Number: 2012-06
WHEREAS, nitrogen pollution from tile drainage has been shown to play a significant role in causing algae blooms which cause hypoxic death zones in major ecosystems, disrupting wildlife within and dependent upon such ecosystems; negatively impacting outdoor recreation opportunities, fishing industries, property values, and Americans’ enjoyment of natural spaces; and
WHEREAS, the Mississippi River/Gulf of Mexico Watershed Nutrient Task Force, consisting of five federal agencies and 12 states and tribes within the Mississippi/Atchafalaya River Basin, has recommended a minimum of 20% reduction in Mississippi riverine nitrogen loads to effectively reduce the size of hypoxic zone in the Gulf; and
WHEREAS, in the upper Mississippi River Basin alone 90% of nitrogen loads are currently unregulated, mainly because the Environmental Protection Agency views tile outlets as runoff instead of point sources; and
WHEREAS, tile drainage has been shown to increase delivery of nitrogen to waterways, increasing algae blooms and hypoxia in numerous bodies of water including the Gulf of Mexico and expansion of tile lines to uncropped acres presents an increase in nitrogen delivery to water bodies; and
WHEREAS, the expansion of tile drainage is a significant factor in the direct and indirect loss of wetlands to conversion to agricultural use and the reduced habitat value of remaining wetlands through limiting water recharge of wetlands; and
WHEREAS, the loss of wetlands, combined with the increased base flow caused by tile drainage, has led to reduced flood mitigation capacity, resulting in increased number and severity of floods, causing increasing damage to property and increased risk to human lives; and
WHEREAS, cover crops, conservation tillage, and other agricultural production practices have been shown to help farmers manage water without negatively impacting wetlands or increasing river base flows, and in some cases increase crop production;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the National Wildlife Federation, at its annual meeting convened May 18-20, 2012, in Shepherdstown, West Virginia, calls on the Administration and Congress to:
1. Require full enforcement of the wetland conservation provisions (Swampbuster) section 1221 of the Food Security Act (Farm Bill) of 1985 as amended, which prohibits farm program benefits to any farmers who have converted wetland acres not converted prior to 1985 to agricultural production, and to expand conservation compliance requirements to all Farm Bill program benefits, including crop insurance.
2. Require effective setbacks of new, replacement or reconditioned tile lines and tile line surface inlets from wetlands or from significant hydrologic recharge areas of wetlands.
3. Encourage all federal and state agencies to exercise their authority to the full extent of the law to address tile pollution.
4. Conduct a thorough analysis of the hydrologic impact of broad application across watersheds of tile drainage and drainage water management control structures. If such studies show significant hydrologic impact, then government agencies must require water control structures on all new, replacement, or reconditioned tile lines as well as a prescriptive management regimen to ensure their effective use to achieve water and nutrient management results.
5. Declare that water retention areas, including biofilters or other similar structures, created to temporarily store or filter water removed via tile lines and/or water control structures may not be built in naturally occurring wetlands nor classified as wetlands or be construed as wetlands and therefore should not qualify in wetland mitigation programs.
6. Require USDA to provide education to agricultural producers on alternative water control options such as cover crops and tillage management techniques.
7. Require USDA to review all policies and programs relating to tile drainage and consider impacts to wildlife, water management, and water quality to determine the most appropriate strategies to manage water while protecting natural resources and down gradient communities from adverse impacts.