Evaluating agricultural nonpoint-source pollution programs in two Lake Erie tributaries

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Agricultural Economics
• Water Quality Management

Background:

• Lake Erie basin farmers have been encouraged by government programs to adopt practices reducing water pollution.
• State and federal agricultural pollution abatement programs have been implemented in the Maumee River and Sandusky River watersheds over the past three decades.

Purpose of the Study:

• To summarize state and federal agricultural pollution abatement programs in the Maumee and Sandusky River watersheds.
• To analyze expenditures, estimate total county expenditures, and assess the cost-effectiveness of program spending (cost per metric ton of soil saved).
• To evaluate the efficiency of incentive payment allocation for agricultural nonpoint source pollution abatement.

Main Methods:

• Summarization of government agricultural pollution abatement programs.
• Analysis of program expenditures and total county expenditures.
• Calculation of cost-effectiveness based on soil saved.

Main Results:

• Nearly $143 million in incentive payments were distributed to farmers in the Maumee and Sandusky River watersheds between 1987 and 1997, with 95% from federal sources.
• Average payments were approximately $7000 per farm or $30 per farm acre.
• Analysis indicates potential inefficiencies, with a majority of Agricultural Conservation Program (ACP) funds possibly spent on less cost-effective practices and funding disparities based on soil erosion rates.

Conclusions:

• The allocation of incentive payments for agricultural nonpoint source pollution abatement in the Lake Erie basin may not have been efficient.
• There is a need to re-evaluate program strategies to ensure cost-effective investments in water quality improvement.
• Geographic targeting of funds did not align with areas of greatest need based on soil erosion rates.