Amanda GumbertWater Quality Specialist

UK College of Agriculture, Food & Environment/KY Division of ConservationOctober 27, 2015

New Resources for Managing Poo

Gulf of Mexico Hypoxic Zone

2015: 6,474 sq. miles (4.1m acres/size of Connecticut + Rhode Island)

http://water.usgs.gov/nawqa/sparrow/gulf_findings

80% P and 71% N coming from agriculture

What’s Going On In Kentucky?

Current Situation

•90,000+ miles streams and rivers in KY•Agriculture is the leading source of stream

impairments in KY (KEEC, 2012)–Affecting 46% of impaired streams

Why Should I Care About Water Quality?

• Clean water is better for me

Why Should I Care About Water Quality?

Photo credit: http://extension.usu.edu/waterquality/images/uploads/Homeowner/water%20testing/drinking%20glass%20of%20water.jpg

Why Should I Care About Water Quality?

• Clean water is better for me

• Clean water is better for my livestock

Why Should I Care About Water Quality?

Why Should I Care About Water Quality?

• Clean water is better for me

• Clean water is better for my livestock

• Harmful Algal Blooms– Costs money to treat– May result in my water system being shut down

(Toledo, OH)

Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs)– Localized incentive to restrict livestock access from

water bodies, manage nutrients

How Do We Manage Poo in Kentucky?

Agriculture Water Quality Plans

KY Agriculture Water Quality Act

• 10+ acres in agriculture or forestry must develop a water quality plan

• Plan includes Best Management Practices (BMPs) to protect water quality

– Livestock– Crops– Pesticides and Fertilizers– Farmstead– Forestry– Streams and Other Waters

How Do Farmers Develop a Plan?

1. Use a web-based tool:www.ca.uky.edu/awqa

2. Use a printed document

3. Get assistance from local Conservation District

Nutrient Management Plans

-Nutrients generated

plus

-Existing soil fertility

- Crops grown

- Without overloading soils

Cost Share and Financial Assistance

• Kentucky Soil Erosion and Water Quality Cost Share Program (State cost share)

• GOAP County Ag Investment Program (CAIP)• NRCS Environmental Quality Incentives

Program (EQIP)

Cost Share and Financial Assistance

• NRCS Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP)– Managing Poo Project– $4 million to put conservation practices on the ground– Livestock operations– Nearing regulatory compliance enforcement– Referral process– Contact Amanda Gumbert (

Amanda.Gumbert@uky.edu) or Steve Higgins (shiggins@uky.edu)

Associated Issues

• Help for farmers– Conservation District staff

– Nutrient Management Planner• Macy Fawns (macy.fawns@uky.edu)

Questions?

Amanda Gumbertamanda.gumbert@uky.edu

Water Quality LiaisonUK College of Agriculture, Food &

Environment/KY Division of Conservation