California’s Central Valley has a strong agricultural economy, but modern farm practices expose both human and ecological communities to various chemical risks. Many farmers are disconnected from the best scientific information about the impacts of the chemicals they use. This project aimed to raise awareness and provide education by updating the Pesticide Management Prioritization Model, which was first developed by Nicol Parker with the support of a 2020 Delta Science Fellowship.
The PMPM clarifies the risk of pesticide pollution by type of pesticide and application site for all farms within approximately 100 kilometers of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Bay-Delta. The tool accounts for water management practices, land use, pesticide use rates and cumulative pesticide stress. Under this fellowship, Parker updated the PMPM to include new information on how chemicals affect particular species and how various irrigation practices impact pesticide flow. This allowed the creation of the new “Environmental Fate Tool,” which quantifies the risks that hundreds of pesticides pose for aquatic ecosystems across the Delta, at both local and regional scales.
The improved model allows Delta residents, especially those in agricultural areas, to better understand the impact of pesticide exposure on humans and the ecosystem and encourages meaningful conversations about how pesticide use in the region may be improved. The Environmental Fate Tool can help high-risk regions in particular conduct more detailed risk assessments and help prioritize mitigation schedules.
Nicol Parker