CHOICES

CHOICES

A publication of AAEA

A publication of AAEA
Innovations in Nonpoint Source Pollution Policy

Innovations in Nonpoint Source Pollution Policy

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Theme Overview: Innovations in Nonpoint Source Pollution Policy

John B. Braden and Kevin J. Boyle

Vexing water quality challenges remain, particularly those due to the management of land. This issue of Choices reflects on innovative approaches to addressing "nonpoint sources" of pollution.

Addressing Death by a Thousand Cuts: Legal and Policy Innovations to Address Nonpoint Source Runoff

Lara B. Fowler, Matthew B. Royer, and Jamison E. Colburn

While successful at addressing point source pollution, the U.S. Clean Water Act is limited in addressing nonpoint source pollution sources such as agricultural runoff and stormwater. To address this, tools ranging from regulatory total maximum daily loads (TMDLs) to voluntary water quality trading are being implemented, with mixed results to date.

State Level Efforts to Regulate Agricultural Sources of Water Quality Impairment

Catherine L. Kling

States have historically relied on voluntary adoption of conservation practices to address poor water quality in agricultural watersheds. However, some states have adopted regulations to address these problems. Examples of these regulations are provided, including a novel set of regulations adopted by Florida in the Everglades Agricultural Area.

Local Innovations in Water Protection: Experiments with Economic Incentives

Lisa A. Wainger and James S. Shortle

The ineffectiveness of agricultural policies for reducing water quality impairments has prompted governments and others to experiment with new approaches. We examine innovations that make use of economic tools to engage the agricultural sector in nutrient and sediment control, including some types of water quality trading and novel incentives.

Integrated Modeling for Conservation Policy Support

Silvia Secchi

The integration of biophysical science and socioeconomic analysis is crucial to good program design. The scope of U.S. conservation has increased, and there may be trade-offs between some policy goals. Integrated modeling quantifies such trade-offs, and helps assess the activities, payments schemes, and benefits that policies can achieve.

A Tale of Many Cities: Using Low-Impact Development to Reduce Urban Water Pollution

Amy W. Ando and Noelwah R. Netusil

Low-impact development (LID) is used in many urban areas to reduce urban water pollution. LID can cost less than conventional approaches while generating additional benefits. Optimal policy design should consider all of the benefits and costs from LID, administrative challenges, financing, and how citizens are involved in achieving program success.

U.S. Coastal and Estuarine Stormwater Management Approaches

Sara Aminzadeh, Linwood Pendleton, Sean Bothwell, Amy Pickle, and Alexandria B. Boehm

Many state and local governments are initiating new policies to change behavior and address polluted runoff impacts to coastal and estuarine areas. This paper surveys success and challenges of pollutant trading programs, rebate retrofits, land acquisition programs, and source control measures.

Innovations in Nonpoint Source Pollution Policy-European Perspectives

Jussi Lankoski and Markku Ollikainen

In the EU nutrient pollution from agriculture is addressed through farm income support policies coupled with environmental cross-compliance, environmental regulations, and agri-environmental payments. Despite implementation of multiple policy instruments agriculture has remained a major source of both nitrogen and phosphorus pollution. Hence, there is a need for more spatially targeted and tailored policies, such as conservation auctions and performance-based payments.