A prairie-wide perspective of nonpoint agricultural effects of water quality

Summary of the Final Report

This study represents a review of documented evidence and expert opinion, about the effect of field-scale agricultural practices on water quality across the Canadian prairies.

We have tried to reflect the divergence of opinion held by some 85 reviewers from throughout the prairies and elsewhere, covering a wide range of organizations and disciplines. The first half of the report deals with factors we all need to consider when evaluating our respective positions on water quality. The last half reviews specific prairie findings, with some suggestions for research and policy priorides.

There must be a standard against which to judge water quality. Some take a Zero Tolerance approach, holding that no amount of unnatural substance in the environment is acceptable. Such a position inevitably leads to the conclusion that agriculture is unacceptably contaminating the environment. Others hold to a Water Quality Guidelines approach the premise that there are agrichemical levels below which the public and the ecosystem are at reasonable risk Our agent of specific prairie findings takes the view that the Canadian Water Quality Guidelines constitute a useful basis for such an evaluation. Accordingly, we conclude that:

Within the context of the Canadian Water Quality Guidelines, there is no significant body of evidence to indicate the wide-spread contamination of surface and groundwaters from agricultural activities on the prairies.

This does not mean that there are no problems nor the potential for them to occur. But these problems are neither wide-spread nor generally excessive in degree.

We hope you find this discussion of water quality issues with respect to agriculture, to be as insightful and thought provoking in the reading as we did in the preparation. We welcome your comments and suggestions for ways in which we all might come to better understand and address this complex topic.