In 2008, the Environmental Management Commission adopted a series of Administrative Rules to create the nutrient sensitive water (NSW) management strategy for the water supply reservoir, Jordan Lake. The NSW strategy's goal was to reduce the average annual load of nitrogen and phosphorus from Jordan Lake subwatersheds to the reservoir from 1997- 2001 baseline levels. Mandatory nutrient controls were applied to address non-point source pollution in agriculture, urban stormwater, nutrient management, and riparian buffer protection. The Jordan Lake management strategy built upon strategies implemented in the Neuse and Tar-Pamlico River Basins.
Jordan Water Supply Agriculture Rule (15A NCAC 02B .0264)
The Jordan Water Supply Nutrient Strategy consists of a series of Rules to address nutrient pollution from point and nonpoint source sectors. The Strategy provides for a collective strategy for farmers to meet nitrogen and phosphorus loss reduction goals. The goals for this nutrient strategy are specified at the subwatershed level, and are compared to a 1997-2001 baseline period.
- Lower New Hope Subwatershed has a goal of no increase in nitrogen or phosphorus.
- Upper New Hope Subwatershed has a goal of 35% nitrogen loss reduction and 5% phosphorus reduction.
- Haw River Subwatershed has a goal of 8% nitrogen loss reduction and 5% phosphorus reduction.
A Watershed Oversight Committee (WOC) was established to implement the Agriculture Rule and to assist farmers with complying. An initial progress report cover Rule implementation was approved in August 2012. Collectively, all three subwatersheds are meeting nitrogen loss reduction targets. Phosphorus loss risk tracking in the full watershed indicates a decreased risk of phosphorus loss from agricultural lands from baseline (1997 - 2001). The agricultural community continues to install best management practices to improve water quality and reduce nutrient loading to North Carolina's waterways throughout the Jordan Lake watershed. Documentation on agriculture's continued work to meet reduction targets is available in annual reports approved by the Jordan Lake WOC.
More information about the overall Jordan Water Supply Nutrient Strategy can be found at DEQ's Nonpoint Source Planning Jordan Lake Nutrient Strategy webpage.
| Seat | Member |
| Division of Soil and Water Conservation | Allie Dinwiddie |
| Natural Resources Conservation Service (non-voting) | Olivia Plant |
| NC Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services | Dianne Farrer |
| NC Cooperative Extension Service | Dr. Erin Rivers, NC State University |
| Division of Water Resources | Ellie Rauh |
| Environmental Interest - resident | Dr. Janet MacFall, Piedmont Conservation Council |
| Environmental Interest | Emily Sutton, Haw River Assembly |
| Environmental Interest - resident | Gerald Featherstone, Haw River Assembly |
| General Farming Interest | Anne Coan, NC Farm Bureau Federation |
| Pasture-based Farming Interest | Barton Mitchell, Farmer |
| Equine Livestock Interest | Sue Gray, NC Horse Council |
| Cropland Farming Interest | Michael McPherson, Farmer |
| Scientific Community | Dr. Deanna Osmond, NC State University |
In North Carolina, a number of agencies are involved with agricultural nitrogen and phosphorus reduction planning including:
- Local Soil & Water Conservation Districts,
- NC Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services (NCDA&CS),
- NCDA&CS Division of Soil and Water Conservation,
- United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service,
- NC Cooperative Extension Service, and
- NC Department of Environmental Quality Division of Water Resources.
There are also several sources available for technical and financial assistance with agricultural nitrogen and phosphorus reduction planning and practice implementation. Those sources include:
- NC Agriculture Cost Share Program,
- Section 319 NPS Grant Program,
- NC Land and Water Fund,
- USDA programs such as Environmental Quality Incentives Program,
- Forestry Incentives Program, and
- Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program.
Allie Dinwiddie;
Nonpoint Source Planning Coordinator
(919)707-3795 (office) or (828)550-2104 (cell)
alexandra.dinwiddie@ncagr.gov