Progress 09/15/04 to 08/31/09
Outputs
OUTPUTS: Researchers and Extension agents across the Pacific worked to address piggery waste management issues. Two alternative waste management systems, a modified dry litter waste management system (DLWMS) and a portable pen, were introduced in the region by Univ of HI Extension researcher Glen Fukumoto. The regional project provided funding for demonstrating the modified DLWMS in Micronesia, Palau, and American Samoa, and for instructional literature and a promotional DVD which was developed and distributed around the Pacific Basin primarily through the efforts of the Northern Marianas College. Workshops were conducted in the Northern Marianas, Guam, Micronesia, and Palau reaching over 150 farmer and agency participants. ** Studies were initiated in 2007 at the Univ of NV to identify composting conditions (temperature and pH) that show a significant reduction of viable Leptospira spirochetes in finished compost; results were reported to NRCS Pacific Basin office. ** Joint activities of the Hawai'i and Nevada water quality coordinators in developing an environmental test for the bacterial disease Leptospirosis had initial success, and now thorough evaluation of the technique and the protocol for applying the technique are being conducted. ** Advanced knowledge and skills through rainwater catchment demonstrations, workshops, water testing, and publication distribution. Published a guide to rainwater catchment systems and conducted several workshops. Tested 72 rainwater catchments and 3 community wells with 78% of the catchments and all 3 community wells testing positive for coliform bacteria. Co-sponsored the 2007 International Rainwater Catchment Conference held in Volcano, Hawai'i and attended by nearly 200 people from 7 countries. ** Demonstrated solar distillation units as an alternative water collection method for atolls that experience seasonal drought or semi-arid annual climates (Marshall Islands, Guam, and Federated States of Micronesia). ** Educated the public on unregulated water sources through an interactive web-based tool, Water Test Interpreter, to help consumers interpret laboratory water test results, fact sheets (Univ of NV and AZ), and testing water sources (Univ of NV and Dine College). Univ of NV and the USGS-Nevada conducted research to look for disinfection by-products and metals and to track concentrations of both during purging after chlorination. Using a simple paper strip to test chlorine levels in water, this has proven to be an effective indicator in preliminary tests. ** Developed a web-based Hazard Index to assess the vulnerability of groundwater to nitrate leaching from irrigated crops in the arid southwest (AZ, CA, NV). ** Conducted research, developed guidelines, and mentored graduate students and post-doctoral professionals on the use of reclaimed treated effluent (Univ of CA). ** Sponsored the April 2007 Coordinated Management of Water Quality Protection and Food Safety Initiatives in California Vegetable Production Conference. PARTICIPANTS: <b>Individual Participants:</b> Marnie Carroll, Dine College. Executive Director of Dine Environ'l Institute & Water Quality (WQ) Coordinator, involved in obtaining and analyzing water samples from unregulated water supplies; Luisa Castro, Univ. of Hawaii, Ass't WQ coordinator; Carl Evensen, Univ. of Hawaii, WQ coordinator; Jim Currie, College of Micronesia-FSM. V.P. Coop. Research & Education Service & WQ coordinator; Manny Duguies, Univ. of Guam, ANR program leader & WQ coordinator; Lawerence Duponcheel, Northern Marianas College, Aquaculture/Agriculture extension agent & WQ coordinator; Carl Evensen, Univ. of Hawai'i. Department chair, extension specialist, & WQ coordinator involved in Leptospira and feral pig research projects; Sharon Fanolua, American Samoa Community College, research assistant & co-WQ coordinator; Kitt Farrell-Poe, Univ. of Arizona, State WQ coordinator, Region 9 water quality coordinator; Christine French, Univ. of California Center for Water Resources, Region 9 agency liaison involved in reclaimed wastewater use research; Amlet Kalemen, College of the Marshall Islands, WQ extension agent & co-WQ coordinator; Diane Myazoe-deBrum, College of the Marshall Islands, Dean & co-WQ coordinator; Leilanie Rechelluul, Palau Community College, Extension agent & WQ coordinator; Don Vargo, American Samoa Community College, co-WQ coordinator; Mark Walker, Univ. of Nevada, Reno, Associate professor & WQ coordinator involved in obtaining and analyzing water samples from unregulated water supplies, detecting Leptospirosis in water, and survivability of Leptospirosis in passive composting systems; Laosheng Wu, Univ. of California, Riverside. Professor, CE water management specialist, & WQ coordinator involved in reclaimed wastewater use research ** <b>Partner Organizations:</b> Arizona Dept of Environmental Quality; EPA, Region 9; USDA NRCS, American Samoa (AS) Government Water Advisory Group; USDA Forest Service, AS Government Water Advisory Group; AS EPA, AS Government Water Advisory Group and collaborator on piggery waste management; Dept of Marine and Wildlife Resources, AS Government Water Advisory Group; National Park Service, developing a stream water quality monitoring protocol; AS Dept. of Education (we mentor students conducting science fair experiments on water quality issues); Guam Waterworks Authority; NRCS Pacific Islands