Cultivating Clean Water: report chronicles enforceable nonpoint source pollution programs

I've just spent three days in Des Moines, IA with a great group of people involved in the Mississippi River Basin Collaborative. As part of our discussion, we reviewed a brand new report of interest to those outside the Mississippi Basin, as well as inside. The report reviews, summarizes and compares enforceable, state-based controls on agricultural non-point sources of pollution.

Cultivating Clean Water was produced by staff at the Environmental Law and Policy Center with the input from members of the Collaborative. However, the analysis is not limited to the Mississippi Basin. Featured programs and regulations reach from Maryland to California. The report provides an overview of regulatory nonpoint source programs in seven states, and then compiles findings on a list of critical, common sense best management practices included in different regulatory programs including:

• Vegetative buffers
• Land application setbacks
• Winter manure application restrictions
• Livestock exclusion
• Fall fertilization

Western river lovers will find a lot of food for thought in the report, although only occasionally will you find mention of regulatory tools in the Intermountain West...not from a lack of research but from a lack of actual regulation. Again, food for thought for where the debate over clean water is headed generally, and how the West fits in. Or doesn't.