Montana State University Pesticide Education Program Announces the Columbia River Basin Watershed Pesticide Tour

Cecil Tharp, MSU Extension Pesticide Education Specialist

The Montana State University Extension Pesticide Education Program (MSU PEP) is announcing the Columbia River Basin (CRB) Watershed Pesticide Tour from December 9th-12th. The tour will cover five locations in four days with support from MSU Extension Agents. This educational opportunity is for homeowners, small acreage owners, ranchers, farmers & private pesticide applicators across the CRB (Figure 1).

CRB Watershed Map

Figure 1. The Montana Columbia River Basin Watershed

The goals of these trainings are to give pesticide applicators tools and knowledge to reduce pesticides entering the CRB watershed to improve water quality. This program will present pesticides detected in the CRB watershed, summarize how pesticides move into water-sources, review high and low-risk pesticides, identify sensitive sites, cover the pesticide disposal program, and discuss mitigation strategies for residential and rural situations. Any individual desiring to learn more about reducing the risk of pesticides in water or wanting to learn more about their pesticide chemistry should attend. 

This program will be offered on the following dates and locations:

  • December 9 - Anaconda, 1:30 to 5:30 pm - Fairmont Hot Springs Resort, 1500 Fairmont Road
  • December 10 - Philipsburg, 8:00 am to 12:00 pm - Flint Creek Baptist Church, US 10A
  • December 10 - Missoula, 1:30 to 5:30 pm - GW Marks Exploration Center, Balsamroot Conf. Rm, 1075 S. Ave W
  • December 11- Thompson Falls, 8:00 am to 12:00 pm - Thompson Falls Senior Citizens Center, 1191 Mt. Silcox Dr.
  • December 12 - Kalispell, 8:00 am to 12:00 pm - Kalispell Hampton Inn, 1140 2nd St

   Register online by December 6 as space is limited. Walk-ins are welcome if space is available. There is a $10 event fee payable by credit card in advance online or cash or check at the door. Private applicators may attend any of the programs for four private applicator continuing education credits. Commercial applicator credits are also available and can be viewed on the event website. 

Presentations and speakers for the tour include: 

  • The MT Pesticide Stewardship Partnership Program, Dr. Rachel Malison, Program Leader, Flathead Lake Biological Station
  • Pesticide Fate in Ground and Surface Water, Dr. Cecil Tharp, Pesticide Education Specialist, MSU Extension
  • Water Movement through Soil and Preliminary Research Update, Dr. Adam Sigler, Water Quality Specialist, MSU Extension, or Meghan Robinson and Hezekiah Afolabi, MSU Graduate Students
  • DEQ Pesticide General Permit and Best Practices, Tiffany Lyden, Education and Outreach Specialist, Montana Department of Environmental Quality
  • Montana Pesticide Disposal Program, Paul Johnson, Pesticide Container Recycling Technician, Montana Department of Agriculture
  • Pesticide Detects in the Columbia River Basin, Brett Heitshusen, Sustainable Agriculture Section Supervisor, Montana Department of Agriculture
  • Integrated Pest Management, Dr. Jane Mangold, Rangeland Weed Specialist, MSU Extension, or Dr. Cecil Tharp, Pesticide Education Specialist, MSU Extension 

   This educational tour is part of a grant titled "Reducing Toxins in the Upper Columbia Through a new Pesticide Stewardship Program (PSPP)". This initiative, led by Dr. Rachel Malison with the University of Montana, includes partners such as MSU PEP, MSU Water Quality Program, Montana Department of Agriculture, Montana Watershed Program, Department of Environmental Quality, Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes of the Flathead Reservation, city managers, and many others. More information on this program can be viewed on the MT PSPP website. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION: See the detailed program agenda online or contact your local MSU Extension office. For registration and event questions contact Amy Bowser, (406) 994-5178, [email protected]. For other technical pesticide questions contact Cecil Tharp, Pesticide Education Specialist, (406) 994-5067, ctharp@montana. 

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