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Department of Environmental Quality Department of Environmental Quality

Department of Environmental Quality - PowerPoint Presentation

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Department of Environmental Quality - PPT Presentation

Department of Environmental Quality Nutrient Management Strategy Agriculture Rule Requirements March 2016 WQC 2 Talk Outline Areas subject to nutrient management strategies Evolution of rules over time ID: 773430

quality environmental amp department environmental quality department amp agriculture tar jordan loss falls rules neuse pam accounting funding training

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Department of Environmental Quality Nutrient Management Strategy Agriculture Rule Requirements March 2016 WQC

2 Talk Outline Areas subject to nutrient management strategies Evolution of rules over time Agriculture rule requirements Funding & resourcesAccounting methodsImplementation progress Department of Environmental Quality

3 Goals for Major NC Nutrient Strategies Department of Environmental Quality UNH LNH Haw Jordan Lower Upper Falls (Year) = baseline period on which goals are based Falls Lake (2006) Upper Lake Lower Lake 40% N, 77% P 20% N, 40% P Jordan Lake (1997-2001) Upper New HopeLower New HopeHaw River35% N, 5% P0% N, 0% P8% N, 5% P Neuse Neuse Basin (1991-1995)Basinwide30 % N Tar Basin (1991)Basinwide30 % N, 0% P Tar-Pamlico

4 Evolution of Rules Neuse & Tar rules: Wastewater Agriculture Buffer Protection & MitigationNutrient ManagementNew Developmentw/ nutrient offsets Department of Environmental Quality 1998 2001 2009 2011 Jordan, Falls rules add : New D all parties Existing Development Stormwater State & Fed Stormwater Trading

5 Agriculture Rules Overview Neuse, Tar-Pamlico, Falls, & Jordan North Carolina one of few states with Ag rules Rules developed through stakeholder process Collective compliance approachNo individual requirementsImplementation success measured on basin scaleLocal Advisory & Watershed Oversight CommitteesCreated to help farmers implement requirementsNo Regulatory AuthorityDevelop Local Strategies & Accounting ToolsSubmit Annual Reports Department of Environmental Quality

6 Limitations of Agriculture Rules Accounting doesn’t represent loading to stream Limited phosphorus & pasture accounting L ivestock management of CAFOs not addressedNeuse & Tar-Pam don’t address pastured livestock Department of Environmental Quality

7 Differences in Agriculture Rules Formation of LACs Neuse & Tar-Pam - required Falls - same LACs as NeuseJordan – conditionalFarmer registrationNeuse, Tar-Pam – Standard BMP optionFalls - Registration not implemented (not needed)Jordan - conditionalNutrient Management TrainingNeuse, Tar, Jordan Falls – not needed Department of Environmental Quality

8 Differences in Agriculture Rules (cont.) Phosphorus Accounting Tar-Pam, Jordan, and Falls only Pasture Point Accounting Jordan, and Falls onlyNeuse – not requiredNot implementable in Tar-PamFalls Stage II individual requirements Only if Stage I goals not met Department of Environmental Quality

9 Farmer Registration in The Neuse & Tar-Pam Registration Results Follow-up difficult without additional staff Department of Environmental Quality River Basin Year of Registration Producers Registered Acres Registered % Acres Registered Neuse 19993,449 849,250 acres75% Tar-Pam20012,421 658,640 acres80%

10 Nutrient Management Training – Neuse, Tar-Pam, Jordan Nutrient Management Training Training conducted by NC Cooperative Extension 4 hour training and certification program Online training offered in Jordan Department of Environmental Quality River Basin Year of Training No. of Training Sessions Applicators Trained Neuse2000 - 2001 171,850Tar-Pam 2005 -2006201,969Neuse / Tar-Pam 2007148Jordan20121950

11 How Does Agriculture Achieve Reductions? Implementing BMPs Reducing Fertilizer Application RatesCrop Shifts to Low Nitrogen CropsCropland ConversionDepartment of Environmental Quality

