09/05/05 Pesticide stream monitoring results

09/05/05 Pesticide stream monitoring results

Washington Ag September 5, 2005 The amount of pesticides in several salmon-bearing streams continues to be low and generally within acceptable levels. That's how the Washington State Department of Agriculture describes the second year results it just released for its pesticide monitoring program. Bridget Moran, WSDA Endangered Species Program Manger, says they are pleased. Moran: "We have found fewer pesticides than in the previous year. When we do find pesticides they are generally at low levels and we are pleased with that." Two index watersheds, one agricultural in the lower Yakima and one urban in the Seattle area, were chosen the for the three-year study. The herbicide 2,4,-D was the most commonly detected compound in the agricultural watershed but it never approached levels of concern. Moran says there was a significant detection of malathion in the agricultural watershed , which deserves further evaluation. That detection, though below the level of concern, was approaching it. Moran says the program is providing real data upon which to make decisions rather than making blanket decisions like has been done in some legal cases. Next year WSDA plans to begin a three-year monitoring program in the Skagit watershed. I'm Bob Hoff.
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