region ** <b>Collaborators & Contacts:</b> Peter Craig, PhD, National Park Service, Chief Biologist, NPSA, Pago Pago, AS; Anne Brasher, PhD, US Geological Survey, Water Science Center. Moab UT; Leslie HaySmith, PhD, National Park Service, Inventory and Monitoring Program, Hawai'i National Park, HI; Douglas Fenner, PhD, Coral Reef Ecologist, DMWR, Pago Pago, AS; Ephraim Temple, CES aquaculture agent, Pago Pago, AS; Lauren Wetzell, Marine Science Instructor, AS Community College, Pago Pago, AS; Western Pacific Tropical Research Center (AES) ** <b>Training & Professional Development:</b> 3 master's students, 1 high school student summer internship. TARGET AUDIENCES: <p><b>Target Audience:</b> K-12 students (solar distillation demonstrations); Private Well Owners; Navajo Nation users of unregulated water supplies; Public Health Workers (water sampling for Leptospira); NRCS & other technical service advisors, farmers directly (Leptospira survival rates in passive composting); Pig owners (American Samoa effort to educate owners of regulations); Irrigation managers, agencies regulating and/or monitoring the use of reclaimed water; Watershed managers (feral pig studies).</P> <p><b>Efforts:</b> Solar distillation demonstrations (extension & outreach); Workshops (private well owners; irrigation managers; piggery owners); Student internships (Navajo reservation water sampling; FSM water education); Laboratory instruction & practicum experience (graduate students working on Leptospira and feral pig impacts on watersheds) Extension & outreach - door to door dissemination of information regarding piggery regulations in American Samoa.</P> PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.
Impacts
This project was successful on many levels through building team capacity and cohesiveness and fostering collaborations within and beyond our team. We enhanced our regional web page and currently have links to all state, island, and tribal institutions with projects and educational resource information. An attitudes and awareness survey was conducted in the Navajo Nation, which completed the regional survey work conducted in 2003-2004. We are building capacity in the Pacific Islands and the Navajo Nation. The LGIs involved now have enhanced communication through obtaining much needed resources like digital cameras and computers for various institutions, providing networking opportunities through projects and meetings, and overall increasing the visibility of USDA-CSREES. A principal goal was to promote and coordinate integrated efforts to protect and/or improve the quality of our surface waters and groundwater, so we initiated integrated research, demonstration, and education outreach projects. Significant results include: 1) Gaining acceptance of the DLWMS best management practice by the Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP); 2) Two technical guidance documents, one emphasizing on-farm management of food safety and one stressing water quality practices, are already in use by a majority of leafy greens growers on California's Central Coast. Used together, these technical guidance documents can be used to develop an initial framework for the evaluation and development of coordinated management practices that protect both human health and the environment. A final report and accompanying materials are published online [http://groups.ucanr.org/wqfsconf/]; 3) Temperature and pH ranges lethal to Leptospira were identified and reported to the NRCS Pacific Basin for consideration in their conservation planning in developing a composting standard to reduce the risk of off-site transport of spirochetes from infected pigs throughout the American Pacific islands. Field research is planned throughout the Pacific islands to confirm the compost temperature and pH conditions existing in the field and to advise producers on optimal management; 4) Over 150 students, teachers, community leaders, and agency personnel have received education and/or training on rainwater catchment testing methods. The rainwater catchment publication and workshops developed in Hawaii and Palau encouraged other islands (CNMI, RMI, and FSM) to adopt the rainwater catchment project. Over 150 students and community members received much needed water quality information and instruction on solar distillation, while the Region 9 Water Project gained new insight into how fundamental water quality issues were in the Pacific islands; and 5) The California reclaimed water model can be used as a planning tool to assess the risks related to reclaimed water application. Specifically, the model will help to select appropriate management practices to sustain crop production and environmental quality in soils irrigated with reclaimed wastewaters.
Publications
- Artiola, J.F. and K. Uhlman. 2009. Arizona well owner's guide to water supply. AZ1485. University of Arizona, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.
- Bruland, G., C. Browning, and C. Evensen. 2009. Effects of feral pigs (Sus scrofa) on watershed health in Hawai'i: a literature review and preliminary results on runoff and erosion. In Sustainability Science for Watershed Landscapes. J. Roumasset, K. Burnett, and A. Balisacan (eds.). Singapore: Institute of Southeast Asian Studies; Los Banos, Philippines: SEARCA. (accepted)
- Evensen, C.I. 2009. Livestock manure management in the American Pacific Islands. Water Resources Impact. 11(4): 14-17.
