Runoff in farmers' fields

Runoff pollutants result from farming and ranching. They include sediment, nutrients, pathogens, pesticides, metals and salts. Impacts from agricultural activities on surface water and ground water can be minimized by using farm management practices that fit the farm's landscape.

Many farm practices try to reduce pollution and increase crop production and save farmers and ranchers money in the long run. Sediment runoff is the main source of agricultural water pollution. Their soil is washed off the fields. Rain water carries soil (sediment) and dumps it into nearby lakes or streams. Polluted runoff is caused by rainfall or snow melt moving over and through the ground.

Did you know that runoff from farms is the leading source of pollution to rivers and lakes? Irrigation water is used to help natural precipitation or to protect crops against freezing
or wilting. Poor irrigation can cause water quality problems. In arid areas, where rainwater
does not carry minerals deep into the soil, evaporation of irrigation water can concentrate salts. Excessive irrigation can effect water quality by causing erosion, transporting nutrients, pesticides, and heavy metals, or decreasing the amount of water that flows naturally into streams and rivers. Pesticides, inseticides , herbicides and fungicides are used to kill agricultural pests. These chemicals can enter and contaminate water through direct application, runoff, and rain water.

Place sprinklers so that the water goes ONLY on the lawn instead of watering the street or sidewalk. Water the lawn or garden during the coolest part of the day, such as early in the morning. This reduces evaporation and increases the amount of water that sinks into the soil and reaches the plants roots. Do not water on windy days, because wate will be blown away and wasted. Motor oil or antifreeze can damage or kill underwater plants animals. Never pour used motor oil or antifreeze down a storm drain, onto the soil, or into waterway. Put used oil or antifreeze in asturdy containers and take them to a local service station or other approved disposal center. Proper stabilization techniques can prevent stream bank erosion and addition of dirt to rivers. Sometimes plants and trees are disturbed or moved during construction. When this happens, the soil that was underneath can be easily washed into nearby lakes and streams by rain or wind.

Soil from eroding land that washed into streams makes the water look muddy and can smother aquatic life, clog fish gills, and cut off light that underwater plants need to grow . Help your community plant trees or leave native grasses and shrubs along a stream bank to reduce erosion.
Plants prevent erosion by keeping soil where it belongs - on the land, and out of the water!
Street litter, such as plastic bags, cups and candy wrappers, often gets swept away with rain water
into storm drains and ends up floating in the ocean or washing up on our beaches. A great deal of street litter is made up of plastic, which takes hundreds of years to break down and become harmless to the environment. Marine animals can mistake plastics for food and can become
tangled up in it. Recycle as much of your trash as possible , and put all other litter in garbage cans. Never throw trash in the street or down the storm drain . If you see trash on the ground , pick it up and toss it in the neareast trash can. oil and antifreeze that leaks out of cars is washed into storm drains when it rains. Check your cars for drips and leaks . If you find any, ask a machanic to them fixed soon!

Leave mowed grass clippings on the lawn as a source of nutrients for the grass, and to reduce erosion. You can also compost grass clippings and fallen leaves, and later use the compost to fertilize the soil. Remember, the more that goes into your compost pile, the less that goes into the already overcrowded landfill! Fertilizers contain large amounts of nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorous that can be washed into lakes and streams. These help cause algal blooms. These blooms use up the oxygen in the water that fish and other organisms need to breathe. Pesticides and herbicides also contain toxic materials that are harmful to humans, fish, and good plants. When it rains, these toxic materials can run off into storm drains, roadside ditches and nearby waterways. Use fertilizers and pesticides properly. Ask to have your soil tested to determine the right amount and type of fertilizers you need. Never apply fertilizer before it is suppose to rain. Use organic fertilizers such as manure, mulch or compost. Landsape with native plants that require less water and fewer pesticides.