Link to Related Documents information for the National Irrigation Water Quality Program.
Link to Background information for the National Irrigation Water Quality Program.
Link to Scope information for the National Irrigation Water Quality Program. Link to Contaminant Guidelines information for the National Irrigation Water Quality Program.
Link to Program Phase information for the National Irrigation Water Quality Program.
Link to Data Synthesis information for the National Irrigation Water Quality Program.
Link to Current Project Activities information for the National Irrigation Water Quality Program. Link to Management and Contact information for the National Irrigation Water Quality Program.

 

Background

In 1982, dying waterfowl and waterfowl with birth defects and reproductive failures were discovered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service at the Kesterson Reservoir, National Wildlife Refuge, California. Investigations were initiated in 1982 and continued through 1985. The cause of the problem was determined to be high levels of selenium in the irrigation drainwater discharged into the reservoir.

There was widespread media attention and congressional interest in 1985 concerning the potential for similar toxic impacts from irrigation drainwater at other locations across the West. This prompted the Secretary of the Interior to open an investigation of the effects of irrigation drainwater in the Western United States. A congressional hearing, several television programs, more than 100 newspaper and magazine articles, and numerous other inquiries focused on the contaminant issues related to irrigation drainwater.

In late 1985, the Department of the Interior (DOI) developed a program to investigate the extent and magnitude of the problem. A management strategy was developed and committed DOI to conduct a program that would identify and address irrigation-induced water quality and contamination problems related to DOI water projects in the West. No specific congressional action was taken and the Secretary of the Interior approved the initiation of the National Irrigation Water Quality Program (NIWQP). DOI was selected to manage the NIWQP with an advisory group of Bureau Coordinators representing the Bureau of Reclamation, Bureau of Indian Affairs, U.S. Geological Survey, and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Management of the NIWQP was transferred from DOI to the Bureau of Reclamation in fiscal year 1999. As part of the transfer agreement, the NIWQP retained the Bureau Coordinators as an advisory group to the NIWQP Manager.



Program Links:
Background / Scope / Program Phases / Current Project Activities / Related Documents /
Contaminant Guidelines /Data Synthesis / Management-Contacts / Home Page


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Last Updated: February 12, 2003