- Evensen, C. 2009. Sustainable water quality management for Pacific island watersheds: illustrations from American Samoa, Hawai'i, and Micronesia. In Sustainability Science for Watershed Landscapes, J. Roumasset, K. Burnett, and A. Balisacan (eds). Singapore: Institute of Southeast Asian Studies; Los Banos, Phillipines: Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA). (accepted)
- Xu, Jian, Laosheng Wu, Weiping Chen, Pingping Jiang, and Andrew C. Chang. 2009. Pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs), and endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs) in runoff from a potato field irrigated with treated wastewater in southern California. Journal of Health Science, 55: 306-310.
- Xu, Jian, Weiping Chen, Laosheng Wu, and Andrew C.Chang. 2009. Adsorption and degradation of ketoprofen in soils. Journal of Environmental Quality, 38: 1177-1182.
- Xu,Jian, Weiping Chen, Laosheng Wu, Robert Green, and Andrew C. Chang. 2009. Leachability of some emerging contaminants in reclaimed municipal wastewater irrigated turf grass fields. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, 28: 1842-1850. Xu, Jian, Laosheng Wu, and Andrew C. Chang. 2009. Degradation and adsorption of selected pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) in agricultural soils. Chemosphere. (in press)
- Stream Water Quality Group. 2009. Stream fauna of American Samoa, An illustrated guide to snails, shrimps, and fishes of American Samoan streams. American Samoa Community College, Community and Natural Resources.
- Wu, L., W. Chen, C. French, and A. Chang. 2009. Safe application of reclaimed water reuse in the southwestern United States. Publication 8357. University of California, Agriculture & Natural Resources.
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Progress 01/01/08 to 12/31/08
Outputs
OUTPUTS: Solar distillation units as an alternative water collection method for atolls were demonstrated in the Marshall Islands, Guam, and the Federated States of Micronesia. ** 9 fact sheets were developed to assist private well owners in maintaining the safety and quality of their drinking water and 2 workshops were piloted. Workshop participants learned about the components of the well system and wellhead protection and were shown online resources to locate monitoring wells. ** Students from the Univ. of Nevada and Dine College on the Navajo reservation obtained and analyzed 32 water samples from unregulated water supplies. Samples obtained from unregulated water sources were tested for chemicals (uranium, fluoride, mercury, arsenic, lead), bacteriological presence (E. coli), and physical characteristics (pH, temperature, conductivity, dissolved oxygen). Dine College students were supported by grants from the National Science Foundation and National Aeronautics and Space Administration. ** The Univ. of Nevada led a project involving shock chlorinating wells to look for disinfection byproducts and metals and to track concentrations of both during purging. Simple paper strips were used to test chlorine levels in water, which has proven to be an effective indicator in preliminary tests. ** Regional funds supported a graduate student to detect Leptospira in water samples using molecular methods. A Master's student completed her thesis. ** A survey in American Samoa found that approximately 15% of the residents had been exposed to Leptospira which prompted efforts to identify potential sources of Leptospira, and led to an intensive effort to regulate piggeries. Passive composting is being considered as a method of managing piggery wastes to minimize the potential for contamination from Leptospira. A project was conducted to develop a reliable model of survival of pathogenic Leptospira spirochetes based on exposure to temperatures and pH's expected in passive composting systems used in the Pacific islands. ** A study was conducted to assess the environmental behavior of PPCPs and EDCs compounds in turfgrass soil receiving irrigation water spiked with 9 selected compounds. The treatments included 2 irrigation rates, 2 types of soils, and with/without turfgrass cover. The leachate was collected after each irrigation event and analyzed for the target compounds. Soil samples were collected to analyze the residuals in the profiles. ** A Master's student from the Univ. of Hawaii constructed 8 fenced exclosures on sites of various slopes on the island of Oahu to quantify the effects of feral pig activity on runoff and nutrient transport in forested watersheds. Paired runoff