Water pollution related to California's $5.25 billion livestock and poultry industries will require site-specific remedies as diverse as the various production operations themselves, according to a yearlong study by a team of UC researchers. "Preventing pollution is one of the most important issues animal agriculture industries will face over the next five to 10 years," says Harold Carter, director of the UC Davis-based UC Agricultural Issues Center which, along with the UC Davis Animal Agriculture Research Center, coordinated the study. The pollution problems range from increased sedimentation of foothill streams due to livestock grazing, to nitrate pollution of valley ground water. They will require solutions developed with an eye to the overall health of the local watershed and to specific soil and climate conditions. "In general, livestock producers are doing a good job of preventing water pollution from their operations, but increasing densities of animals will require greater care and new approaches to waste management to prevent problems in the future," says Eric Bradford, director of the Animal Agriculture Research Center. Proceedings from the study will be available at the end of February from the Agricultural Issues Center.