Activity B: Agriculture

Rural Water Quality Program

A Rural Water Quality Program is underway involving a partnership with the provincial and municipal governments and the farming community within the Lake Simcoe watershed. The program will achieve the objectives of Activity B (Issues 3-7, and 9) by promoting and implementing the best management practices to improve water quality and quantity. Specifically, the program to provide farmers with the technical and financial assistance necessary to implement conservation projects on their operations for the purpose of improving water quality.

The program is led by the Conservation Authority and involves watershed municipalities, the provincial Ministry of Agriculture Food, and the Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA) and Soil and Crop Improvement Association (SCIA). Representatives from the Authority, municipalities and OMAF, OFA and SCIA, are sitting on a technical project review committee. The Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority is delivering all aspects of the program, providing extension services and promotion of best management practices to the farm community.

The proposed capital project component of the program would involve a grant to the farmers of up to 75% for completion of the following eligible items through the Lake Simcoe Water Quality Improvement Program (LSWQIP):
Clean Water Diversions
Restricting Livestock Access to a Watercourse
Milkhouse Washwater Treatment Systems
Cropland Soil Erosion
Streambank Erosion
Retirement of Fragile Lands (Reforestation)
Buffer Strip Creation
Wind Breaks
Faulty Septic System Replacement
Development of Nutrient Management Plans
Decommissioning of abandoned wells.

This activity will be on-going throughout the period of the Memorandum of Understanding (2001-2007).

Investigating the Treatment of the Holland Marsh Polder Pump-off Water

In addition to the Rural Water Quality Program a separate initiative to investigate the feasibility of treating the Holland Marsh Polder pump-off water (Issue 8) has also been recommended. The concept of treating the Holland Marsh pump-off water was first proposed in 1985 during the original LSEMS studies. The project involves constructing a treatment facility at the outlet of the Holland Marsh to remove phosphorus from the pump-off water and reduce the total phosphorus loading entering the Holland River. In 1995, a feasibility study was conducted to examine the potential phosphorus removal capability using various forms of chemical treatment. Preliminary results indicate that the project could reduce approximately 3 to 5 tons per year of phosphorus from entering the Holland River and eventually Cooks Bay. A more in-depth review of the feasibility of the project is required.

The proposed study is to be led by the Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority and will involve watershed municipalities (Region of York, Simcoe County, Bradford West Gwillimbury, King), the Holland Marsh Drainage Committee, Vegetable Growers Association, Conservation Foundation, MOE and OMAF.

ACTIVITY B: AGRICULTURE
Objective: To improve water quality by providing the agriculture community with technical and financial assistance to implement better management practices which address soil, crop, livestock and water management issues.
ISSUES	ACTIONS	PARTNERS
3. Livestock access to watercourses	Restrict livestock access to watercourses through fencing, providing alternate watering facilities and restricted crossings	LSRCA, OMAF, Agricultural Community, Municipalities (OFA, SCIA, OCA)
4. Milkhouse washwater discharge to surface waters Construct washwater treatment and/or storage-containment systems to eliminate milkhouse discharge	Research and demonstration of alternate/innovative technologies	LSRCA, OMAF, Agricultural Community, Municipalities (OFA, SCIA, OCA)
5. Runoff from Manure piles, feedlots and fields	Construct proper manure storage and handling facilities to eliminate runoff Develop and implement nutrient management plans (NMPs) Divert clean water away from manure storages, feedlots and barnyards to reduce contaminated runoff Research and demonstration of alternate/innovative technologies	LSRCA, OMAF, Agricultural Community, Municipalities (OFA, SCIA, OCA)
6. Runoff and Erosion from Cropland and along Watercourses	Construct erosion control structures (windbreaks, terraces, grassed waterways, buffer strips etc.) Usage of reduced tillage or no-till systems Retire highly erodible lands	LSRCA, OMAF, Soil and Crop Improvement Agency, Municipalities
7. Application Rate of Fertilizers	Develop and implement nutrient management plans Research and demonstration of alternate/innovative technologies	LSRCA, OMAF, Agricultural Community (OFA, SCIA, Marsh Farmers Assoc.)
8. Pump-off Water from the Holland Marsh Polder	Investigate feasibility of constructing a treatment facility to chemically remove phosphorus from pumping station (pump off water) Research and demonstration of alternate/innovative technologies	LSRCA, OMAF, Drainage Commission, Marsh Farmers Assoc., Municipalities
9. Application of Septage and Sewage Sludge on Agricultural Lands	Evaluate guidelines which regulate the application of biosolids (see Bill 81) Eliminate land application of untreated septage (Bill 81, Proposed NM act) Discontinue winter application (HOW…. ie. Through researching alternatives, investigating feasibility of communal biosolids storage facility, composting facility etc..) Research and demonstration of alternate/innovative technologies	MOE, OMAF, LSRCA, Agricultural Community

Activity A: Basin Wide Ecosystem Planning
Activity B: Agriculture
Activity C: Urban
Activity D: Monitoring and Scientific Studies
Activity E: Public Awareness, Education and Community Action