plots were constructed with one plot located inside the fenced exclosure and the other located in the adjacent area open to pig activity. Runoff from both plots was collected monthly from November 2007 through February 2008 and analyzed for total amount, total suspended solids (TSS), and nutrient content. Antecedent conditions were recorded prior to each event including canopy cover, soil cover, and soil moisture. PARTICIPANTS: Individual Participants: Marnie Carroll, Dine College. Executive Director of Dine Environ'l Institute & Water Quality (WQ) Coordinator, involved in obtaining and analyzing water samples from unregulated water supplies; Luisa Castro, Univ. of Hawaii, Ass't WQ coordinator; Carl Evensen, Univ. of Hawaii, WQ coordinator; Jim Currie, College of Micronesia-FSM. V.P. Coop. Research & Education Service & WQ coordinator; Manny Duguies, Univ. of Guam, ANR program leader & WQ coordinator; Lawerence Duponcheel, Northern Marianas College, Aquaculture/Agriculture extension agent & WQ coordinator; Carl Evensen, Univ. of Hawai'i. Department chair, extension specialist, & WQ coordinator involved in Leptospira and feral pig research projects; Sharon Fanolua, American Samoa Community College, research assistant & co-WQ coordinator; Kitt Farrell-Poe, Univ. of Arizona, State WQ coordinator, Region 9 water quality coordinator; Christine French, Univ. of California Center for Water Resources, Region 9 agency liaison involved in reclaimed wastewater use research; Amlet Kalemen, College of the Marshall Islands, WQ extension agent & co-WQ coordinator; Diane Myazoe-deBrum, College of the Marshall Islands, Dean & co-WQ coordinator; Leilanie Rechelluul, Palau Community College, Extension agent & WQ coordinator; Don Vargo, American Samoa Community College, co-WQ coordinator; Mark Walker, Univ. of Nevada, Reno, Associate professor & WQ coordinator involved in obtaining and analyzing water samples from unregulated water supplies, detecting Leptospirosis in water, and survivability of Leptospirosis in passive composting systems; Laosheng Wu, Univ. of California, Riverside. Professor, CE water management specialist, Interim director of the University of California Center for Water Resources, & WQ coordinator involved in reclaimed wastewater use research ** Partner Organizations: Arizona Dept of Environmental Quality; EPA, Region 9; USDA NRCS, American Samoa (AS) Government Water Advisory Group; USDA Forest Service, AS Government Water Advisory Group; AS EPA, AS Government Water Advisory Group and collaborator on piggery waste management; Dept of Marine and Wildlife Resources, AS Government Water Advisory Group; National Park Service, developing a stream water quality monitoring protocol; AS Dept. of Education (we mentor students conducting science fair experiments on water quality issues); Guam Waterworks Authority; NRCS Pacific Islands region ** Collaborators & Contacts: Peter Craig, PhD, National Park Service, Chief Biologist, NPSA, Pago Pago, AS; Anne Brasher, PhD, US Geological Survey, Water Science Center. Moab UT; Leslie HaySmith, PhD, National Park Service, Inventory and Monitoring Program, Hawai'i National Park, HI; Douglas Fenner, PhD, Coral Reef Ecologist, DMWR, Pago Pago, AS; Ephraim Temple, CES aquaculture agent, Pago Pago, AS; Lauren Wetzell, Marine Science Instructor, AS Community College, Pago Pago, AS; Western Pacific Tropical Research Center (AES) ** Training & Professional Development: 3 master's students, 1 high school student summer internship TARGET AUDIENCES: Target Audiences:<br>K-12 students (solar distillation demonstrations); Private Well Owners: Navajo Nation users of unregulated water supplies; Public Health Workers (water sampling for Leptospira); NRCS & other technical service advisors, farmers directly (Leptospira survival rates in passive composting); Pig owners (American Samoa effort to educate owners of regulations); Irrigation managers, agencies regulating and/or monitoring the use of reclaimed water; Watershed managers (feral pig studies)<br> Efforts:<br> Solar distillation demonstrations (extension & outreach); Workshops (private well owners; irrigation managers; piggery owners); Student internships (Navajo reservation water sampling; FSM water education); Laboratory instruction & practicum experience (graduate students working on Leptospira and feral pig impacts on watersheds); Extension & outreach - door to door dissemination of information regarding piggery regulations in American Samoa PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.
