A summary of recommendations on practical steps to implement an ecosystem approach in the area of nonpoint source pollution control.
Adopt watershed or catchment as primary unit for management
All levels of government
Political boundaries; lack of understanding of hydrological systems and human alterations; lack of human and financial resources for watershed coordination
Develop watershed agreement (e.g. common vision, objectives, indicators, strategies, commitments); fund watershed coordinator; utilize volunteer monitoring; encourage storm drain stencilling and other outreach projects
Develop site-specific, non-regulatory, ecological assessments for landowners to identify unique ecological characteristics and mechanisms for protection and enhancement
Local land conservancy, in cooperation with landowners; Soil Conservation Services; Agricultural Extension Services; Conservation Authorities
Consistent funding; meaningful and long-term participation
Using successful "champion" peer landowner who has received added value to their property to help sell the program to other landowners; ensuring flexibility in plan development and implementation; Land Trusts raise money to protect critical areas; governments provide tax incentives or additional funds to ensure priority is given to protection of critical, high-value areas; use special assessments or purchase development rights to protect critical areas; establish donation programs where unique lands can be donated to a conservancy for protection; ensure broad-based education of economic and ecological benefits; encouraging farmers to donate development rights to ensure conservation of open space for future generations
Utilize a watershed inventory of critical high quality ecological areas to prioritize regulatory nonpoint source control actions to protect and enhance critical areas and connect them via corridors
All levels of government
Low priority for protection of high quality ecological areas and corridors (because agency priorities are often focussed on narrow mandates); concern for future economic viability of farms
States/Provinces should define what qualifies as high quality ecological areas and corridors; local units of government should designate high quality ecological areas and corridors; sewer service areas should not be extended into high quality ecological areas or through corridors; quantify environmental, ecological, and economic benefits of all projects
Link water infrastructure system planning with watershed planning, emphasizing secondary impacts of nonpoint source pollution
U.S. Drain Commissioners; municipal authorities in Canada; agencies responsible for Official Plans in Canada and Master Plans in U.S.
No mandate; multiple jurisdictions
Clear responsibility and authority for coordinated planning; adequate resources for coordinated planning
Develop whole farm plans for each landowner in the watershed to: provide adequate buffering and filtering capacity to trap nonpoint source pollutants, preserve habitat and ecology, maintain stream hydrology, and enhance economic viability (primary emphasis on economics)
U.S. Department of Agriculture - Soil Conservation Service; Cooperative Extension Service; Soil and Water Conservation Districts; Conservation Authorities
Consistent funding; meaningful and long-term participation; bureaucratic turf barriers
Quantify economic and ecological benefits from implementing whole farm plans; use successful "champion" peer farmer who has received added value to his/her property to help sell the program to other farmers; ensuring flexibility in plan development and implementation; ensure broad-based team approach to plan development which encourages partnerships and builds local capacity
Establish site-specific strategies, which place priority on long- term ecological and economic benefits, to reduce nonpoint source pesticide inputs
Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food; Conservation Authorities; U.S. Department of Agriculture - Soil Conservation Service; Cooperative Extension Services; Soil and Water Conservation Districts
Limited extent of government programs; private sector view of sales loss; low priority; limited education
Establish quantitative target for reduction in pesticide use (e.g. Ontario's 50% reduction target) to help elevate the priority; ensure that all farm plans include a commitment for reduction in pesticide use; implement "Pesticide Amnesty"/"Clean Sweep" Programs; increase private sector delivery of technical assistance programs; quantify long-term economic and ecological benefits achieved on demonstration farms (e.g. farms using integrated pest management) and communicate broadly throughout farming community
Implement a system of incentives and local ordinances, with strong enforcement capabilities, to address urban stormwater management (emphasis should be placed on maximizing both riparian habitat protection and nonpoint source controls)
All levels of government
Adequacy of habitat inventory and loadings data base; limited knowledge of system dynamics; insufficient regulatory tools and incentives; political boundaries
Place priority on quantifying nonpoint source loadings, ecological impacts, and mapping and modelling system dynamics; develop regulations which call for no net change in runoff volume or rate; limit impervious areas in newly developing urban areas to < 40% of watershed; develop local ordinances which address stormwater and habitat preservation and enhancement; provide greater financial incentives for programs which achieve both urban stormwater management and habitat protection and enhancement; greater emphasis on education of municipal managers, regulated community, and developers; quantify ecological and economic benefits of projects which simultaneously achieve urban stormwater control and habitat protection and enhancement (disseminate this information broadly)
Develop and implement illicit connection (cross-connection) programs for urban areas to eliminate connections from industries and commercial facilities to public storm sewer systems (these are designed to help communities bring older buildings up to code, to encourage safe handling and disposal of hazardous materials, and to control contaminants at their source)
County and city health departments, and city engineering departments, in cooperation with other local, state, and provincial agencies responsible for nonpoint source pollution
Inconsistent financial support; inconsistent compliance and enforcement; insufficient education of inspectors and business owners
In urban areas, connect government decision-makers to the resource by providing them with first-hand experiences on problems, potentials, projects, and benefits
Watershed councils; resource conservation districts
Single issue perspectives of government programs; lack of mandate; attitude of "we have always done it this way"
Educate and inform decision-makers of: successes, cost of not acting, bad examples, savings through preventive programs, etc.; utilize state-of-the-watershed events or other events/workshops to foster education, stewardship, and enlightened self-interest