World Resources Institute. Hypoxia: What is it? What causes It? The Dead Zone > Seasonally oxygen...

World Resources Institute

AWAKENING THE DEAD AWAKENING THE DEAD ZONEZONE

An Investment for Agriculture, Water Quality and Climate

Suzie Greenhalgh & Amanda Sauer

Hypoxia: What is it? What causes It?

The Dead Zone Seasonally oxygen depleted zone in the Gulf of

Mexico Mobile aquatic species leave the area Those that can’t leave die or are weakened

Primary Cause Nitrogen from the Mississippi River Basin


Setting the scene

Hypoxia: The Growing Problem

0

5,000

10,000

15,000

20,000

25,000

19

85

19

86

19

87

19

88

19

89

19

90

19

91

19

92

19

93

19

94

19

95

19

96

19

97

19

98

19

99

20

00

20

01

20

02

Siz

e (

km

2)

No Data

2015 Action Plan Goal

Source: N.N. Rabalais, R.E. Turner and W.J. Wiseman, Jr, 2002, LUMCON (unpulished data)


Setting the scene

Sources of Nitrogen?


50%

24%

15%

11%

fertilizer+mineralized soil organic N

atmospheric deposition, ground water discharge, soil erosion

animal manure

municipal and industrial point sources

Setting the scene

Where does the nitrogen come from?


Source: USGS, 2000

WRI Policy Research

Agricultural Policy Analysis

Fertilizer Tax on Nitrogen Extension of CRP Conservation Tillage Subsidy GHG Trading Nutrient Trading Nutrient Trading with GHG Payments


Setting the scene

Nitrogen delivered to the Gulf


-12

-10

-8

-6

-4

-2

0

Ch

ange

in N

del

iver

ed t

o G

ulf

(%

)

Tax NFertilizer

Conservation TillageSubsidy

CRPExtension

GHGTrading ($5/t C)

GHGTrading($14/t C)

N Trading with GHG Payments

NTrading

8mg/l@$2/lb

NTrading3mg/l

@$5/lb

PTrading1mg/l

@$5/lbP

Trading<1mg/l@$7/lb

Setting the scene

Farm Income


-4

-3

-2

-1

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

Ch

ange

in F

arm

In

com

e (%

)

Tax N Fertilizer

Conservation Tillage Subsidy

GHGTrading ($5/t C)

CRPExtension

GHG Trading ($14/t C)

N Trading with GHG payments

NTrading

8mg/l@$2/lb

NTrading

3mg/l@$5/lb

PTrading

1mg/l@$5/lb

PTrading<1mg/l@$7/lb

Setting the scene

Greenhouse Gas Emissions


-10

-8

-6

-4

-2

0

2

Ch

ange

in G

HG

Em

issi

ons

(%)

N FertilizerTax

ConservationTillageSubsidy

CRPExtension

GHGTrading($5/t C)

GHGTrading($14/t C)


NTrading

3mg/l@$5/lb

NTrading

8mg/l@$2/lb

PTrading

1mg/l@$5/lb


Setting the scene

Nitrogen Lost to Waterways


-8

-7

-6

-5

-4

-3

-2

-1

0

Ch

ange

in N

Los

t to

Wat

er (

%)

Tax NFertilizer


CRPExtension

GHGTrading($5/t C)

GHGTrading($14/t C)


NTrading

3mg/l@$5/lb

NTrading

8mg/l@$2/lb

PTrading

1mg/l@$5/lb


Setting the scene

Phosphorus Lost to Waterways


-8

-7

-6

-5

-4

-3

-2

-1

0

Ch

ange

in P

Los

t to

Wat

er (

%)

Tax NFertilizer


CRPExtension

GHGTrading($5/t C)

GHGTrading($14/t C)


NTrading3mg/l

@$5/lb

NTrading

8mg/l@$2/lb

PTrading

1mg/l@$5/lb


Setting the scene

Soil Erosion


-12

-10

-8

-6

-4

-2

0

Ch

an

ge

in E

rosi

on

(%

)

Tax N Fertilizer


CRPExtension

GHGTrading($5/t C)

GHGTrading($14/t C)


NTrading

3mg/l@$5/lb

NTrading

8mg/l@$2/lb

PTrading

1mg/l@$5/lb P

Trading<1mg/l@$7/lb

Setting the scene

Cost-Effectiveness


0

5

10

15

20

25

N ferttax

Cons TillSub

CRPExt.

GHGTrading

($5/t)

GHGTrading($14/t)

NTrading8mg @$2/lb

NTrading3mg @$5/lb

PTrading1mg @$5/lb

PTrading <1mg @

$7/lb

Co

st o

f N

red

uct

ion

s to

Gu

lf (

$/l

b)

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

400

450

500

N r

edu

ctio

ns

to G

ulf

(m

lb

s)

Cost N Reduction

N Trading with GHG payments

Setting the scene

Regional Impacts


WRI Findings

Findings Considering nitrogen delivery to the Gulf is important

Nutrient trading is the most cost-effective solution

Co-benefits are important


WRI Recommendations

Recommendations Establish and implement a N cap for Mississippi River Basin

Promote nutrient trading programs

Develop a coordinated and collaborative approach to watershed planning

Establish coordinated monitoring strategies


WRI Recommendations

RecommendationsFarm conservation spending should be targeted

Need to explore other opportunities to reduce GHG emissions

Develop strategy to address a suite of environmental problems NOT individual problems



AWAKENING THE DEAD AWAKENING THE DEAD ZONEZONE

An Investment for Agriculture, Water Quality and Climate

Suzie Greenhalgh & Amanda [email protected]

World Resources Institute. Hypoxia: What is it? What causes It? The Dead Zone > Seasonally oxygen...

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