Impacts
Demonstrating solar distillation units to over 150 students and community members raised awareness and improved technical skills. ** 34out of 84 participants of the Private Well Owner's workshop found the 3-hour workshop highly valuable, 5 people increased their knowledge 3 steps, and 21 people increased their knowledge 2 steps. ** The sampling of unregulated water supplies in the Navajo Nation indicated that 30% of the samples exceeded the arsenic Max. Contaminant Level (MCL) (0.01 mg/L), 11% of the samples exceeded the uranium MCL (0.03 mg/L), and 3% of the samples exceeded the fluoride MCL (4.0 mg/L). Also, 15% of samples tested positive for E. coli. As a result, the EPA is collaborating with the Indian Health Service to construct new rural water sources. ** The shock chlorination studies showed increases in lead and no increases in disinfection byproducts. The chlorine test strips were useful for indicating when water is safe to drink. The test strips indicated that when no chlorine is present in water lead levels also decreased. ** Water sampled in Hawaii using sampling and detection techniques described in publication number EPA/600 R- 08 /017 detected Leptospira in 2 of 70 samples collected. An experimental technique was also applied that used an attractant as a method to determine if spirochetes were present in a water sample. Initial applications of this technique yielded positive results, though these must be verified by sequencing. ** Results for detecting survival rates of Leptospira in passive composting systems demonstrated that exposure duration was not an important factor. The project also developed a statistically significant model of survival. pH and temperature ranges lethal to Leptospira have been identified and reported to the NRCS for consideration in their conservation planning throughout the American Pacific islands. ** The results of the project to assess the fate of trace organic contaminants in soil receiving reclaimed water show that no compound was detected in the leachate during the 4-month experiment. The retention of the compounds in the soil profile varied with chemicals and with soil type and irrigation rate. High irrigation rate and courser textural soil enhanced the downward movement of chemicals in turfgrass soil, but no chemical was detected deeper than 30 cm. Microbial degradation was the dominant dissipation pathway for the test compounds in turfgrass soils. Screening model suggested a potential risk to groundwater contamination for clofibric acid and ibuprofen under studied field conditions. ** The field work measuring the impacts of feral pigs on water quality in Hawaii showed that unfenced plots generally exhibited decreasing soil cover and increasing TSS. In contrast, fenced plots displayed increasing vegetation cover and decreasing TSS. Results showed high variability in runoff and soil loss among different areas of the watershed and across the 4 months. This study provided the first data to characterize the relationship between pigs and watershed damage, and as the relationship becomes clearer, values can be assigned to policy instruments such as fencing.
Publications
- Fukumoto, G., C. Evensen, and L. Castro. 2008. Livestock producers' nutrient management planner guidebook; A waste management planning guide for Pacific island livestock producers. AWM-4. College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, Hawaii. 15 pages.
- Mahler, R., L. Castro , C. Evensen , L. Duponcheel , A. Kalemen , J. Phillip , P. Franz , and K. van Houte-Howes, 2008. Priority water issues in the six Pacific island entities having a governmental association with the USA. Water International. 33(2):162-174.
- Sabaldica, A., L. Duponcheel, C. Evensen, L. Recheluul, and L. Castro. 2008. Dry litter management system for small-scale piggery in the Western Pacific. Poster for the USDA Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service National Conference. Reno, Nevada.
- Wade, L.M., F.S. Fanolua, A.M. Vargo, K. van Houte-Howes, E. Bardi, and D.L. Vargo. 2008. Exploiting macrofauna diadromy for assessing anthropogenic impact in American Samoa streams. Pac. Sci. 62(2):177-190.
- Walker, M. 2008. Method development and preliminary applications for Leptospira spirochetes in water samples. Publication EPA/600/R-08/017. Office of Research and Development National Homeland Security Research Center, Decontamination and Consequence Management Cinncinnati, OH. 30 pp.
- Walker, M.J., B. Wilcox, and M. Wong. 2008. Waterborne zoonoses and changes in hydrologic response due to watershed development. In Fares, A.; Elkadi., A.I. (Ed.), Coastal Watershed Management (pp. 349-359). Wessex: WIT Press.
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Progress 01/01/07 to 12/31/07
Outputs
OUTPUTS: ** Animal Waste Management. As a result of the collaboration between EPA and the regional program, the Modified Dry Litter Waste Management System (MDLWMS) for hogs is being promoted to other institutions in the region to further investigate and promote the system in their respective areas. Palau and Guam (which built two different dry litter systems) have both renovated piggeries at their respective facilities to demonstrate the MDLWMS. This activity has caught the attention of a growing number of researchers, extension personnel, and farmers, and will certainly serve to encourage farmer adoption of the program. American Samoa (AS) is working with the AS EPA to help 997 piggery farms comply with island water quality regulations. ** <i>Leptospira</i> Survival in Passive Composting Systems. A survey of the population of American Samoa conducted by the Centers for Disease Control in 2004 found that approximately 15% of residents had been exposed to <i>Leptospira</I>. This
prompted efforts to identify potential sources of <i>Leptospira</I>, which led to an intensive effort on the part of the AS EPA to regulate piggeries. Through a collaborative effort between the Universities of Hawaii and Nevada-Reno, a study of the effects of pH, temperature, and duration of exposure to combinations of pH and temperature to determine the likelihood that conditions expected in passive composting piles would be lethal to <i>Leptospira</i> spirochetes. ** Water Reuse. Reclaimed wastewater has long been used for irrigation of landscapes and field crops, particularly in the western US. To address this issue, the regional program is currently supporting work on three projects: development of a technical bulletin on the safe use of reclaimed water; development of a user-friendly model to simulate the water, salt, nitrogen, and toxic element movements in soils receiving reclaimed wastewater irrigation; and demonstration sites for aquaculture effluent use in irrigation. While
these products will serve the Region, they will also be useful for anyone in other regions using reclaimed water for irrigation. ** Food Safety and Water Quality. Concerns over the safety of fresh leafy green vegetables has prompted some buyers to initiate field standards contrary to management practices that have been put in place over the past 20 years to protect water quality. Practices such as vegetative buffers, riparian vegetation, and sedimentation ponds are a few of the practices being removed to comply with buyer demands. The regional program co-sponsor a regional conference on food safety and water quality with the CA Dept. of Food and Agriculture (CDFA), as well as additional funding from EPA and the California State Water Boards. The conference addressed the question of "How can on-farm water quality management practices be co- managed with food safety initiatives in order to protect the environment and human health associated with the production and consumption of cool
season vegetables?" and was an important first step in identifying the complexity of issues surrounding coordinated management. Analysis of conference feedback and identified research priorities are available.
