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Measuring Phosphorus Release in Laboratory Microcosms for Water Quality Assessment
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Modeling a phosphorus credit trading program in an agricultural watershed
Juliana Corrales1, G Melodie Naja2, Mahadev G Bhat3
1Department of Earth and Environment, Florida International University, 11200 SW 8th St. Miami, FL 33174, United States; Science Department, Everglades Foundation, 18001 Old Cutler Road, Suite 625, Palmetto Bay, FL 33157, United States.
Journal of Environmental Management
|June 8, 2014
Summary
Implementing a phosphorus credit trading program in Florida
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Agricultural Economics
- Water Resource Management
Background:
- Agricultural runoff significantly impacts water quality, particularly total phosphorus (TP) in watersheds like Lake Okeechobee.
- Understanding the sources and economic implications of TP pollution is crucial for effective environmental management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the economic and environmental benefits of a phosphorus credit trading program.
- To compare Least-Cost Abatement with Command-and-Control approaches for TP reduction.
Main Methods:
- Integrated water quality and economic modeling.
- Quantified TP loadings from various agricultural and urban sources.
- Simulated a 30% TP reduction cap and analyzed credit trading scenarios.
Main Results:
- Agriculture accounts for nearly 95% of TP loadings, with only 1.2% from urban sources.
- A Least-Cost Abatement approach offered a 27% cost saving ($1.3 million/year) compared to Command-and-Control.
- An optimal credit price was estimated at $179, with 81% of available credits traded.
Conclusions:
- Phosphorus credit trading presents a cost-effective strategy for improving water quality in agricultural watersheds.
- The model provides a transferable methodology for evaluating trading programs for various contaminants and management practices.
