Trends in water quality of five dairy farming streams in response to adoption of best practice and benefits of long-term monitoring at the catchment scale
Robert J. Wilcock A F , Ross M. Monaghan B , John M. Quinn A , M. S. Srinivasan C , David J. Houlbrooke D , Maurice J. Duncan C , Aslan E. Wright-Stow A and Mike R. Scarsbrook E
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research, PO Box 1115, Hamilton, New Zealand.
B AgResearch, Invermay Agricultural Centre, Private Bag 50034, Mosgiel, New Zealand.
C National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research, PO Box 8602, Christchurch, New Zealand.
D AgResearch, Ruakura Research Centre, Private Bag 3115, Hamilton, New Zealand.
E DairyNZ Ltd, Private Bag 3221, Hamilton, New Zealand.
F Corresponding author: Email: bob.wilcock@niwa.co.nz
Marine and Freshwater Research 64(5) 401-412 https://doi.org/10.1071/MF12155
Submitted: 16 June 2012 Accepted: 29 November 2012 Published: 3 May 2013
Journal Compilation © CSIRO Publishing 2013 Open Access CC BY-NC-ND
Abstract
Five streams in catchments with pastoral dairy farming as the dominant land use were monitored for periods of 7–16 years to detect changes in response to adoption of best management practices (BMPs). Stream water quality was degraded at the start with respect to N, P, suspended solids (SS) and E. coli concentrations, and was typical of catchments with intensive pastoral agriculture land use. Trend analysis showed a decrease in SS concentration for all streams, generally increasing water clarity, and lower E. coli concentrations in three of the streams. These are attributed to improved stream fencing (cattle exclusion) and greater use of irrigation for treated effluent disposal with less reliance on pond systems discharging to streams. Linkages between water quality and farm actions based on survey data were used to develop BMPs that were discussed at stakeholder workshops. Generic and specific BMPs were developed for the five catchments. The 3–7 year periodicity of major climate cycles, as well as market forces and a slow rate of farmer adoption of simple BMPs mean that monitoring programs in New Zealand need to be much longer than 10 years to detect changes caused by farmer actions. Long-term monitoring is also needed to detect responses to newly legislated requirements for improved water quality.
Additional keywords: effluent disposal, land–water interactions, stream fencing.
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