PARTICIPANTS: Kathryn Farrell-Poe, PI, University of Arizona Marnie Carroll, Co-PI, Dine College Luisa Castro, Sub-regional Assistant, University of Hawaii James Currie, Co-PI, College of Micronesia-FSM Manny Duguies, University of Guam Lawerence Duponcheel, Co-PI, Northern Marianas College Carl Evensen, Co-PI, University of Hawaii Sharon Fanolua, Co-PI, American Samoa Community College Christine French, Regional Liaison, University of California-Riverside Amlet Kalemen, Co-PI, College of the Marshall Islands Diane Myazoe, Co-PI, College of the Marshall Islands Leilannie Rechelluul, Co-PI, Palau Community College Donald Vargo, Co-PI, American Samoa Community College Mark Walker, Co-PI, University of Nevada-Reno Laosheng Wu, Co-PI, University of California-Riverside Bill Cooper, collaborator, Director of the Urban Water Research Center at UC-Irvine Steven Etsitty, collaborator, Navajo Nation EPA Laura Grignano, collaborator, Arizona Dept of Water Resources Mac Herrera, Natural
Resource Conservation Service for Navajo Nation Bob Mahler, collaborator, Region 10 Water Program Coordinator Jovita Pajarillo, collaborator, EPA-Region 9 American Samoa Community College Dept of Community and Natural Resources American Samoa EPA American Samoa Ocean Resource Management Council American Samoa Public Health Arizona Dept of Environmental Quality Chamorro Land Trust Commission Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands NRCS Dept of Energy Legacy Management Guam Dept of Agriculture Guam NRCS Micronesia-FSM, Dept of Education Navajo Nation EPA Nevada State Health Dept Nevada State Health Laboratory New Mexico NRCS New Mexico State University Palau Dept of Environmental Health Palau Environmental Quality Protection Board Region 9 EPA Republic of the Marshall Islands EPA S.M. Stoller Corporation Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute US Geological Survey in Nevada
TARGET AUDIENCES: Industry groups; Partner agencies; Private water owners (include private well owners and rainwater catchment owners); Workshop/conference attendees; Agricultural landowners and workers; Regulators, practitioners, and owners of septic systems.
Impacts
The Region 9 Water Program enables the 11 participating Land Grant Institutions to address gaps in expertise and expand the reach and depth of high-quality programs by crossing state and island boundaries, and sharing resources, expertise, and partners. Most importantly, the Region 9 Project will enable under-represented colleagues and their constituents like the tribally-controlled community colleges and the Pacific islands to participate, contribute, and benefit from the strength of a national network. For instance, as a result of the collaborative efforts and relationships built between the Northern Marianas College water quality team and the local NRCS office, the modified dry litter waste management system is now able to be cost-shared under the NRCS-EQIP. As a result of the collaboration of the American Samoa water quality team with EPA, 997 piggeries with about 8000 pigs on Tutuila were identified. After consulting with the families, 12 piggery owners have
applied to land use permits, 7 have closed their piggeries, and 2 have pending court cases. Switching to a dry litter system for piggery wastes raised a new concern about the viability of <i>Leptospira</i> spirochetes in the resulting compost. So work was undertaken to look at the effectiveness of composting to kill <i>Leptospira</i>. Preliminary results indicate that the combined effects of pH and temperature have a very high probability of being lethal to spirochetes, with a synergistic effect that enhances the effects of both stresses. When temperature exceeds approximately 45 C, the probability of survival ranges from approximately 20-40%, increasing as pH increases. Two technical guidance documents, one emphasizing on-farm management of food safety and one stressing water quality practices, are already in use by a majority of leafy greens growers on California's Central Coast. Used together, these technical guidance documents can be used to develop an initial framework for the
evaluation and development of coordinated management practices that protect both human health and the environment.
Publications
- French, C., L. Wu, T. Meixner, D. Haver, J. Kabashima, and W. A. Jury. 2006. Modeling nitrogen transport in the Newport Bay-San Diego Creek watershed of Southern California. Agricultural Water Management. 81: 199-215.
