In 2000, the Environmental Management Commission adopted a series of Administrative Rules to create a nutrient sensitive water (NSW) management strategy for the Tar-Pamlico River. The management strategy built upon the precedent-setting Neuse River Basin NSW strategy established three years earlier. The Tar-Pamlico NSW strategy's goal was to twofold: for sources to reduce the average annual load of nitrogen by a minimum of 30% of the average annual load from the baseline period (1991); and to not increase the average annual load of phosphorus delivered to the Pamlico Estuary from both point and non-point sources from the baseline period (1991). Mandatory nutrient controls were applied to address non-point source pollution in agriculture, urban stormwater, nutrient management, and riparian buffer protection.
Tar-Pamlico Agriculture Rule (15A NCAC 02B .0732)
The Tar-Pamlico NSW strategy consists of a series of Rules to address nutrient pollution from point and nonpoint source sectors. The Tar-Pamlico Agriculture Rule set a 30% reduction target from the nitrogen loading of the 1991 baseline year and a target for no net increase in phosphorous loss from agricultural lands from baseline (1991). A Basin Oversight Committee (BOC) and fourteen county Local Advisory Committees (LACs) were established to implement the Tar-Pamlico 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 strategy goals 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 2003, the agricultural community in the Tar-Pamlico River Basin has consistently met and exceeded the strategy's nutrient reduction and no net increase targets. The agricultural community continues to install best management practices to improve water quality and reduce nutrient loading to North Carolina's waterways throughout the Tar-Pamlico River Basin. Documentation on agriculture's continued work to meet the strategy goals is available in annual reports approved by the Tar-Pamlico BOC.
More information about the overall Tar-Pamlico NSW strategy can be found at DEQ's Nonpoint Source Planning Tar-Pamlico Nutrient Strategy webpage.
| Seat | Member |
| Division of Soil and Water Conservation | Allie Dinwiddie |
| Natural Resources Conservation Service (non-voting) | Bill Edwards |
| 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 | Jennifer Archambault, US Fish and Wildlife Service |
| Environmental Interest | Katey Zimmerman, Sound Rivers |
| General Farming Interest | Anne Coan, NC Farm Bureau Federation |
| Pasture-based Livestock Interest | Martha Mobley, Livestock Agent Franklin County |
| Basinwide Farming Interest | Tim Etheridge, 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,
- Tar-Pamlico Basin Association,
- 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