What is the Clean Water Act and how does it relate to agriculture?

The Clean Water Act (CWA) is a piece of federal legislation aimed at protecting the quality of water in the United States. The Act provides the Environmental Protection Agency with the authority to set water quality standards and to regulate the discharge of pollutants into waters of the United States, including streams, lakes, and wetlands. The CWA is important to agriculture because the Act requires people practicing certain types of farming activities to obtain a permit from the EPA to discharge any pollutants (such as fertilizers, pesticides, and manure) into any body of water. The CWA is also important to Delaware agriculture because Delaware has specific water quality standards set by its Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC). In particular, Delaware has adopted the Chesapeake Bay Total Maximum Daily Load Program (TMDL), which uses the CWA to manage nutrients, sediment, and other pollutants that flow into the Chesapeake Bay from rural and urban areas. The TMDL sets limits on the amounts of nitrogen, phosphorus, and sediment that can be discharged into the Bay, and these limits must be met in order for agriculture in Delaware to remain in compliance with the CWA. In addition, the CWA allows for the development of Best Management Practices (BMPs) to minimize the environmental impact of agricultural operations. BMPs are strategies that Farmers use to prevent or reduce pollutants from entering waterways and provide an important tool for protecting the environment while still allowing for productive agriculture operations. As a result, Delaware farmers are encouraged to adopt and use BMPs to help ensure clean water and healthy ecosystems.

What is the Clean Water Act and how does it relate to agriculture?

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