- Weiping Chen, Andrew C. Chang, Laosheng Wu, and Albert L. Page. 2006. Modeling Dynamic Sorption of Cadmium in Cropland Soils. Vadose Zone J. 5:1216-1221.
- Ruiz, V.R., and L. Wu. 2006. Influence of Sodicity, Clay Mineralogy, Prewetting Rate, and Their Interaction on Aggregate Stability. Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J. 70:1825-1833.
- Weiping Chen, Andrew C. Chang, and Laosheng Wu. 2006. Assessing Long-term Environmental Risks of Trace Elements in Phosphate Fertilizers. Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety (in press).
- Walker, M., A. Fisher, and J. Reisig. 2007. Shock chlorination: A step-by-step guide to shock chlorinating wells and home water supply systems. University of Nevada Fact Sheet-06-70. http://www.unce.unr.edu/publications/files/nr/2006/FS0670.pdf
- Walker, M., A. Fisher, and J. Reisig. 2007. Shock chlorination: Background and principles. University of Nevada Fact Sheet-6-68. http://www.unce.unr.edu/publications/files/nr/2006/FS0668.pdf
- Walker, M., A. Fisher, and J. Reisig. 2007. Shock chlorination: Disinfecting the hot water portion of household plumbing. University of Nevada Fact Sheet-06-71. http://www.unce.unr.edu/publications/files/nr/2006/FS0671.pdf
- Walker, M., A. Fisher, and J. Reisig. 2007. Shock chlorination: Estimating the amount of bleach needed. University of Nevada Fact Sheet-06-69. http://www.unce.unr.edu/publications/files/nr/2006/FS0669.pdf
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Progress 01/01/06 to 12/31/06
Outputs
<p>** Rainwater Catchment. In many areas of the Pacific Islands, rainwater catchment systems serve as the primary source of drinking water for the local population. Other areas encourage catchments for reserve water to be used during droughts. Proper operation and maintenance of these systems is essential for good health. A regional initiative to address domestic rainwater catchment systems for potable water supply benefitted from cooperation among participating Cooperative Extension programs of the University of Hawaii, Palau Community College, College of Micronesia-FSM, and College of the Marshall Islands. In March 2006, a water quality educational specialist from the University of Hawaii's Cooperative Extension Service along with local hosts from each participating college, conducted Train-the-Trainer workshops in Koror, Palau; Weno, Chuuk; Kolonia, Pohnpei; and Majuro Atoll, Marshall Islands.<br> ** Water Reuse. Reclaimed wastewater has long been used for
irrigation of landscapes and field crops, particularly in the western United States. To address this issue, the Region 9 program is currently supporting work on three projects: development of a technical bulletin for the safe use of reclaimed water; development of a user-friendly model to simulate the water, salt, nitrogen, and toxic element movements in soils receiving reclaimed wastewater irrigation; and establishment of demonstration sites for aquaculture effluent use in irrigation. While these products will serve the Region, they will also be useful for anyone in other regions using reclaimed water for irrigation.<br> ** Animal Waste Management. 1) Pet Recreation and Water Quality. 'Zoonoses' - diseases transmitted from animal hosts to humans - have long been attributed to contamination by wastes from high concentrations of animals, such as feed lots; however, companion animals, such as canines, are also a potential source of pathogens and a source of public concern. A 14-month
study was conducted to monitor fecal loading from a dog exercise/hiking/cycling recreation area adjacent to a creek flowing through a sedimentation pond and riparian wetland into Lake Tahoe. While fecal loading was found to be significant, particularly at trail junctions and access points, the quality of water flowing out of the study area was improved over the quality of water flowing in; likely due to the restorative actions of the sedimentation pond and wetlands. 2) Piggery Waste Management. Building on work completed earlier in the CNMI, a dry litter piggery was constructed at a research station in Palau. The facility has been toured by students, teachers, EPA, and other visitors. A pilot project with a local farmer to build another piggery is underway for the coming year. American Samoa is working with the American Samoa EPA to help 997 piggery farms comply with island water quality regulations.</p>
Impacts
The Region 9 Water Quality Coordination Project will enable the 11 participating universities and colleges to address gaps in expertise and expand the reach and depth of high-quality programs by crossing state and territory lines and sharing resources, expertise, and partners. Most importantly, the Region 9 Water Quality Coordination Project will enable under-represented colleagues and their constituents like the tribally-controlled community colleges and the western and southern Pacific islands to participate, contribute, and benefit from the strength of a national network. For instance, based on post-workshop surveys for the Rain Catchment workshops, attendees who help people use and maintain their rainwater catchment systems found the information in the workshops very useful, and will incorporate the information into their trainings for other communities. And as a result of the American Samoa piggery compliance project, 12 pig farms have applied for land use
permits and 7 have closed their piggeries. Introduction of the dry litter system to piggeries in Palau, will provide an alternative to spray-out flushing of traditional piggeries, commonly located along rivers, mangroves, and other sensitive coastal areas. This alternative, combined with farmer education workshops, is expected to help reduce contamination to local surface waters.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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Progress 01/01/05 to 12/31/05
Outputs
<p>A one-year, no-cost extension was approved for this project. Highlighted activities include:<br> ** Piggery Bliss - A successful collaboration between Northern Marianas College and the University of Hawai'i resulted in the introduction of two affordable effluent management systems to pig farmers of the Northern Mariana Islands in 2003-04. In the summer of 2005, USEPA's Pacific Island Office asked the project team to evaluate the possibility of establishing a demonstration site and conducting waste management workshops in American Samoa. The issue is particularly relevant in American Samoa where discharge of piggery effluent into local streams is common and has created a significant exposure route for Leptospirosis, a bacterial disease that affects animals and humans. A recent immunohistological study conducted by the Center for Disease Control indicated that 17 percent of the study population had antibodies for the Leptospira bacteria, indicating recent infection.
