(your state)
Master Farmer Program
Add your
university logo or
program logo
here
The Clean Water Act
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Originated as the Water Pollution
Control Act (WPCA) of 1948
WPCA amendments in 1970 created
the EPA
WPCA Amendments of 1972
became what is commonly known
as the Clean Water Act (CWA) today
CWA Focus For First 25 Years
 Focused on point source or “end-of-the-pipe” sources
- originate from a stationary location or fixed
facility from which pollutants are discharged
directly into a water-body
-includes run-off from wastewater treatment plants, CAFOs, oil
refineries
 Largely exempted nonpoint source (NPS) runoff
from regulation; these were managed by voluntary
implementation of BMPs
-includes run-off from all agriculture, lawns, highways,
parking lots, natural sources
Requirements of the CWA
 Requires states to develop lists of impaired
waters (EPA approved)
 Requires states’ to identify pollution reductions
needed to meet standards – now includes both
point and non-point source pollutants
 Requires development of TMDLs and
implementation plans that will lead to clean
water goals (EPA approved)
What is a TMDL?
Total Maximum Daily Load
A TMDL is the maximum amount of a
pollutant (allocated among point,
nonpoint, and natural sources) that can
enter a water body and still comply with
water quality standards. It is required for
waters not meeting state / EPA approved
water quality standards. TMDLs must
also be approved by EPA.
Agriculture and Forestry Nonpoint
Source Pollutants
 Sediments
 Nutrients
 Pesticides
 Oil & Grease
 Animal Wastes
Impairment Status of Louisiana’s Basin
Sub-segments
Add your state
map with
impairments
*Based on DRAFT 2002 305(b)
List and subject to minor changes.
BRACKISH MARSH
DENSE PINE THICKET
FRESH MARSH
INTERMEDIATE MARSH
NON-VEGETATED URBAN
SALINE MARSH
LOUISIANA LAND USE
UPLAND BARREN
UPLAND FOREST-DECIDUOUS
UPLAND FOREST-EVERGREEN
Legend
Covertype_name
UPLAND SCRUB/SHRUB-DECIDUOUS
AGRICULTURE-CROPLAND-GRASSLAND
UPLAND SCRUB/SHRUB-EVERGREEN
BRACKISH MARSH
UPLAND SCRUB/SHRUB-MIXED
DENSE PINE THICKET
VEGETATED URBAN
FRESH MARSH
WATER
INTERMEDIATE MARSH
WETLAND BARREN
NON-VEGETATED URBAN
WETLAND FOREST-DECIDUOUS
SALINE MARSH
WETLAND FOREST-EVERGREEN
UPLAND BARREN
WETLAND FOREST-MIXED
UPLAND FOREST-DECIDUOUS
WETLAND SCRUB/SHRUB-DECIDUOUS
UPLAND FOREST-EVERGREEN
WETLAND SCRUB/SHRUB-EVERGREEN
UPLAND FOREST-MIXED
WETLAND SCRUB/SHRUB-MIXED
UPLAND SCRUB/SHRUB-DECIDUOUS
UPLAND SCRUB/SHRUB-EVERGREEN
UPLAND SCRUB/SHRUB-MIXED
VEGETATED URBAN
WATER
WETLAND BARREN
WETLAND FOREST-DECIDUOUS
WETLAND FOREST-EVERGREEN
WETLAND FOREST-MIXED
WETLAND SCRUB/SHRUB-DECIDUOUS
WETLAND SCRUB/SHRUB-EVERGREEN
WETLAND SCRUB/SHRUB-MIXED
Add your state land
use map here.
UPLAND FOREST-MIXED
Add your university and
program logo here; also
add any partnering or
supporting agency logos
Louisiana Master Farmer Program
Collaborations/Partnerships
Master Farmer Initiative

Multi-agency effort sponsored by the Louisiana Farm
Bureau Federation (add your own)

Implemented by watershed, with the AgCenter’s watershed
agent coordinating the sessions (add your university dept.
or center here)

Targets all agricultural producers
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Objective: The (your state) Master Farmer Program is a
multi-agency effort targeted at helping agricultural
producers voluntarily address the environmental concerns
related to production agriculture.
Master Farmer Initiative
Environmental
Stewardship
Phase 1:
Environmental Education
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Conducted at the parish/watershed level
Specific topics addressed include:
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The Clean Water Act (CWA) of 1972
National & Louisiana (your state) water quality
standards
Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs)
Impacts of NPS Pollution on the Coastal Zone
Best Management Practices (BMPs)
Role of Conservation Districts in conservation planning
and implementation
The NRCS Planning Process
Conservation Programs
Phase 2:
Model Farms
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Representative farms for each watershed;
commodity specific for that area
BMP demonstrations; ex. No-till vs
conventional tillage
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Water quality monitoring

Sponsor field day with data collected for
education and outreach purposes
Add your
state
watershed
map here or
delete if no
Model Farms
will be
selected.
“Potential” Model Farms
Rice, Soybeans
Crawfish
Beef Cattle
Sugarcane
Poultry
Beef Cattle
Cotton
Soybeans
Corn
Beef Cattle
Dairy
Phase 3:
Conservation Plans
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Development and implementation of farmspecific RMS level conservation plans
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Looks at all resource concerns
Plans will be developed by the NRCS and
working with the local Soil and Water
Conservation District
Time Line For Implementation of
Program
 Schedule of Watersheds
 Mermentau/VermilionTeche (2001)
 Calcasieu/Ouachita (2002)
 Barataria/Terrebonne
(2003)
 Red/Sabine (2004)
 Pontchartrain Basin (2005)
 Mississippi/Atchafalaya/
Pearl (2006)
Develop and list a timeline for implementation
of the program state-wide
by watershed.
Summary

As TMDL’s are being developed in (your state)’s
watersheds, (your state)’s agricultural producers will
face environmental challenges such as compliance with
mandatory reductions of nonpoint pollutants, such as
nutrients, pathogens (fecal coliform), organic
material/dissolved oxygen, sediment, and metals.
Voluntary implementation of incentive-based,
economically achievable and effective BMPs, through
the Master Farmer Program, represents a workable
means of reducing agriculture’s contribution to the
water quality challenges.
Add your contact information here.