The Nevada Department of Agriculture Water Quality Program

1. The Nevada Department of Agriculture Water Quality Program • The Nevada Department of Agriculture has been involved in groundwater protection since 1990 • Cornerstone of the program is the monitoring component

3. Funding Challenges • Identify Alternative Funding Sources • Be Flexible • Training • USGS Cooperative Agreement

5. Proposed FY 2008 Activities

6. Nevada Department of Agriculture • Surface Water & Groundwater • 2007 Monitoring Plan • Surface Water Monitoring and Sample Collection • In 2007 the Nevada Department of Agriculture will begin sampling surface water for pesticide contaminants. The number of samples and sampling procedure is to be determined after a meeting with USGS in early 2007. • The proposed surface water sampling site(s) will be located in at the Virgin River and its tributaries in Clark County Nevada. The Virgin River was selected because due to the presence of two federally endangered species. Both species are fish: the Virgin River chub, Gila robusta seminude and the Woundfin, Plagopterus argentissimus. • The segment of the Virgin River in Nevada is partially surrounded by urban development as well as agricultural cropland. Product labeling related to the protection of endangered species from pesticides may directly impact the use of some pesticides in this region.

7. Nevada Department of Agriculture Pesticides of Concern Designation and Management Revised November 2006 Pesticides of concern A pesticide of concern is a pesticide that is identified as having a significant potential to approach or exceed a human health or an environmental reference point in ground or surface water. Designation as a pesticide of concern prioritizes that the pesticide is managed to ensure concentrations are maintained or reduced below the reference point. Pesticides of interest Pesticides of interest are those that are identified by the state as having the potential to occur in ground or surface water at concentrations approaching or exceeding a reference point. Reference Points and Benchmarks Reference points and responses are described beginning on page 103 of the state management plan. Reference points or benchmarks for pesticides of concern are based on maximum contaminant levels (MCL), health advisory levels (HAL) established by U.S. EPA see “2006 Edition of the Drinking Water Standards and Health Advisories”. Aquatic life benchmarks are derived from U.S. Geological Survey NAWQA Pesticide National Synthesis Project, Publications-CIRC 1291 “The Quality of Our Nations Waters-Pesticides in the Nations Streams and Ground Water, 1992-2001; Appendix 3A”. Pesticides of concern and pesticides of interest in surface water and groundwater The following active ingredients are designated as pesticides of concern or pesticides of interest in surface water and/or groundwater due to: Properties that may result in groundwater contamination. Previous detections in groundwater in Nevada by NDOA. Detections in water by USGS see “Water Quality in the Las Vegas Valley Area and the Carson and Truckee River Basins Nevada and California, 1992-1996” USGS Circular 1170 NOTE: pesticides that were detected by USGS and do not appear on this list were either cancelled or not registered in Nevada.

8. Nevada Department of Agriculture Pesticide Programs Groundwater Observation Well Pesticide Contamination Source InvestigationReport Report prepared by Jon Carpenter March 31, 2005 Well Name: Washoe County Yard #1 Well Location: Marquez Way 800 feet west of Longley Lane and 30 feet to the South of an animal shelter. Maps to this location are attached to this report. GPS 39 29 37.0 119 45 30.8 Well Data: Installed April 20, 1994 by USGS Nevada staff. Cased to 15 feet; static water level 5.68 feet on April 20, 1994. The well drillers report is included. The well was installed according to National Water Quality Assessment NAWQA guidelines. Groundwater Sample Collection and Lab Analysis Nevada Department of Agriculture (NDOA) Environmental Compliance staff has sampled the well ten times. The first sample was collected on June 1, 2000 and the last was collected on October 26, 2004. A summary of all sampling events which includes positive detections is attached to this report. All pesticide detections are below established EPA health advisory levels, see Table 1. The three pesticides detected are all pre-emergent herbicides and have properties that contribute to leaching into the groundwater.

9. Washoe County Yard and Greg Street: • Facility managers (SPPCO and Washoe County) were notified, pesticide records and use practices were reviewed. NDOA made recommendations to change pesticide management practices and recent samples have shown no pesticide contamination.

10. NDOA Inspection Checklist

11. Performance Measures • # of Pesticides of Interest Evaluated • # of Pesticides of Concern Managed • # of Pesticides of Concern Managed with Demonstrated Progress Toward Reduction

12. Nevada Department of Agriculture Water Quality Program Problems (Special Projects, Funding Needs): -New Method Development/Equipment (Lab Improvements) -Sampling Equipment Costs -Identifying Alternatives -Training Opportunities -Well Closing/Repair Costs -New Monitoring Sites