At least two fatalities were attributed to the disease in 2004. In addition to the potential workshops in American Samoa, the Region 9 Water Quality Coordination Project is committing resources to expand the scope of this project to include Micronesia and Palau.<br> ** Nitrate Hazard Index - Growers in the Southwest can now assess the potential hazard of groundwater contamination by nitrate based on their soil type, crop, and irrigation method thanks to the development of a new hazard index (HI) by a team from the University of California Center for Water Resources. [http://www.waterresources.ucr.edu] <br> ** Hawaii Maps State 319 Projects - The Hawai'i Water Quality Coordinator preserved historical 319 records and developed a GIS map of projects throughout the Islands. [http://www2.ctahr.hawaii.edu/wq/nps319/nonpointsource.htm]<br> ** EPA grant allows University of Nevada researcher to begin development of a field detection method for Leptospira spp. Should this research be
successful it will have implications both across the Pacific and worldwide.<br> ** Palau publishes a rainwater catchment manual and conducts outreach education workshops. Approximately two-thirds of Palauans receive their drinking water from rainwater catchments. Despite widespread use of catchments in Palau, it is estimated that the majority are not properly maintained. The Region 9 Water Quality Coordination Project is committing resources to expand the scope of this project to include the Northern Marianas, Marshall Islands, Guam, and Micronesia.<br> ** The University of Nevada Water Quality Coordinator looked at the potential impact of a companion animal recreation area on Lake Tahoe drinking water sources. Other efforts in the Lake Tahoe area included the publication of landscaping BMPs for both the landscape contractor and the homeowner.<br> ** A completed graywater study at the University of Arizona finds that the pathenogenic potential of turf irrigated with graywater may not
be significantly different from that of turf irrigated by conventional sources.</p>
Impacts
The Region 9 Water Quality Coordination Project will enable the 10 participating universities and colleges to address gaps in expertise and expand the reach and depth of high-quality programs by crossing state and territory lines and sharing resources, expertise, and partners. Importantly, the Region 9 Water Quality Coordination Project will enable under-represented colleagues and their constituents like the tribally-controlled community colleges and the western and southern Pacific islands to participate, contribute, and benefit from the strength of a national network. From a new commitment to shared planning and leadership, we are evolving into an organization that delivers more than the sum of its parts.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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Progress 01/01/04 to 12/31/04
Outputs
The renewal project for region 9, Region 9 Water Quality Coordination Project, was initiated on September 15, 2004. Work accomplished was:<br> * initiated subcontracts, with plans of work and budgets, for all ten Land Grant Institutions with identified water quality coordinators: University of Arizona, University of California, University of Nevada, University of Hawaii, American Samoa Community College, University of Guam, Northern Marianas College, College of the Marshall Islands, Palau Community College, and College of FSM - Micronesia.<BR> * drafted agenda for face-to-face meeting to be held prior to the USDA-CSREES National Water Quality Conference in February 2005 in San Diego, CA.</P>
Impacts
The Region 9 Water Quality Coordination Project will enable the 10 participating universities and colleges to address gaps in expertise and expand the reach and depth of high-quality programs by crossing state and territory lines and sharing resources, expertise, and partners. Importantly, the Region 9 Water Quality Coordination Project will enable under-represented colleagues and their constituents like the tribally-controlled community colleges and the western and southern Pacific islands to participate, contribute, and benefit from the strength of a national network. From a new commitment to shared planning and leadership, we are evolving into an organization that delivers more than the sum of its parts.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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