90 likes | 188 Views
ECan approaches to managing nutrient losses to groundwater. Proposed Natural Resources Regional Plan. Land & water chapters notified – July 2004 3 objectives – numerical water quality outcomes Groundwater: Maintain high quality groundwater
E N D
Proposed Natural Resources Regional Plan • Land & water chapters notified – July 2004 • 3 objectives – numerical water quality outcomes • Groundwater: • Maintain high quality groundwater • < 2mg/L N above max. conc. measured between 1996 & 2001 & not exceed 11.3 N mg/L • Community water sources: < 5.6 N mg/L • A mix of methods • Regulation • Education • Investigations
Regulation • under the RMA – a hierarchy of controls through regional rules
Permitted Controlled Discretionary Non- Prohibited
Regulation • Regional rules – more stringent conditions, e.g. • discharge animal effluent to land • domestic wastewater systems • construction of bores • more activities covered by rules. e.g. • feed pads • effluent storage ponds • reticulated sewerage networks • apply to new activities commencing after date of plan notification • Review of existing resource consents • land discharges from processing plants
Reduction in nitrate leaching required Nitrate leaching concentration in soil drainage water (mgL-1 NO3-N) 16 Nutrient budget mandatory Best management practices required 8 0 No action required A new approach – controls on the use of land that may result in the discharge of nitrate into gw Threshold 2 Threshold 1
Nitrate leaching rule cont. • Landowner takes responsibility for managing nitrate leaching • Estimate average annual N03 loss below rooting zone for the property • Requires a nutrient management model • Comes into effect when plan is operative
Plan implementation issues – nitrate leaching rule • Promote the new rule • information on best management practices • workshops, e.g. farm advisors, farming groups • Compliance monitoring • which areas or land uses, and how often? • improving staff skills & knowledge • Nutrient management models • plan does not prescribe a specific model • ECan contributing to the development of a nutrient model for arable farming
Education and advocacy • Promote best management practices • Pasture management • Timing of cultivation • Nitrification inhibitors • Adoption of codes of practice • Whole-farm nutrient management systems • Work with landowners to improve groundwater quality