Conservation Corner - Monitoring pesticudes in our surface water
by Katherine Watson

NVCA launches monitoring program with partners

The spring and summer weather brings people outdoors to work on their lawns and gardens. The common myth is that pesticide application is required to achieve an enjoyable "weed free" yard. A pesticide is a substance released into our environment to selectively kill organisms we consider undesirable (i.e., weeds).

Herbicides, insecticides, fungicides and combination products such as "weed-n-feed" are all pesticides.

It is nearly impossible to avoid exposure to pesticides given the current legislative framework.

While an argument could be made for the selective use of pesticides to deal with outbreaks, agricultural use or spot application for infestations, municipalities across the country are deciding that the benefits of cosmetic pesticide use are not justified because of the risk to public health.

In 2004, the College of Family Physicians of Ontario released a comprehensive report on pesticide exposure and health risk, concluding that all commonly used pesticides added health risk.

Children are especially vulnerable due to their small size, high level of activity and exposure while playing outdoors. Pesticides do not remain on the property where they are sprayed; they travel many different paths once released into the environment, ending up in our soil, air, and water.

Twenty-two (22) municipalities in Ontario have enacted by-laws to restrict or limit the application of cosmetic pesticides, due to public health risk.

The Town of Collingwood, within our watershed, has enacted such a by-law, effective January 1, 2008. Healthy, disease-resistant lawns and gardens are possible through chemical-free horticultural methods (Ministry of the Environment Green Gardening - Environmentally Friendly Alternatives to Chemicals: http://www.ene.gov.on.ca/cons/4025e.pdf).

A growing sector of pesticide-free lawn care and landscaping companies provide opportunities for those interested in phasingout chemicals.

Until recently there has been no monitoring of pesticides in local surface water by the Nottawasaga Valley Conservation Authority (NVCA); however the Watershed Monitoring Program has partnered with several agencies to implement two pesticide monitoring pilot studies in spring/summer 2007.

The first pilot project is a partnership between the Ministry of Environment, the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food, the University of Guelph and select Conservation Authorities.

Comprehensive pesticide sampling will be undertaken at two sites within the NVCA watershed.

The second pilot project is a partnership between the Ministry of Environment, Conservation Authorities and Environment Canada. Sampling to determine the presence/ concentrations of four of the most commonly used pesticides will be undertaken at four sites within the NVCA watershed

The objective of these studies is to understand the concentrations of commonly used pesticides in our rivers and streams.

Results will be related to land use activities (both urban and rural) on a regional scale. This is an exciting opportunity for the NVCA and we look forward to sharing the results of these studies with our watershed stakeholders.

"Conservation Corner" is a monthly column that looks at the theory, practices, technology and benefits of land & water stewardship. The NVCA is your public agency dedicated to the preservation of a healthy environment.

As your partner, the NVCA provides the expertise to help protect our water, our land and our future.

For comments or suggestions about this column or the Healthy Waters program, please contact Shannon Stephens 705-424- 1479 ext.239 or visit our website at www.nvca.on.ca.