WATER POLLUTION FROM ACRICOLTUtAL HASTBS 



by ^ 



Claiborne W. Brinck 

 Director, Division of Envlroiaental Sanitation 



For the last several years there has been a vlgorotis pro- 

 gram carried out by the Montana Vater Pollution Control 

 Council designed to reduce the amount of wastes trtm htaun 

 activities that enter Montana streams. Industries and mi- 

 nlclpalltles have been the principle target, but now that 

 ail municipalities that are sewered have aoae type of w««t« 

 treatment and Industries are taking care of aest of their 

 wastes, yet there Is still some pollution entering our 

 streams and It Is time that we took a look at this — that 

 from agricultural activities. It is recognited that many 

 think that the little bit of waste that thay contribute 

 from their farming or ranching or activity is of little 

 account, but do not forget that "little bits" can add up 

 to real problems. 



"We don't return anything to the streams" is a common 

 C. U. BRINCK statement, but if there are any barnyard drains or if the 



high water washes through the barnyard, this may be a 

 source of water pollution. If you permit excess irrigation water to flow back to the streams 

 from the fields, this creates water pollution problems, as does the drain lines that are main- 

 taining a lower water table in some areas. 



To control stream pollution from agricultural activities requires both proper planning and 

 good management. When it is recognized that the wastes from one cow are equMalent to that 

 of sixteen humans or a thousand cows Is the same as the wastes from 16,000 humans, it is nec^^ 

 •ssary to do all in our power to keep this waste out of the streams and out of the ground ~ 

 vater. 



We can't all live at the headwaters and we have to think of the people downstream. Remem- 

 ber soil and water conservation is water pollution control. The return irrigation water can 

 be-quite warm and change the qualify of the water in the stream. There have also been cases 

 where so much water has been removed for Irrigation that the small stream remaining becomes 

 very warm and can produce a habitat where fish cannot exist. 



Proper planning will make it easier to properly manage our soils, which in turn means a 

 better return for the dollar spent and a greater length of life for the field. 



Anything that can be done to save our soil and our waters is good for all of us. It is 

 hoped that all can be cognizant of this fact as we go about our activities. 



************ ^., 



In a recent letter from the Nat- 

 ional Association of Soil and Water 

 Conservation District, Richard Nixon's 

 views on resources were presented, 

 llere are a few of his ideas on Natural 

 a.id Human Resources: Anions those that 

 should escape the budget knife are 

 appropriations for conservation and 

 education, for the preservation of 

 natural and for the development of 



human resources. These are the growth g^ 



stocks of America, which will net us the ^' 



greatest long term gains.' 



