chapter 28 ag

Chapter 28
Agriculture and Water Quality

28.1 Impacted Streams in Agricultural Areas

Cultivated cropland was 16 (947,100 acres) percent of the land use in the Cape Fear River basin
in 1997. While still a large portion of the basin land use, this is 20 percent (1,177,000 acres) less
cultivated cropland than in 1982 (USDA-NRCS, 2001). In the Cape Fear River basin, there are
nearly 265 stream miles that may be impacted by agricultural activities. There are over 25
Impaired stream miles where agriculture is identified as a potential source of water quality
stressors. Impacts to water quality from agricultural sources may decrease over the next basin
cycle due to substantial increases in urban/built-up areas throughout the river basin.

2005 Recommendations
DWQ will identify streams where agricultural land use may be impacting water quality and
aquatic habitat. This information will be related to local Division of Soil and Water
Conservation and NRCS staff to investigate the agricultural impacts in these watersheds and to
recommend BMPs to reduce impacts. DWQ recommends that funding and technical support for
agricultural BMPs be continued and increased. Refer to Appendix VIII for agricultural nonpoint
source agency contact information.

28.2 Agricultural Best Management Practices Funding Opportunities
Fifty percent of the funding available for this program will be targeted at natural resource
concerns relating to livestock production. The program is carried out primarily in priority areas
that may be watersheds, regions or multi-state areas and for significant statewide natural resource
concerns that are outside of geographic priority areas. EQIP’s authorized budget of $1.3 billion
is prorated at $200 million per year through the year 2002.

NRCS district contacts for the Cape Fear River basin are provided in Appendix VIII or visit the
website at

28.2.1 USDA – NRCS Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP)

The Environmental Quality Incentives Program provides technical, educational and financial
assistance to eligible farmers to address soil, water and related natural resource concerns on their
lands in an environmentally beneficial and cost-effective manner. The program provides
assistance to farmers in complying with federal and state environmental laws and encourages
environmental enhancement. The purposes of the program are achieved through the
implementation of a conservation plan that includes structural, vegetative and land management
practices on eligible land. Five to 20-year contracts are made with eligible producers. Cost
share payments may be made to implement one or more eligible structural or vegetative practice,
such as animal waste management facilities, terraces, filter strips, tree planting and permanent
wildlife habitat. Incentive payments can be made to implement one or more land management
practices, such as nutrient management, pest management and grazing land management.

http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/eqip/ for more information.
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28.2.2 NC Agriculture Cost Share Program

The North Carolina Agriculture Cost Share Program (ACSP) was established in 1984 to help
reduce the sources of agricultural nonpoint source pollution to the state’s waters. The program
helps owners and renters of established agricultural operations improve their on-farm
management by using Best Management Practices (BMPs). These BMPs include vegetative,
structural or management systems that can improve the efficiency of farming operations while
reducing the potential for surface and groundwater pollution. The Agriculture Cost Share
Program is a voluntary program that reimburses farmers up to 75 percent of the cost of installing
an approved BMP. The program is implemented by the Division of Soil and Water Conservation
(DSWC). The cost share funds are paid to the farmer once the planned control measures and
technical specifications are completed. The annual statewide budget for BMP cost sharing is
approximately 6.9 million.

From 1998 to 2003, DSWC ACSP implemented nearly $5 million in practices to 1580 projects.
The practices have affected 65,586 acres, saved 251,451 tons of soil, 1.5 million pounds of
nitrogen and 425,130 pounds of phosphorus in the Cape Fear River basin. SWCD contacts for
the Cape Fear River basin are included in Appendix VIII or for more information, visit the
website at http://www.enr.state.nc.us/DSWC/pages/agcostshareprogram.html.

28.2.3 Agricultural Sediment Initiative

In 2000, the NC Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts and the NC Soil and
Water Conservation Commission initiated an effort to assess stream channels and watersheds of
streams on the state’s 2000 303(d) list due to sediment where agriculture was included as a
potential source. The primary objective of the Agricultural Sediment Initiative was to evaluate
303(d) listed waters in order to assess the severity of sedimentation associated with agricultural
activities within the watershed and to develop local strategies for addressing sedimentation. The
initiative involved 47 Impaired stream segments in 34 counties and 11 river basins.

In 2001, the Soil and Water Conservation Commission allocated additional Agriculture Cost
Share Funds to districts to address agricultural sediment. Table 29 summarizes the results of the
completed Agricultural Sediment Surveys for five watersheds in three counties in the Cape Fear
River basin. District staff requested approximately $2,840,000 for restoration and protection
work in two of the watersheds.

Table 29 Summary of Agricultural Sediment Initiative Surveys

Stream County Problems
Identified
Funds Requested
by District
Cropland erosion, urban development, impervious
surface, road construction, streambank erosion,
deforestation
Guilford/ Haw River $1,200,000 Alamance
Little Troublesome
Creek
Streambank erosion, urban development, unpaved
roads, cropland erosion Rockingham $160,000
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