Skip to main content
ARS Home » Southeast Area » Oxford, Mississippi » National Sedimentation Laboratory » Water Quality and Ecology Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #165164

Title: BENEFITS OF VEGETATED AGRICULTURAL DRAINAGE DITCHES (VADD) AS A BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICE IN CALIFORNIA

Author
item Moore, Matthew
item DENTON, DEBRA - US EPA
item Cooper, Charles
item MILLER, JEFFREY - AQUA-SCIENCE
item DEVLAMING, VICTOR - UNIV OF CALIFORNIA
item BARBOUR, MICHAEL - TETRA-TECH
item WILLIAMS, W - WATERBORNE ENV
item RODGERS, JR, JOHN - CLEMSON UNIV
item ROBINS, PAUL - YOLO CO RCD

Submitted to: Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (SETAC)
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/10/2004
Publication Date: 11/13/2004
Citation: Moore, M.T., Denton, D.L., Cooper, C.M., Miller, J.L., DeVlaming, V., Barbour, M.T., Williams, W.M., Rodgers, Jr, J.H., Robins, P. 2004. Benefits of vegetated agricultural drainage ditches (VADD) as a best management practice in California. Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry Abstracts. p. 110.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Widespread contamination of California water bodies by the organophosphate insecticides diazinon and chlorpyrifos is well documented. While their use has decreased over the last few years, a concomitant increase in pyrethroid usage (replacement insecticides) has occurred. Researchers have also documented diazinon toxicity pulses in California's Central Valley due to dormant orchard drainage. Vegetated agricultural drainage ditches (VADD) have been proposed as a potential economical and environmentally efficient management practice to mitigate the effects of pesticides in dormant season runoff. VADD have been effective in mitigating simulated pyrethroid runoff storm events in the Mississippi Delta; however, California poses a different scenario in timing of runoff (winter), rainfall intensity, and ditch vegetation and soil types. Multiple lines of evidence will be required to determine the effectiveness of VADD as an applicable management practice in California. This research will incorporate temporal and spatial sampling and chemical testing of water, sediment, and plants, in addition to ditch biological assessments and toxicity evaluations. Initial data will provide baseline information for model generation to predict necessary ditch conditions for appropriate pesticide mitigation. Utilizing a multidisciplinary team approach, the effectiveness of management practices will offer farmers, ranchers, and landowners a viable alternative to more conventional (and sometimes expensive) practices currently suggested by conservation organizations.