Which water body is explicitly excluded from the definition of an open body of water?

• A. Roadside ditches
• B. Rivers
• C. Lakes
• D. Public irrigation ditches

Answer: (A)

Understanding what counts as an open body of water helps determine when buffer zones or other protections apply to pesticide applications. Rivers, lakes, and public irrigation ditches are typically included because they are recognizable watercourses or water sources that can receive spray drift or runoff and affect aquatic life. Roadside ditches, however, are usually narrow drainage features along roads, often seasonal, not navigable, and not relied upon as a water source or used for recreation. Because of their drainage role and variable water presence, they don’t meet the regulatory definition of an open body of water. So, roadside ditches are the ones explicitly excluded.