank stability Aquatic and terrestrial habitat preservation Buffer

25 Bioretention Functions Infiltrate runoff Slow runoff Watershed determines size at 20:1 Pollutant removal Mechanisms Absorption Plant uptake Microbial action Filtration Sediment Settling Sunlight Remove 20 lbs of N per acre annually +4 Hours +18 Hours

26 Stormwater Wetland Reduce flooding Recharge groundwater Improve water quality Should not serve as mosquito habitat Attractive landscape features Add biodiversity Example Size: 50 impervious acres: 1 acre wetland Multiple uses (educational, regulatory requirements, aesthetics) Functions

27 Green Roofs Reduce urban heat island effect Prolong roof life and add insulation Add green feature to roof top or urban environment create living space Reduce volume of stormwater runoff ReNatur 98 Brochure

28 Green Roofs: Southern Style

29 What is the Carolina Yards & Neighborhoods Program? Beautification 9 Easy Principles Low Maintenance Landscaping with Nature in Mind Cost Savings Preservation of our Water Resources

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31 Inlet Angle / Lack of Protection

32 Plant Harvesting

33 Clean Streams Training 8:30am-12pm: 0:30 What is a Watershed and what are our WQ problems? 0:20 Understanding a soil test report. 0:30 IPM and Pesticides Lecture 1:00 Best Management Practices to Control Nitrogen & Phosphorus: Finding the Right Tools. 0:25 Rain Gardens: An Attractive Solution to Water Runoff Issues. 0:10 What is the Carolina Yards and Neighborhoods program? (Introduce yardstick booklet) 0:30 Test Optional Tour: Bioretention Area Stream Restoration/Constructed Wetland Detention Pond

34 What participants get Participants learn relevant water quality topics. Get a free window decal and free use of the Clean Streams logo. Get free marketing and advertising, including recognition on the city website and in citysponsored advertising in local newspaper(s). Pesticide credits: 2 hours credit - H L N D X

35 Quotes Helps me to help my customers and the environment. Possible enhanced income opportunities as well. In my job with NCDOT, we use large amounts of pesticides and fertilizers. This workshop will be a good reminder to properly apply and help my workers to be mindful of our impacts to the environment. It gives the company I work for recognition that I have completed this workshop. Also, I now better understand about conservation and BMPs and can share the information with others (preach the message). I will be more aware of using pesticide around ponds and streams. I will also be more aware of removing fertilizers from streets and walkways.

36 Outcomes Program inception participants; more participation in the winter 91% pass rate for certification Program expansion to 3 NC Counties and Piedmont Triad Water Quality Partnership (18 municipalities) has agreed to collaborate in those counties plan to do a thorough evaluation of program from past participants to find out actions taken since attendance. 25 participants plan to incorporate buffers/ rain gardens into their own or client s landscape. 11 believe the workshop improved their IPM skills. After a recent 2011 workshop, 5 attendees stated they would be able to reduce business costs from new techniques discussed in the class (calibration techniques, soil testing for fertilizer needs, etc.).

37 Funding this Program Program done as part of regular Cooperative Extension programming using Water Quality Agent and Commercial Horticulture Agent. We provide meeting space, laptop and lcd projector. Charge $10 for heavy snacks, soft drinks and coffee. City of Winston Salem Stormwater office provides: plastic NCDOT bag, Clean Streams window decals, Piedmont Yardstick workbook, stormwater runoff brochure, storm drain magnets and a pen. City gets Stormwater Phase I education component numbers and hopefully smarter landscapers working throughout the community.

38 Thank You! Wendi Hartup & Stephen Greer