10/13/06 Pesticide water monitoring results

Washington Ag October 13, 2006 The amount of pesticides in two salmon-bearing watersheds is low and generally within acceptable levels. That according to results from the first three years of Washington`s ongoing surface water monitoring program. The results were released by the Washington state departments of Agriculture and Ecology, which conducted the research in streams selected to be representative of urban and agricultural watersheds. The study found that during the three-year period, eight of the 101 currently registered pesticides were periodically found at levels that could potentially have impacts on aquatic health. Herbicides were the most frequently detected compounds in both the urban and agricultural watersheds. WSDA's assistant director for pesticide management, Bob Arrington, says the department is working with applicators to implement mitigation measures to reduce pesticide exposure in salmon habitat and future monitoring will evaluate its success and determine if further action is needed. The Washington Agriculture Statistics Service is now forecasting the Washington apple crop this year at 5.7 billion pounds, up two percent from a previous forecast but two percent below last year. I'm Bob Hoff.