Targeting Criteria for Croplands Subject to the 2005 Nutrient Management Performance Standard Rationale

As of Jan. 1, 2005, the nutrient management performance standard, as written in NR 151.07(4), applies to watersheds containing Impaired, Outstanding or Exceptional Resource Waters, or Source Water Protection Areas. Because resources to address nutrient management are limited, the criteria listed below provide an option to target time and money at highest priority fields within these areas. The option presented here places the highest priority on water quality management areas (WQMAs) of agricultural land subject to the 2005 nutrient management performance standard. It is a concept that is consistent with other performance standards. Note that these highest priority cropland areas are not the only areas requiring management by January 2005 under the nonpoint rules; they are simply a reasonable place to start given a shortage of financial and technical resources.

Criteria for Highest Priority Areas

Croplands in the following areas are considered to be highest priority for meeting the January 1, 2005 date for compliance with s. NR 151.07, Wis. Adm. Code:

1. Any cropland located within the surface water quality management area (WQMA) of an Outstanding Resource Water (ORW), an Exceptional Resource Water (ERW) or a water identified on the 303(d) list as either fully or partially impaired due to nitrogen or phosphorus. The water quality management area is the area within 300 feet of a river and 1,000 feet of a lake.
2. Cropland in ORW/ERW/303(d) drainage areas that may be outside the WQMA but fall within a special protection area.
3. Cropland that discharges significant amounts of nutrients to 1. - 3. above.
4. Source water protection areas defined in NR 243.03(29), including protection areas for surface water and groundwater drinking water sources.

Location Information

DNR will provide:

1. Lists of ORWs and ERWs; waters on the 303(d) list that are fully or partially impaired by nonpoint sources, and a searchable list of surface and groundwater source water protection areas.

2. Maps of ORWs, ERWs, and 303(d) waters that can be used as a general location guide. Maps are also available for surface water source water protection areas (same links as 1. above). General mapping of groundwater source water areas may not be prepared because of homeland security issues. Information about which cropland is within a source water area can be obtained for restricted use by contacting staff in Bureau of Drinking and Groundwater (listed below).

3. Data files (shape files) that can be adapted to use with county GIS systems.

DNR Mapping Application

ORW, ERW, and Impaired/303(d) Waters.

DNR is working on a mapping application for external users. When this application is fully functional in early to mid-2005, users will be able to display water resource and other layers including the following: ORW, ERW and Impaired/303(d) Waters. The nutrient impaired waters would include any nonpoint source impacted or mixed impacted waters that are indicated to be impaired due to either phosphorus or nitrogen. The mapping application will identify where these target areas are located, but will not be detailed enough to identify fields for conservation planning. Identification of affected cropped fields will be determined by county LCD staff as part of farm planning.

Source water areas for drinking water systems using surface water.

These watershed areas have already been mapped by the Bureau of Drinking and Groundwater.

Source water areas for drinking water systems using groundwater.

These will not be included on the maps or in the database. County LCD staff may request this information by filling out the Info Request form [PDF 9KB] and sending/e-mailing it to the following Bureau of Drinking Water and Groundwater contacts:

• Primary Contact: Amy Ihlenfeldt, Amy Ihlenfeldt, 608-266-2955
• Backup Contact: Jeff Helmuth, Jeffrey Helmuth, 608-266-5234

If the request is approved, these staff can help with the requested information.