|
The
National Irrigation Water Quality Program (NIWQP)
(Note:
This multi-agency Department of Interior project appears to be a
spending black hole, with at least 77 management-level employees and
endless future project possibilities, thanks to the Endangered Species
Act.)
The
NIWQP is an intra-departmental program that evaluates Department of
the Interior irrigation projects; considers drainwater contamination
and related impacts to endangered species and/or migratory birds;
assesses legal responsibilities that are associated with environmental
laws; and develops and implements alternatives for remediation. The
program also evaluates irrigation drainwater impacts to refuges and is
responsible for remediation of such impacts, provided the source of
contamination is an Interior irrigation project. Program participants
are the U.S. Geological Survey, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau
of Indian Affairs (BIA), and the Bureau of Reclamation. These agencies
work cooperatively to resolve endangered species and/or migratory bird
treaty issues on Reclamation and BIA irrigation projects.
http://www.usbr.gov/niwqp/index.htm
(DOI)
Eight-page
printable brochure:
|
Background
|
In 1982, dying waterfowl and waterfowl with birth defects and
reproductive failures were discovered by the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service at the Kesterson Reservoir, National Wildlife
Refuge, California. Investigations were initiated in 1982 and
continued through 1985. The cause of the problem was
determined to be high levels of selenium in the irrigation
drainwater discharged into the reservoir.
There was widespread media attention and congressional
interest in 1985 concerning the potential for similar toxic
impacts from irrigation drainwater at other locations across
the West. This prompted the Secretary of the Interior to open
an investigation of the effects of irrigation drainwater in
the Western United States. A congressional hearing, several
television programs, more than 100 newspaper and magazine
articles, and numerous other inquiries focused on the
contaminant issues related to irrigation drainwater.
In late 1985, the Department of the Interior (DOI)
developed a program to investigate the extent and magnitude of
the problem. A management strategy was developed and committed
DOI to conduct a program that would identify and address
irrigation-induced water quality and contamination problems
related to DOI water projects in the West. No specific
congressional action was taken and the Secretary of the
Interior approved the initiation of the National Irrigation
Water Quality Program (NIWQP). DOI was selected to manage the
NIWQP with an advisory group of Bureau Coordinators
representing the Bureau of Reclamation, Bureau of Indian
Affairs, U.S. Geological Survey, and U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service.
Management of the NIWQP was transferred from DOI to the
Bureau of Reclamation in fiscal year 1999. As part of the
transfer agreement, the NIWQP retained the Bureau Coordinators
as an advisory group to the NIWQP Manager.
|
|
Scope
|
The NIWQP program focuses on irrigation delivery water that
originates from DOI developed irrigation and drainage
projects. Impacts from irrigation return flows were focused on
the following groups of fish and wildlife resources for which
the Department has responsibilities.
- National Wildlife Refuges receiving drainwater from DOI
irrigation and drainage facilities.
- Areas important to migratory birds and endangered
species receiving drainwater from DOI irrigation and
drainage facilities.
- Public water supplies that may be affected by drainwater
from DOI irrigation and drainage facilities.
The NIWQP identifies all chemicals that might be
transported by irrigation drainwater from a Federal irrigation
project and that might be impacting sensitive/protected
species or public water supplies. However, actual NIWQP
remediation is conducted for only those chemicals that are
naturally occurring.
Contaminants, such as DDE and DDT or other human introduced
trace elements, are generally governed by Federal and state
regulations relating to their uses. The NIWQP considers the
impacts of these human activities in all its remediation
decisions because (1) other contaminants in an area may make a
NIWQP remediation ineffective or (2) there may be some
opportunity to develop remediation plans that effectively
correct both NIWQP related and non-NIWQP related contaminant
problems at little or no additional public expense.
|
|
Program Phases
|
|
The National Irrigation Water Quality Program was designed
to be conducted in five distinct phases.
Phase 1, 2, and 3 investigations were
conducted by interbureau study teams composed of scientists
from the U.S. Geological Survey as team leaders with
participation by scientists from US Fish and Wildlife Service,
Bureau of Reclamation, and Bureau of Indian Affairs, as
appropriate. The investigations were directed toward
determining whether irrigation drainage (1) had caused or had
the potential to cause significant harm to fish, wildlife, or
human health or (2) could adversely affect the suitability of
water for other beneficial uses. Phase 4 and 5 remediation
efforts are being lead by the agency that constructed the
project.
Phase
1: Site Identification
Examination of existing information to determine sites likely
to have irrigation-induced contamination problems.
Phase
2: Reconnaissance Investigations
Field sampling studies to determine levels of potentially
toxic chemical constituents in water, sediment, plants, fish,
and migratory waterbirds.
Phase
3: Detailed Studies
Field studies to gather information to identify the extent of
any biological impacts. Detailed studies include
identification of sources, transport mechanisms and fate of
potentially toxic chemicals, and quantification of adverse
impacts.
Phase
4: Remediation Planning
Development of remediation alternatives to alleviate any
existing biological impacts found during Phase 3. Planning is
coordinated with appropriate Federal, state, and local
agencies.
Phase
5: Remediation Implementation
Implementation of corrective actions identified in Phase 4.
http://www.usbr.gov/niwqp/info/phases/index.htm
http://www.usbr.gov/niwqp/info/current/index.htm
|
Management
|
|
The National
Irrigation Water Quality Program (NIWQP) is an
interagency program within the Department of the
Interior.
Manager
|
N. John Harb
|
Bureau of Reclamation
National Irrigation Water Quality Program
P.O. Box 25007, D-6200
Denver, CO 80225
|
OFFICE:
Fax:
E-MAIL:
|
|
Bureau Coordinators:
|
|
U.S. Geological Survey
10615 S.E. Cherry Blossom Drive
Portland, OR 97216
|
OFFICE:
Fax:
E-MAIL:
|
|
|
|
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
Ecological Services, MS-60120
P.O. Box 25486
Denver, CO 80225
|
OFFICE:
Fax:
E-MAIL:
|
|
|
Bob
Krakow/
Ernie Teller
|
Bureau of Indian Affairs
304 N. Auburn, Suite B
Farmington, NM 87401-5838
|
OFFICE:
Fax:
E-MAIL:
|
505-325-1864
505-327-3608
|
|
N. John Harb
|
Bureau of Reclamation
National Irrigation Water Quality Program
P.O. Box 25007, D-6200
Denver, CO 80225
|
OFFICE:
Fax:
E-MAIL:
|
|
|
Fish and Wildlife Service
Regional Office Contacts:
|
Bureau of Reclamtion
Regional and Area Office Contacts:
|
|
Gunnison/Grand
Valley
Core Team Members
(Colorado)
|
Kendrick
Core Team Members
(Wyoming)
|
|
Mike
Baker, USBR
(Team Leader)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Middle
Green
Core Team Members
(Utah)
|
Salton Sea
Core Team Members
(California)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Stillwater
Core Team Members
(Nevada)
|
Freezeout Lake
Study Team Members
(Montana)
|
|
Ralph
Seiler, USGS
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
http://www.usbr.gov/niwqp/info/management.htm
NIWQP Roster
(77 DOI employees)
http://www.usbr.gov/niwqp/info/roster.htm
|
|