Agricultural Water Quality Program

Ground Water

The Idaho State Department of Agriculture (ISDA) developed a Regional and Local Agricultural Ground Water Quality Monitoring Program to assist in implementing the Agricultural Ground Water Quality Protection Program for Idaho (1996), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Pesticides and Water Quality Program and Laws, EPA’s Pesticide Management Plan, and ISDA Dairy and Beef Program Rules. The objectives of the program are to:

  • Assess present status of ground water quality related to agriculture.
  • Track water quality trends.
  • Determine if legal uses of pesticides are contributing to ground water quality degradation.
  • Provide data to support the Idaho State Pesticide Management Plan.
  • Provide data for the creation of pesticide and nutrient probability/vulnerability maps.
  • Assess and determine impacts from dairy and feedlot facilities.
  • Provide data to support BMP or regulatory evaluation processes.

The goal of this program is to work with the agricultural community, industries, agencies, local groups, and citizens to protect ground water quality.  The program is staffed with specialists in hydrogeology, agriculture, and environmental protection.

Surface Water

ISDA, in coordination with the Soil Conservation Commission (SCC) and the Idaho Association of Soil Conservation Districts (IASCD), implement the Agricultural TMDL Implementation Monitoring Program. This program assists in fulfilling Clean Water Act and state requirements to implement TMDLs related to agriculture. The objectives of the program are to:

  • Fill data gaps to characterize water quality related to agricultural and range lands.
  • Identify critical sub-basins within watersheds.
  • Identify and quantify agricultural pollutant sources.
  • Relate pollutant loading to drainage area, agricultural practices, and other factors.
  • Provide scientific data for effective and efficient BMP implementation.
  • Provide a data baseline for BMP effectiveness evaluation.

The goal of this program is to conduct monitoring to fill data and information gaps to assist in effectively and efficiently implementing agricultural aspects of TMDLs. The program is staffed in Moscow, Boise, Twin Falls, and Pocatello with specialists in hydrology, agriculture, and environmental protection.