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<br />~ <br />~ <br />c.n <br />-.J <br /> <br /> <br />Irrigation water management is a vital water quality <br />practice that reduces the potential to transport <br />pesticides and nutrients through the root zone to <br />the ground-water resource. <br /> <br />Area and Regional Assessments-Area and regional <br />assessments will be conducted by such agencies as USGS, <br />EPA. ERS. or by an appropriate State agency. Such <br />assessments would include surface- and ground-water <br />monitoring, levels of pesticide and nutrient use, and the <br />economic eftects of Impairment and treatment. The <br />educational and technicai support of these efforts will be <br />provided by ES and SCS as appropriate. <br /> <br />The Water Quality Information Effort <br /> <br />ASCS, ES, and SCS will provide information about the <br />progress of their operations to benefit water quality -and <br />quantity. They will: <br />. Tell how USDA and farmers and raachers are working to <br />improve water quality. <br />. Provide field offices with examples of successes in reducing <br />water quality problems. <br />. Promote voluntary action in the agricultural community. <br /> <br />12 <br /> <br />. Encourage agencies, universities, tarm organizations, <br />farmers and ranchers, and urban dwellers to work together <br />to develop local solutions where local water quality prob- <br />lems exist. <br />. Explain the overall urban-rurai.agricultural water quality <br />situation. <br /> <br />The National Role in Public Information <br /> <br />The information effort will be conducted in phases. Phase <br />one was implemented in fiscal year 1989 within USDA and <br />associated organizations. It included the following projects: <br />. Newsletfers and educational and technical releases for <br />ASCS, ES. and SCS field personnel. <br />. Information materials that address the purpose and use of <br />water quality practices. <br />. Interagency workshops to explain the USDA Water Quality <br />Program Plan. <br />. Wat"r quality exhibits. <br /> <br />Phase two will inform farmers and ranchers of economical <br />and practical ways to protect and improve surface and <br />ground water and prevent further contamination from <br />agricultural nonpoint sources'. <br /> <br />" <br /> <br />, <br />