Environmentally sustainable management of aquatic resources and watersheds.

Objective 1. Provide educational programs on watershed stewardship and protection of watersheds from non-point source pollution. Programs will be provided to grower groups, master gardeners, pesticide applicators, and horticulture groups on an as requested basis. Participants in educational programs conducted in this area will report an increase in knowledge gained through the training.

Accomplishments and Impacts: Educational Programs

Master Gardener Training: 1 Master Gardener training was conducted in San Juan County. Survey responses indicate that 100% of trainees felt that the information presented will help them make better decisions about pesticide use. When asked to compare their knowledge of watershed management, environmental effects of pesticides, and best management practices for pesticide use before and after the talk, knowledge of 88% of respondents improved from "poor" or "fair" to very good and excellent. Additional comments given anonymously by surveyed participants included “The talk was excellent”, “It was very interesting and enlightening”, “Very interesting”, “Made me want to know more”.”Enjoyed very much, please come again”.

Pesticide Applicator Training: Three presentations were given in 3 counties (Bernalillo, San Juan, Lea) during the reporting period. A total of 247 people, mostly commercial pesticide applicators and landscape/nursery workers, were in attendance at these presentations. Material presented at these workshops taught about the fate of pesticides in aquatic environment, effects on non-target organisms, properties of chemicals affecting their toxicity and persistence, and best management practices to minimize inputs of pesticides into aquatic environments. When surveyed, an overall average of 81 percent of participants indicated that they increased their knowledge of the subject matter which will help them in applying pesticides, with highest numbers in Bernalillo County (95%). Over 50 percent of participants indicated that they were likely to modify a current practice when applying pesticides based on information received at the workshop. Overall knowledge of the topic increased from an average of 2.4 before listening to the workshop to 3.2 after the workshop (Scale: 1= poor, 2= fair, 3=good, 4=excellent).

Objective 2: Assist, support and promote Aquaculture growers in New Mexico.

Accomplishments and Impacts:

Interest in aquaculture has increased in New Mexico, with a number of new operations in various stages of start-up and operation. There is a growing interest in developing sustainable greenhouse aquaponics, as evidenced by the responses received to a statewide survey on industry priorities. This survey is used to promote interests and concerns of New Mexico’s aquaculture industry at the Western Regional Aquaculture Center Board of Directors meetings. In a survey of New Mexico aquaculture growers, 100 % of respondents found that the specialist was greatly helpful in their quest to establish a successful aquaculture operation, and was quick to respond to their questions and queries. 100 percent of respondents indicated that their knowledge had improved “to a great extent” thanks to information provided by the specialist. 75 percent of respondents indicated that the likelihood of their modifying a current aquacultural practice based on information obtained from the specialist was” fair” to “great”.

The aquatic resources and watershed management program is 2 only years old and therefore medium-term impacts are not yet available.

Surveys conducted before and after Watershed stewardship presentation demonstrated that attendees learned new concepts and were more knowledgeable about the importance of watershed stewardship and the role of humans and land use practices on non-point source pollutions

Prior to hearing Watershed Stewardship Talk only 60 percent of attendees surveyed thought learning about watershed management was important, compared to 100 percent after the talk. When surveyed, 100 percent of attendees knew that most pollutants entering our waters came from Non-point source pollution after the talk, compared to 10 percent before that talk. Comments given anonymously by surveyed participants in the 2010 Watershed Stewardship Talk included “great presentation”, “very insightful”, “got a broad understanding on how small things you do can alter the life of a stream and/or river”, “awesome”, “cool:, “awesome class”, “very interesting”, “very informative and useful”, “I very much enjoyed the pictures, showed watersheds that were close to my community”. When surveyed, 95 percent of attendees rated the class as providing worthwhile to very worthwhile information.

Received very positive feedback from several attendees who listened to talk entitled: “Understanding the environmental impact of pesticides commonly used in urban landscapes" given at Pesticide Workshop. Talk was described by one attendee as “the best talk today by far. I actually listened and learned stuff”. One attendee stated that up until the talk he had never learned about potential runoff, leaching or contamination of waters by pesticides.

The Southwest Turfgrass Conference was attended by over 150 people, and presentation on “Water quality issues in ponds” received an average rating of 1.3 (from 1=best to 4=poor) for presentation style and 1.4 (1= very relevant to 4=no relevance) for topic relevance. 100% of the participants that returned the survey listed speaker of “Water quality issues in ponds” as one who should be invited again. In addition, this topic was listed by participants as one in which their knowledge of the subject was most improved after the presentation. Conference attendees rated their knowledge on water quality issues in ponds with an average of 1.7 before and 3.0 after the presentation (1 = poor to 4 = excellent).

Extension circular on Golden Algae was very well received at both the state and national level. In addition to being posted on the NMSU CES website, the article has also been posted on the New Mexico Department of Environment website, copies were requested by the New Mexico Game and Fish, and the article was requested and has been sent out to a national distribution list of over 250 HAB (hazardous algae blooms) scientists throughout the country.

1) Questions asked at the conclusion of Watershed Stewardship Talk to which the attendees did not know the answer before the talk were easily answered by all. Many took away the message that we all live in a watershed, and that land use practices affect aquatic ecosystems. Many expressed interest in learning more about their watershed and the topic of watershed stewardship . County agent expressed interest in offering the talk again this coming year.

2 )Woods Houghton (Agent from Eddy County) reviewed my circular entitled “Toxic Algae, Prymnesium parvum” and referred to it as “excellent” and commented that he “received lots of questions on this subject”.

3) Received positive feedback from several NM residents to whom I gave advice and information on the subject of aquaculture in NM. I saved one resident time and energy in his efforts to start up a Tilapia hatchery by informing him about NMGF regulations regarding Tilapia production in NM and by offering suggestions in his efforts to obtain a permit. The resident is now applying to the NMGF department for a permit to grow Tilapia.