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peer-reviewed research article

Algal-bacterial treatment facility removes selenium from drainage water

authors

Nigel W.T. Quinn, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
Terrance Leighton, UC Berkeley
Tryg J. Lundquist, UC Berkeley
F. Bailey Green, UC Berkeley
Max A. Zárate, UC Berkeley
William J. Oswald, UC Berkeley

publication information

California Agriculture 54(6):50-56. DOI: 10.3733/ca.v054n06p50. November-December 2000.

abstract

Growers and pesticide applicators in California are legally required to file pesticide use reports with details about every application to commercial crops. We used the individual applicator records to document a decline in the use of organophosphate pesticides (OP) on almond and stone fruit orchards during the rainy season in California, a time period in which the trees are dormant. The decline is important because dormant applications are a major source of surface water contamination and the Federal Clean Water Act mandates a reduction in movement of OPs into surface water. However, the decline in use of OPs has been accompanied by an increase in use of pyrethroid pesticides, particularly in stone fruit orchards. Additional implementation of “reduced-risk” integrated pest management practices could further reduce use of dormant applications of OPs and pyrethroids on almonds and stone fruit orchards.

author affiliations

N.W.T. Quinn is Geological Scientist and Water Resources Engineer, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory; T.J. Lundquist is Assistant Specialist, Applied Algae Research Laboratory, UC Berkeley; T.J. Lundquist is Assistant Specialist, Applied Algae Research Laboratory, UC Berkeley; F.B. Green is Assistant Research Engineer, Applied Algae Research Laboratory, UC Berkeley; M.A. Zdrate is Graduate Student, Applied Algae Research Laboratory, UC Berkeley; W.J. Oswald is Project Principal Investigator and Emeritus Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering, and T. Leighton is Professor of Microbiology, UC Berkeley.

author notes

This project is currently supported by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation through the CALFED Bay-Delta Program.

References

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