Implementation of CORPEN recommendations at a watershed scale: first results of Fontaine du Theil site

Abstract

Since 1998, the experimental watershed of "Fontaine du Theil" enabled to put into practice the CORPEN (Comité d'orientation pour des pratiques agricoles respectueuses de l'environnement) advice the aims which were to control both limited and diffuse pollutions of the environment. The objective of the project planned for five years, is to try to restore the quality of surface water on an operationnal unit, while maintaining a durable and profitable agriculture. During the three first years, the partners - AGPM-TECHNIQUE (Association générale des producteurs de maïs), UIPP (Union des industries de la protection des plantes), ITCF (Institut technique des céréales et des fourrages), SRPV (Service de la protection des végétaux), Cemagref, Brittany territorial communities, DRAF Brittany, chambre d'agriculture d'Ille-et-Vilaine_ - decided, with the support and active participation of the farmers, the setting up of concrete actions through an ambitious action plan, including the evaluation of the level of water contamination, the diagnosis of contamination sources, the inventory and eventual modification of agricultural practices, as well as the first adjustments of cultivated surface. After three years of strong efforts requiring wide skills, the realisation obtained on the place can be reported and permit the issue of first trends. The measurements realised during the year 2000 at the exit of the watershed show a significant pesticide residue decrease in water. This report evaluates the prospects of this exemplar action which could be a reference to generalise the solutions experimented there.