Regulating Agricultural Derived N at a River Basin Scale: Neuse River

American Society of Agronomy Symposium: Charlotte, NC. Nov 2001

Due to massive fish kills, the discovery of pfiesteria, and public perception of declining water quality, the North Carolina Environmental Management Commission (the environmental rule-making body for the state of North Carolina) drafted rules to reduce nitrogen in the Neuse River by 30%. The rules were drafted in 1996, after which they went through public hearing and revisions for two years. The rules – generally referred to as the Neuse Rules - were finalized and went into effect May 1998. The rules state that by May 2003, nitrogen delivered to the Neuse Estuary must be reduced by 30%.

Reductions must occur from both point and nonpoint sources and buffers must be maintained. Information on the specific rules can be found at the following web sites.

  1. Buffers (http://h2o.enr.state.nc.us/nps/cheat-s3.htm)

  2. Point sources (http://h2o.enr.state.nc.us/nps/pt-sourc.htm)

  3. Nonpoint sources


The Neuse Rules have been in affect for 3 ½ years. During this time, a federally mandated total maximum daily load has also been added on top of the rules that are already in affect. For those of us working with the agricultural sector, we have learned much about implementing these types of rules. The purpose of this symposium, Regulating Agricultural Derived N at a River Basin Scale: Neuse River, was to present lessons learned about working with the communities affected by these nonpoint source abatement rules.

Below you will find information from the speakers, including power point presentations delivered during the session, as well as supporting information.

The first presentation was given by Dr. Hans Paerl of UNC-Chapel Hill who has been monitoring water quality in the Albermarle-Pamlico Sound and the Neuse Estuary for over 20 years. He described the deteriorating water quality conditions and discussed continuing research that is being conducted in the Neuse Estuary.

  1. Neuse Estuary and Water Quality: Hans Paerl, University of Chapel Hill (http://www.marine.unc.edu/Paerllab)

The next speaker, Lin Xu, described the Neuse Rules, particularly the agricultural rule that affects all producers in the Neuse River Basin.

  1. Regulating the Neuse River Basin: Lin Xu, NC Department of Environment and Natural Resources - Div. Water Quality

Environmental groups were very persuasive stakeholders in getting legislators to be attentive to the massive algal blooms and fish kills that were occurring in the Neuse Estuary. Marion Smith discussed the environmental groups' responses. Ms. Smith has served both as the Executive Director of the Neuse River Foundation as well as the Governor's liaison for Eastern North Carolina.

  1. Environmental Group Perspective: Marion Smith, Environmental Consultant.

The Neuse Rule making process took two years, during which time affected parties had a chance for input. Jim Cummings described the concerns of the agricultural community and the changes to the Neuse Rules producers were able to bring.

  1. Farm Group Perspective: Jim Cummings, North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Science

Nutrient management training has been a very important component of the Neuse Rules. Anyone who applies fertilizer to 50 acres or more must either have a nutrient management plan or attend nutrient management. In the state of North Carolina, we have been working on mandatory nutrient management planning since 1993. Dr. Steve Hodges presented the history of nutrient management planning and training in North Carolina during the past 10 years.

  1. Nutrient Management Training: Steve Hodges, NCSU - Department of Soil Science

One aspect of the Neuse Rules that is significantly different than other watershed programs is the agricultural N tracking tool required under the Neuse Rules. An interagency group designed and built a tool that meets all the requirements of the Neuse tracking tool rule. Dr. Osmond presented the tool and discussed lessons learned.

  1. N Loss Assessment Tool (NLEW): Deanna Osmond, NCSU – Department of Soil Science

The urban sector has its own rule. An active educational program has been developed by NC Cooperative Extension Service to work with county and city personnel as they attempt to meet their own nitrogen reduction goals through stormwater management. Bill Lord, a member of the Neuse Education Team – a 10-member team that works with all the sectors in the Neuse Basin – described the urban educational program. (http://www.neuse.ncsu.edu)

  1. A balanced approach: Urban Education: Bill Lord, NC Cooperative Extension Service – Franklin County (http://www.bae.ncsu.edu/people/faculty/hunt/)

The major educational program in the Neuse Basin for the agricultural sector is the Neuse Crop Management Project, funded by Pew Charitable Trust and USEPA through the Center for Agricultural Partnerships. Dr. David Hardy, project manager, discussed the project activities. (http://www.neuse.ncsu.edu/ncmp/)

  1. Neuse Crop Management Project: David Hardy, NCSU- Department of Soil Science