Alyssa Charney, Policy Specialist at the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition, addressed the importance of Farm Bill conservation programs. She also discussed how these conservation efforts affect a wide array of stakeholders as well as their roles in protecting the health of wetlands.
Kelly Warner, a Hydrologist with the U.S. Geological Survey, discussed methods for tracking and monitoring nutrients within the Mississippi River Basin. She emphasized the importance of water quality monitoring to strategies to reduce nutrient pollution.
Jeff Boeckler, Co-Founder of Northwater Consulting International, offered his perspective as a private sector consultant by highlighting examples of costly removal of nitrates from drinking water and the impact of federal cut-backs to relevant programs. He emphasized that the nutrient problem will not go away on its own, and that although progress is being made, continued support of conservation programs and water monitoring is necessary to maintain momentum.
In addition, Northeast-Midwest Institute staff presented an overview of its ongoing study: "Connecting Nutrient Loading in the Mississippi River to Drinking Water Treatment Costs". The study will quantify the effects of nutrient pollution in the Upper Mississippi River Basin to drinking water treatment costs, and will be used to inform reauthorization of the Farm Bill in 2018.
Ankita Mandelia, Policy Analyst at Northeast-Midwest Institute, gave an overview of NEMWI's project, "Connecting Nutrient Loading in the Mississippi River to Drinking Water Treatment Costs". She discussed the project objective, method, and expected outcome.
Joseph Vukovich, Senior Policy Analyst at Northeast Midwest Institute discussed the policy implications of "Connecting Nutrient Loading in the Mississippi River to Drinking Water Treatment Costs", including implications for the upcoming Farm Bill's conservation title.
