Falls Reservoir Water Supply Nutrient Strategy Agriculture:
Local Advisory Committee Registration

Anyone who engages in agricultural operations in the Falls Lake Watershed, produces crops or horticulture products (excluding trees) primarily for financial profit, engages in research activities in support of commercial production or has:
• 5 or more horses
• 20 or more cattle
• 20 or more swine not in a feedlot
• 150 or more swine in a feedlot
• 120 or more sheep
• 130 or more goats
• 650 or more turkeys
• 3,500 or more chickens
• any combination that exceeds 20,000 pounds of live weight at anytime
All persons who are affected must register with the Local Advisory Committee starting in January 2011.

To register, click here.

Falls Lake Agricultural Rule
15A NCAC 2B Rule 0280

Establishes collective nitrogen and phosphorus reduction goals for agricultural operations in the watershed to be achieved in two stages.

Stage I establishes collective agricultural reduction goals of 20 percent nitrogen and 40 percent phosphorus must be achieved by 2021.

Stage II requires a reduction of 40 percent nitrogen and 77 percent phosphorus by 2036 and may also require buffering all cropland and excluding all pasture if agriculture does not meet Stage I goals.
 

PASTURE BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES (BMPS)
Several practices are available to help reduce nutrient runoff from pasture land. The two most commonly used best management practices are livestock exclusion fencing and buffers. Livestock exclusion fencing keeps animals out of waterways. When installing fencing, you should consider leaving at least a 20 foot buffer. This would give your farm reduction credit for the fence and an added reduction for the width of the buffer. Other companion practices to livestock exclusion include: wells, spring development, watering tanks, stream crossings, cross fencing, heavy use areas, prescribed grazing, livestock feeding areas and livestock trails.

CROPLAND BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES (BMPS)
Several practices are available to help reduce nutrient runoff from cropland. The most common best management practices for nitrogen reduction in the Falls Lake Watershed are buffers, nutrient scavenger crops and nutrient management. Other practices help prevent erosion and possibly reduce phosphorus runoff. These other practices include: grassed waterways, diversions, terraces, conservation tillage, rock-lined outlets, agricultural road repair, sod-based rotation, crop residue management, critical area planting, conservation cover and micro-irrigation systems.
 
Financial Assistance
There are cost share programs available to help install best management practices on your farm. These programs include the NC Agricultural Cost Share Program, the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) and Natural Resources Conservation Service programs such as the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP). Contact your local soil and water conservation district (SWCD) for further information.
Durham SWCD (919) 560-0558
Franklin SWCD (919) 496-3137, ext.3
Granville SWCD (919) 693-4603, ext.3
Orange SWCD (919) 245-2750
Person SWCD (336) 597-2973, ext.3
Wake SWCD (919) 250-1050