On December 11, 1997, the Environmental Management Commission adopted a series of Administrative Rules to create the nutrient sensitive water (NSW) management strategy for the Neuse River. The NSW strategy's goal was to reduce the average annual load of nitrogen delivered to the Neuse River Estuary by 2003 from both point and non-point source pollution by a minimum of 30% of the average annual load from the baseline period (1991- 1995). Mandatory nutrient controls were applied to address non-point source pollution in agriculture, urban stormwater, nutrient management, and riparian buffer protection.
Neuse Agriculture Rule (15A NCAC 02B .0712)
The Neuse NSW strategy consists of a series of Rules to address nutrient pollution from point and nonpoint source sectors. The Neuse Agriculture Rule set a 30% reduction from the nitrogen loading of the 1991-1995 baseline years. A Basin Oversight Committee (BOC) and seventeen county Local Advisory Committees (LACs) were established to implement the Neuse Agriculture Rule and to assist farmers with complying. At the outset of the Rule, farmers either signed up with their county's LAC to participate in the collective compliance option or individually implemented required standard best management practices. The collective compliance option set in Rule provides flexibility at the local level for implementing site-specific practices. Farmers in the basin can achieve the reduction goal collectively and LACs can guide reduction gains and water quality improvements by focusing on outreach and practice implementation in critical areas.
Since reporting began in 2001, the agricultural community in the Neuse River Basin has consistently met and exceeded the reduction target (30% reduction in nitrogen). The agricultural community continues to install best management practices to improve water quality and reduce nutrient loading to North Carolina's waterways throughout the Neuse River Basin. Documentation on agriculture's continued work to meet the reduction target is available in annual reports approved by the Neuse BOC.
More information about the overall Neuse NSW strategy can be found at DEQ's Nonpoint Source Planning Neuse 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 | Trish D'Arconte |
| Environmental Interest | George Matthis, River Guardian Foundation |
| Environmental Interest | Samantha Crop, Sound Rivers |
| General Farming Interest | Anne Coan, NC Farm Bureau Federation |
| General Farming Interest | Marlowe Ivey, Farmer |
| Scientific Community | Dr. Deanna Osmond, NC State University |
In North Carolina, a number of agencies are involved with agricultural nitrogen 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 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