ADDRESSING AGRICULTURAL NUTRIENT DISCHARGES TO THE

LOWER ST. JOHNS RIVER

Terry Pride, FDACS Derek Busby, SJRWMD

February 27, 2014

PERSPECTIVE – BMAPS WITHIN THE

SJRWMD

Adopted and Pending BMAPs in the SJRWMD Region Upper Ocklawaha Orange Creek Long Branch Lower St. Johns Main Stem Lower St. Johns Tributaries ILake Jesup Lower St. Johns Tributaries II Lake Harney, Lake Monroe, Middle St. Johns River, Smith Canal Banana RiverNorth Indian River LagoonCentral Indian River LagoonWekiwa Springs and Wekiva RiverSilver SpringsRainbow Springs/River

Two FDACS field staff and two contracted staff cover the St. Johns River Water Management District region.

As of December 31, 2013, enrollment within the SJRWMD was more than 636,000 acres, including about 506,400 acres of cow/calf, 66,000 acres of citrus, and 36,000 acres of row crops.

LAND USE CATEGORY ESTIMATED ACRES

PASTURE 55,547ROW/FIELD/MIXED CROPS 42,546

SOD FARMS 4,678NURSERIES, TREE CROPS, FERNS, VINEYARDS, CITRUS

3,598

HORSE FARMS 3,145LIVESTOCK FEEDING, DAIRIES, SPECIALTY FARMS

1,767

TOTALS* 111,281*NOT ALL ACRES ARE ENROLLABLE

AGRICULTURAL LAND USE IN THE LSJR BASIN

The Legislature provided for agricultural operations to implement BMPs as the preferred means to help meet TMDLs and otherwise protect water quality [s. 403.067(7) and (12), F.S.].

AGRICULTURE’S ROLE IN WATER QUALITY PROTECTION

Agricultural operations within BMAP areas have two options:

Enroll in and implement FDACS BMPs.

ORFollow an FDEP- or WMD-prescribed water quality monitoring

plan at the producer’s own expense (complicated and costly).

Failure to do either could bring enforcement action by FDEP or the applicable WMD.

FDACS BMP ProgramsFocus is on Commercial Agricultural Operations

Citrus: Statewide manual adopted January 2013 (consolidated four regional programs and incorporated rest of state).Vegetable/Row Crop: Adopted 2005, under revision.Container Nursery: Adopted 2006, under revision.Sod: Adopted 2008.Cow/Calf: Adopted 2009.Specialty Fruit/Nut: Adopted 2011.Equine: Adopted 2011.Forestry: Long-standing program under the Florida Forest Service.Aquaculture: Division of Aquaculture Certification Program.

AGRICULTURAL BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES (BMPS)

BMPs are practical measures that reduce the amount of fertilizers, pesticides, animal waste, and other pollutants entering our water resources .

FDEP, WMDs, agriculture industry, university scientists, and others are involved in their development.

BMPs must be economically and technically feasible for the producer to implement.

• When funding is available, FDACS, SJRWMD, NRCS, and FDEP provide cost-share for some BMPs.

• Prime example is the Tri-County Agricultural Area (TCAA) Water Management Partnership - More on this later.

TYPES AND CATEGORIES OF BMPSBMP Types:Management BMPs - Such as nutrient and irrigation management, comprise the majority of practices and often are not readily observable. Generally affordable.

Structural BMPs - Involve the installation of structures or changes to the land. These BMPs include water control structures, fencing, and tailwater recovery systems, among others. Sometimes require cost share to be economically feasible.

Key BMP Categories:Nutrient ManagementIrrigation ManagementSedimentation and Erosion ControlWater Resources Protection

AGRICULTURAL BMP

ENROLLMENT IN THE LSJR BASIN

AGRICULTURAL BMP ENROLLMENT IN THE LSJR BASIN

LAND USE CATEGORY ESTIMATE

D ACREAGE

ENROLLEDACREAGE

REMAINING

ACREAGE

PASTURE 55,547 33,350 22,197

ROW/FIELD/MIXED CROPS 42,546 24,535 18,011

SOD FARMS 4,678 2,762 1,916

NURSERIES, TREE CROPS, FERNS, VINEYARDS, CITRUS

3,598 340 3,258

HORSE FARMS 3,145 37 3,108DAIRIES 1,070 0 1,070

LIVESTOCK FEEDING, SPECIALTY 697 0 697

NON-FORESTRY TOTALS 111,281 61,024 50,257FORESTRY 86,146

Within the TCAA, an area of concern, enrollment is 39,875 acres, or 70% of the TCAA acreage.