12 Creditable Falls Agriculture BMPs Implemented Department of Environmental Quality

13 Funding & Resources Funding is critical Staff necessary to collect field data for annual reports Supports BMP implementationInitial legislative funding for technicians10 technicians for data collection / BMP assistance 2 Coordinators to work w/ techs & reportingFunding has diminished over timeData collection now falls on single DSWC positionWorks directly with volunteer LACs Department of Environmental Quality

14 EPA 319 Grant Funding Support Department of Environmental Quality 319 Guidance Change SL 2011-394

15 EPA 319 Grant Funding Support (cont.) Department of Environmental Quality 319 Guidance Change SL 2011-394

16 Soil & Water Conservation Commission Cost Share Programs Department of Environmental Quality

17 Funding Reductions to Support Data Collection Department of Environmental Quality

18 Agriculture Accounting Methods Tracking Progress Cropland Nitrogen Loss: NLEW Tool Phosphorus Loss: Qualitative IndicatorsPasture Point AccountingDepartment of Environmental Quality

19 Cropland Nitrogen Accounting N Loss Estimation Worksheet (NLEW) Empirical Spreadsheet-based Model Estimates Nitrogen Loss from Cropland AgCompare baseline loss to current crop yearLoss estimates at county scale Data Collected AnnuallyNumber of acres / type of cropFertilization ratesBMPs implemented Department of Environmental Quality NLEW Inputs & Outputs

20 Phosphorus Accounting Method Developed by Joint Technical Committee EMC approved in 2005 Qualitative Indicator Trends 9 indicators qualitatively assess risk of P lossBaseline vs. Current Crop YearCharacterize changes in land use and managementDepartment of Environmental Quality

21 Pasture Point System Accounts for pasture activities Data: Pastureland, animal units, livestock densities Developed for Tar-Pam & revised for Jordan & Falls N “Point” Credit Values for BMPs BMPs: Buffer & Exclusion FencingCounty scale approachData compiled in Census of Agriculture 5yr reportsDepartment of Environmental Quality

22 Estimated N Loss Reductions & P Loss Risk Neuse, Tar-Pamlico, Falls, & Jordan Department of Environmental Quality River Basin Estimated N Loss Reduction (CY 2014) Phosphorus Loss Risk Neuse 46% N/ATar-Pam51%No Increase in riskFalls 46%No Increase in risk Jordan*LNH: 42%UNH: 29%Haw: 15% No Increase in risk* = Jordan estimated N Loss based on CY 2011 Estimated Cropland N Loss Reductions & P Loss RiskCropland N Loss Estimated with NLEW toolNLEW tool currently being updated

23 Summary NC rules provide innovative regulation of agriculture Agriculture meeting rule implementation requirements Accounting tool challengesFunding remains a critical need moving forwardDepartment of Environmental Quality

24 QUESTIONS? Department of Environmental Quality

25 Slides in Reserve Slides in Reserve Department of Environmental Quality

26 Oversight Committees (BOC &WOC) Representatives Division of Soil and Water Conservation US Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation ServiceNC Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services NC Cooperative Extension Division of Water Resources Environmental General Farming Equine Interest Pasture-Based Livestock Scientific Community Department of Environmental Quality

27 Funding Support (cont..) 319 Funding Department of Environmental Quality

28 Agriculture BMPs Credited in NLEW Department of Environmental Quality BMP % N ReductionBuffers (Width)20’20% 30’ 25% 50’ 30% 70’ 30% 100’35% Water Control Structures 40% Cover Crops Rye & Triticale15%Oats & Barley10%Wheat5%

29 Other Agriculture BMPs Not Currently Credited BMP Diversion Fencing (USDA Programs) Field BoarderGrassed WaterwayLivestock ExclusionSod Based RotationTillage ManagementTerraces Department of Environmental Quality These practices are not currently credited in NLEW but are believed to achieve nutrient reductions