Executive Summary
This study was
Research Triangle Institute for the North Carolina
Department of Environment, Health, and Natural Resources Division of
Environmental Management. The goal of the study has been to research and
develop cost-effectiveness estimates (expressed as $/kilogram of nutrient load
in North
reduced) for cost-shared agricultural best management practices
Carolina's Tar-Pamlico basin.
Specific objectives of the project were to
Calculate yearly costs for practices implemented in the Tar-Pa&co
1.
incorporating cost-share costs, farmer`s contributions, operation and
maintenance costs (O&M), area benefit-ted, and practice life expectancies
Research the effectiveness of cost-shared agricultural
in reducing
2.
surface and subsurface nutrient loads to surface waters relative to typical
preexisting practices
Where data permit, use the cost and effectiveness information to calculate
3.
cost-effectiveness for cost-shared
Results
BMP unit costs were calculated for the major cost-shared practices in the
Pamlico basin. These values were based on NC Division of Soil and Water
Conservation records and were adjusted to include farmer contributions, O&M
costs, area benefitted, and practice life expectancy.
A literature review was conducted to determine the most relevant studies on
which to base estimates of BMP effectiveness in the basin. Effectiveness data
specific to the Tar-Pamlico basin were available for animal waste management
practices and for water control structures. The effectiveness of conservation
practices was estimated based on results of the Chesapeake Bay
Watershed model for the Southeastern Plains and Middle Atlantic Coastal Plains
ecoregions. The effectiveness,@
practices was estimated based on the
combined results of two empirical studies in the Chesapeake basin. Vegetated
filter strip effectiveness was determined based on two other Chesapeake basin
studies that used filter strips of similar size to those cost-shared in the
Pamlico basin. For the remaining practices, only cost data are presented
because effectiveness data were not available.
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