Maryland Revised Nutrient Management Regulations

      Category:  Regulatory Approaches
      Policy Type:  Environmental Standards
      Sector:  Agriculture
      Region:  North America
      Country:  United States
      Description: Revised Nutrient Management Regulations in Maryland (United States) modify how a farm's nutrient management plan is developed and implemented and change the way organic nutrient sources and other materials are managed. As required by the revised regulations, organic nutrient sources must be incorporated into the soil within 48 hours of application to achieve maximum water quality benefits, except for hay and pasture acres and highly erodible conditions. The regulations also limit fall nitrogen applications for small grains if soil nitrate levels test greater than 10 ppm for wheat or 15 ppm for barley and call for cover crops to be planted when organic nutrient sources are applied in the fall. Beginning January 1, 2014, farmers are required to establish a 35 ft. setback for fertilizer applications adjacent to surface waters and streams.
      Outcome:  The requirements of Maryland's Revised Nutrient Management Regulations which will be phased in over the next several years will help Maryland meet nutrient reduction goals outlined in its Watershed Implementation Plan (WIP) for the Chesapeake Bay.

      Reference:  Maryland's Revised Nutrient Management Regulations

      Maryland Stormwater Management Act

      Category:  Regulatory Approaches
      Policy Type:  Environmental Standards
      Sector:  Urban
      Region:  North America
      Country:  United States
      Description: The Stormwater Management Act of 2007 in Maryland (United States) requires that developers implement environmental site design (ESD) to the maximum extent practicable through the use of nonstructural best management practices and other better site design techniques. ESD relies on integrating site design, natural hydrology, and smaller controls to capture and treat runoff.
      Outcome:  The Maryland Stormwater Management Act of 2007 aims to mitigate stormwater runoff and maximize infiltration which helps prevent nutrient losses.

      Reference:  Maryland's Stormwater Management Act

      Mississippi River Basin Healthy Watersheds Initiative (MRBI)

      Category:  Price-Based Instruments; Environmental Outreach & Education
      Policy Type:  Subsidies, Grants & Incentive Payments; Technical Assistance
      Sector:  Agriculture
      Region:  North America
      Country:  United States
      Description: The purpose of the Mississippi River Basin Healthy Watersheds Initiative (MRBI) is to improve the health of the Mississippi River basin which was identified as a national priority due to high levels of nutrient pollution. Through MRBI, the U.G99S. Department of Agriculture's Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) offers farmers in priority watersheds financial and technical assistance to voluntarily implement conservation practices that improve water quality. The priority watersheds are identified by NRCS according to water quality data, nutrient reduction strategies, monitoring efforts, and other factors. Interested participants develop locally driven targeted sub-watershed projects within the priority areas. Preference for funding is given to projects that use a systems approach to implementing conservation practices which avoid, control, and trap nutrients and that plan to monitor results at the edge of field, in stream, and at the watershed outlet.
      Outcome:  The MBRI helps to reduce the impact of nutrient loading on the health of local water bodies, and eventually, the Gulf of Mexico. The conservation practices contribute to optimizing nitrogen and phosphorus use efficiency in agricultural fields, minimizing nutrient and water runoff and improving soil health.

      Reference:  Mississippi River Basin Healthy Watersheds Initiative (US)

      Montana Legacy Project

      Category:  Ecosystem Restoration & Protection; Institutions and Capacity
      Policy Type:  Land Purchases; Partnerships
      Sector:  Mixed
      Region:  North America
      Country:  United States
      Description: In 2008, the Nature Conservancy in Montana (United States), along with its partner, The Trust for Public Land, has purchased more 310,000 acres of private forest land from the Plum Creek Timber Company (NYSE:PCL) for US$510 million. The purchase is part of an effort to keep these forests in productive timber management and protect the area's clean water and abundant fish and wildlife habitat.
      Outcome:  The Montana Legacy Project recognizes the land's intrinsic, natural value and its role in the economic sustenance for rural communities.

      Reference:  Montana Legacy Project (US)

      Moreton Bay Nutrient Trading Scheme

      Category:  Market-Based Instruments
      Policy Type:  Regulatory Environmental Markets
      Sector:  Mixed
      Region:  Oceania
      Country:  Australia
      Description: The Moreton Bay Nutrient Trading Scheme in Queensland of Australia aims to dramatically reduce the amount of nitrogen and phosphorus being discharged into Moreton Bay. This nutrient trading scheme set effluent caps for nutrient emitters. The organizations with low treatment costs have the incentives to reduce their own effluent beyond legal requirements, generate a credit from the surplus reductions and sell these credits to dischargers with higher treatment costs.
      Outcome:  Projections show the Moreton Bay cap and trade program will result in reductions of 19% for nitrogen and 50% for phosphorus entering Moreton Bay by 2026.

      Reference:  Moreton Bay Nutrient Trading Scheme (Australia)