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Successfully, The End is in Sight for Grayland Cranberry Growers

Submitted by Bari Williams, Resource Conservationist, Montesano Field Office

Cranberry growers in Grayland, Washington were in a difficult position when Washington State Department of Ecology water sample results showed high levels of pesticides in the Grayland Drainage Ditch #1 in 1996.  Grayland Drainage Ditch #1 became a 303(d) listed water body in 1998 due to pesticide parameters exceeding Washington State Water Quality Standards.  Every cranberry bog has drainage ditches around the fields of cranberry vines that ultimately drain to the main ditch, Grayland Drainage Ditch #1.

Surface water quality is the primary resource concern; results of multiple sampling indicate that the pesticides are carried rapidly through the drainage system in surface water not runoff.  The primary pathway of the pesticides to the surface water is chemigation drift.  Pesticides and other agrichemicals are applied with chemigation and granular application followed by irrigation where drift enters the ditches.  Results of water samples from covered ditches, with plywood sheets supported by lumber planks, show dramatic decreases up to 99 percent of pesticide detection in the ditches.

In 1999, Carl Boyd, currently district conservationist (DC) of the Southwest Team (SW), then the DC in Montesano field office, received support and assistance from the Washington Cranberry Alliance, NRCS west area biologist, state office engineers, Grayland cranberry growers, Ocean Spray, Grays Harbor and Pacific Conservation Districts (CD) and Washington State University Ag Extension, to develop and implement a solution to treat the water quality, aquatic habitat and soil erosion concerns to bring the drainage ditch up to Washington State Water Quality Standards.  As a result, updated standards, designs, specifications, permits, program proposals, cost estimates, and funding requests were developed.

Funding for the cribbing, cover, and irrigation systems began in 1999 through the Grayland Cranberry Area Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) GPA, Pacific CD assisted with Section 319 grant programs, and Grays Harbor CD assisted with water quality implementation grant monies.  The SW Team Local Work Group decided to eliminate hold-downs for practices scheduled in FY08 contracts to encourage the landowners to apply for all of the remaining bogs that needed treatment.  Between 1999 and 2008, nearly all cranberry growers (about 90 EQIP contracts) have been awarded financial assistance to complete the cribbing and covering of their ditches.  By 2009 there should be less then 5 percent of the cranberry growers who need assistance.  The success of the program in the Grayland area can be attributed to the cranberry grower’s dedication to conserve and sustain their resources.  With their cooperation and persistence to get the program implemented they are very near to meeting their goals.

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