A Review of the Federal Clean Water Act and the Maryland Water Quality Improvement Act: The Rationale For Developing a Water And Nutrient Management Planning Process For Container Nursery And Greenhouse Operations

Abstract

Abstract Newly enforced provisions of the Federal Clean Water Act of 1972 and new state laws like the Maryland Water Quality Improvement Act of 1998 are forcing agriculture to develop effective procedures to show that they are not polluting our nation's water resources. Formulating a water and nutrient management process for nursery and greenhouse operations that takes both water and nutrient applications into account is very important. Many operations already have implemented improved management practices to conserve water and nutrients. For those operations that do not have these procedures in place, it will be necessary to find cost-effective ways to ensure that these operations can comply with laws, and document that they can effectively reduce the risk of nutrient movement from their operations to a minimum.