Agenda - 08-30-2011 - 1b - Laserfiche WebLink

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Regional Nutrient Management Rules 16 August 2011 ^ 20 or more swine, not kept in a feedlot, or ^ 150 or more swine kept in a feedlot ^ 120 or more sheep ^ 130 or mote goats- ^ 6-50 or more turkeys ^ 3,500 or more-chickens ^ Any single species, or any combination of species, of livestock or poultry that exceeds 20,000 five pourds of live weight at any time. The Jordan Rules established a Watershed Oversight Committee (WOC). By 2012, the WOC is tasked with determining the ex#ent to which the N-contribution from agriculture has been reduced since-the baseline years of 1997-2001 through the implementation of various BMPs. If this nutrient reduction goad-(35~percent N-for Upper New Hope arm and 8 percent_ N fior Haw River arm) is not reachEd, then a Local Advisory Committee (LACE must be formed in each-county for each sub-watershed not meeting its goal -and all- agricultural operations are required to register_their farm with the LAC. In addition, each LAC wiN be given the task of "developing local strategies to guide irriplementation." Beginning in 2012, the LAC would also be-required to also start registering agricultural operations in-the watershed. By 201-5, the EMC will require additional -BMPs in watersheds that have not reached their N reduction targets as-well as their P reduction targets (5 percent for both the Upper New Hope and Haw River arms). Br Jordan Lake Implications The Jordan Lake WOC continues to work on figuring out the practical issues of how to actually implement the rules. The WOC submitted an accoLnting tool that was approved by the EMC's Water Quality Committee. Staff must now begin collecting information and determining the baseline n-utrient loading ftom each watershed. Using the information that will be submitted by-staff, in 2012 the WOC will announce which watersheds, if any, have not met their nutrient reduction goals. The WOC is also working to determine how much nutrient reduction credit will be gained for BMPs used in an agricultural setting. Registration of farm operations may also be required. If registration is required, staff is presently unsure how-all types of .agricultural operations (as defined in the rules) would be identified so that this requirement could be completed. Significant nutrient reductions are required from the Upper New Hope Creek sub-watershed, yet limited agricultural operations remain in this sub-watershed. Compliance with the needed nutrient reductions from the few remaining operations in this watershed may be difficult. In addition, information presented by DWQ at a recent WOC meeting seems to indicate that the additional buffers that could be required in the Jordan Rules may not produce the required nutrient reductions in the Upper New Hope Creek sub-watershed.