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American Rivers, Environmental Defense, and Restore America's
Estuaries today called on Congress, when it renews farm programs
this fall, to reward farmers who help save America's most polluted
bays.
According to a new report by the groups, Bringing Dead Zones
Back to Life: How Congress, Farmers and Feedlot Operators Can Save
America's Most Polluted Bays, agricultural runoff is the leading
threat to 13 of the nation's 17 most polluted bays. The report finds
that most farmers are rejected when they seek federal help to clean
up polluted bays.
Agriculture contributes one-third or more of the pollutants that
cause low-oxygen dead zones in many of the nation's most polluted
bays, as well as contributing to toxic algae blooms and the loss of
bay grasses that provide critical habitat for fish and crabs.
The bays primarily impacted by agricultural runoff include the
Laguna Madre (TX), Northern Gulf of Mexico (LA), Neuse River (NC),
Delaware Inland Bays (DE), San Francisco Bay (CA), Corpus Christi
Bay (TX), Baffin Bay (TX), Tijuana Bay (CA), Potomac River (MD, VA),
Chesapeake Bay (MD, PA, VA), Patuxent River (MD), Lake Pontchartrain
(LA), Newport Bay (CA), Calcasieu Lake (LA), Barnegat Bay (NJ), and
Florida Bay (FL).
"Most farmers and feedlot operators are willing to do their part
to clean up America's most polluted bays, but they are repeatedly
rejected when they seek federal help," said Environmental Defense
water resource specialist Scott Faber. "Congress should reward
farmers when they take steps to clean up our bays."
By triggering the growth of algae, polluted runoff contributes to
low-oxygen "dead zones" and blocks the sunlight needed by bay
grasses. Polluted runoff also reduces food supplies for fisheries
and makes red tides occur more often and last longer. Agricultural
runoff can be reduced by techniques such as targeted fertilizer and
manure applications, installing buffers and wetlands to filter
runoff, and tillage practices that reduce erosion.
"Many farmers are willing to take action to reduce farmland
runoff, but 70% of the farmers who seek federal water quality grants
to implement these practices are rejected due to inadequate federal
funds," said Jeff Stein, Mississippi Regional Representative for
American Rivers.
The groups urged Congress to support H.R. 2375, the Working Lands
Stewardship Act championed by Reps. Ron Kind (D-WI) and Wayne
Gilchrest (R-MD), which provides more than $6 billion in annual
funding to farmers who help reduce polluted runoff and restore
wetlands.
### Environmental Defense, a leading national
nonprofit organization based in New York, represents more than
300,000 members. Since 1967 we have linked science, economics, and
law to create innovative, equitable, and cost-effective solutions to
the most urgent environmental problems. | 