96%

4%

TCAA BMAP Projected Load Reduction Total Nitrogen (256,001 lbs/yr)

Ag in-field BMPs on 33,000 (100%) acres

Regional Stormwater Treatment

50%

4%

46%

Current TCAA Project Load Reduction Total Nitrogen

Ag in-field BMPs on 25,199 (76%) ac Regional Stormwater TreatmentUntreated

74%

26%

TCAA BMAP Projected Load Reduction Total Phosphorus (27,458 lbs/yr)

Ag in-field BMPs on 33,000 (100%) ac Regional Stormwater Treatment

24%

16%

60%

Current TCAA Project Load Reduction Total Phosphorus

Ag in-field BMPs on 25,199 (76%) ac Regional Stormwater Treatment

Untreated

Ag in-field BMPs on 25,199 (76%) ac - 24%

Regional Stormwater Treatment - 16%

Proposed Ag banding on 18,000 ac - 18%

Potential Drip Irrigationon 18,000 ac crop land -

122%

Treating Remaining TP Load (16,458 lbs/yr)

Ag in-field BMPs on 25,199 (76%) ac

50%

Regional Stormwater Treatment4%

Proposed Ag banding on

18,000 ac - 15%

PotentialDrip Irrigation on 18,000 ac

crop land- 49%

Treating Remaining TN Load (118,107 lbs/yr)

TRI-COUNTY AGRICULTURAL AREA (TCAA) WATER MANAGEMENT PARTNERSHIP

Informal Partnership Formed in 2011

Objective: To contribute to the improved health of the LSJR through on-farm and regional water management projects and practices that reduce the movement of nutrients to the river, improve water conservation, and result in more efficient farm management while maintaining the long-term viability of agriculture in the TCAA.

Provides funding, technical support, and educational opportunities to growers to refine farming methods and implement water management projects and practices that help meet the Partnership objective.

Intended to be perpetual, to foster ongoing collaboration among agencies and growers, using whatever resources are available.

TCAA WATER MANAGEMENT PARTNERSHIP

Coordinated by FDACS, participants include:

TCAA growers FDACSFDEPSJRWMDUSDA NRCSUF-IFAS

St. Johns CountyFloridan Resource Conservation and Development CouncilFlorida Farm BureauFlorida Fruit and Vegetable Association

TCAA WATER MANAGEMENT PARTNERSHIP

Funding to date:

Cost-Share Funding to Date

SJRWMD $2.25 million, with $750,000 of that dedicated to the purchase of fertilizer banding equipment.

FDACS $350,000 for equipment and projects.

FDEP

$400,000 for water quality monitoring on four projects (start date upcoming).

$1.9 million for additional banding equipment purchases and irrigation/water management projects.

NRCS $467,790 total program funds obligated for the TCAA since 2012.

Extensive technical support provided by UF-IFAS research and Extension staff.

TCAA WATER MANAGEMENT PARTNERSHIP

Funding to date:

Projects and PracticesCurrent Projects/Practices - Purchase of thirteen fertilizer banding machines approved, eleven purchased. Eleven irrigation projects approved; most completed and the rest under way:

• Subsurface drip irrigation on potatoes• Surface drip irrigation on potatoes• Irridrain on potatoes and sod• Overhead irrigation on sod, cabbage, and potatoes

Potential future project types:• Tailwater recovery• Regional water reuse• Regional wet detention

Demonstration days and other educational efforts stem from funded projects.

TCAA WATER MANAGEMENT PARTNERSHIP

Fertilizer Banding Equipment

TCAA WATER MANAGEMENT PARTNERSHIP

Installation of Subsurface Drip TapePhotos by Lincoln Zotarelli, UF-IFAS

TCAA WATER MANAGEMENT PARTNERSHIP

Overhead Irrigation on Sod with Fertigation

Installation of Irridrain System

BMP COMPLIANCE ASSISTANCE

In September 2013, FDACS did a broad mail-out (about 2,400 letters) to landowners who have property of 10 acres or more with a county agricultural tax classification, and to nurseries of all sizes.

Response was good, with more than 1,600 contacts via phone, postcard, or e-mail.

A large number of these properties are non-commercial agriculture of smaller acreages, largely planted pines with no fertilization or other active management.

BMP COMPLIANCE ASSISTANCE

Commercial operations responding to the letter are being enrolled in FDACS BMPs (both forestry and non-forestry).

The Florida Forest Service enrolled approximately 57,172 acres from September through December 2013, as a result of the mail-out.

The FDACS Office of Agricultural Water Policy enrolled approximately 7,627 acres in BMP programs during that time as a result of the mail-out.

Follow-up activities will intensify during the next 3-6 months.

FDACS also is increasing efforts to conduct follow-up visits.

BMP COMPLIANCE ASSISTANCE Land owners who did not respond to the FDACS letter have

received a “compliance assistance” letter from FDEP, urging them to contact FDACS to determine whether they need to enroll in BMPs.

For those who still do not respond after repeated attempts, FDEP will take enforcement action, with the ultimate goal of having them implement BMPs, or conduct water quality monitoring to demonstrate compliance with state water quality standards.

The overall response, though, indicates that most folks are ready and willing to cooperate.

Thank You!