Brief Summary of Minutes of Annual Meeting

On January 25 and 26, the Northeast Pasture Consortium held its annual meeting at the Century House in Latham, NY. This Consortium is a group of farmers, Land Grant University (LGU) researchers, Extension specialists, Agricultural Research Service (ARS) and Natural Resources Conservation Ser-vice (NRCS) personnel, and agribusiness professionals devoted to promoting pasture-based research, education, and technical assistance to help grassland and pasture-based farmers remain environmen-tally sustainable and economically viable throughout the northeastern US. The annual meeting hosts a number of current pasture research findings (technical) sessions and busi-ness sessions and USDA agency reports. During the business sessions research priorities are discussed in the light of new developments needing research to answer. USDA programs and policies in support of pasture-based farms are reviewed to ensure they are moving forward, meet the needs of pasture-based agriculture, and are sufficiently funded. The first technical session was about nutrient management on pastures. Three speakers were featured: Dr. Quirine Ketterings - Cornell University, Mr. Paul Cerosaletti - Cornell Cooperative Extension, and Dr. Edward Rayburn - West Virginia University. Whole farm nutrient balancing and precision feed management are instrumental in reducing excess soil nitrogen and phosphorus on dairy farms. Excess feeding of protein and phosphorus in dairy rations leads to soil build-up of nitrogen and phosphorus. Only a small portion of the imported nitrogen and phosphorus fed to the dairy stock as home grown or purchased feed leaves the farm in the milk or meat. The excess soil nitrogen and phosphorus can be lost to surface and ground water creating water quality problems locally and further downstream. Pastures vary considerably in soil nutrient content due to livestock lingering in certain locations for prolonged periods of time, such as at hay bunks, water troughs, shade, and at gates. Therefore, if tak-ing pasture soil samples for nutrient analysis to get fertilizer recommendations, it is best to do grid sampling that is geo-referenced (precision soil sampling). Five soil cores are taken within a 12-foot radius at each sampling point. Fertilizer and lime then can be variably rate applied with the proper equipment so that the nutrient hot spots are given less or no fertilizer and the deficient areas more. It is also very important to sample pastures at shallow depths since all the fertilizer spread, either by grazing animal or equipment, is currently surface applied unless the pasture is tilled for replanting and the fertilizers are incorporated then. Permanent pastures should be soil sampled to a 2-inch depth only because of this. Sampling at greater depths can greatly understate the nutrient concentrations found in the upper 2 inches of the soil. This can lead to erroneously higher rates of recommended nutrients; that if applied, will only heighten surface soil nutrient concentrations. This can cause shallow rooted grasses, grass tetany in cattle, and increased nutrient concentrations in runoff water from these pastures. The second technical session was devoted to the Pastureland Conservation Effects Assessment Program (CEAP). Dr. Howard Skinner and Dr. Sarah Goslee of Agriculture Research Service, University Park, PA gave the presentations. Pastureland CEAP is devoted to finding out what we do know and what we do not know, and then, fill those research gaps with new knowledge. Farms are a part of the landscape and watersheds. Grazing Land CEAP is attempting to understand the broader consequences of on-farm decisions and provide information to farmers so that they make decisions that are not only advan-tageous to themselves and their families but to the landscape and watersheds they reside in. A recent literature review has been done and is nearing publication on Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) pastureland conservation practices - Prescribed Grazing; Pasture, Hay, and Biomass Planting; Nutrient Management; and Forage Harvest Management. Dr. Jerry Nelson, University of Missouri, has led a team of investigators doing the literature review. This review delves into the adequacy of the science supporting each practice's design criteria and the purposes it is used for to protect the environment from degradation while meeting pasture productivity needs and the nutritional needs of the livestock grazing it. CEAP also is inventorying the Nation's pastures. In 2011, 20 states across the US were doing pasture inventories. In the Northeast, the states participating were Vermont, Massa-chusetts, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia. For the first time, plant species composition of pastures is being collected on a nation-wide basis. CEAP will also do on-farm research and use those results in simulation models to scale up to regional effects. CEAP will also look into climate change and how that will effect pasture productivity and shifts in plant species abundance and composition. The third session dealt with the grass species and variety grazing trial results from coordinated plot trials conducted at the University of Massachusetts, University of Vermont, and ARS, University Park. Dr. Sarah Goslee led off this session talking about plant species diversity in pastures and its impact on productivity, nutritive value, resistance to weed invasion, and economics. Dry matter yield per acre tended to increase as plant species diversity went from just 2-species, to 6-species pastures. Yield per acre was particularly better in a dry year on species diverse pastures versus 2 plant species pastures. This was due to better and deeper root distribution in the soil when deeper rooted plant species were in the plant mixture. Milk production per animal was no different on plant species diverse pastures than on a 2-species pasture. However, owing to the diverse species pastures being more productive, more milk was produced per acre on more diverse plant species pastures - 7000 pounds per acre versus 4700 pounds per acre on a 2-plant species pasture. Weed invasion was much less when plant species mix-tures approached 7 to 9 species. More research is needed to determine what forage plant species com-binations are best over a wide variety of soil and climatic conditions. Dr. Stephen Herbert was the next speaker. In his presentation, plant species diversity tended to increase pasture productivity until a 5-species mixture was reached over the 4 years of the study, only in 2011 did the 6 and 7-species mix-tures continue to add tonnage to forage yield on average. Within mixtures having the same number of species, there was a broad range of yield that would overlap with yields from mixtures having fewer or more species. Therefore, the varieties and species selected to compose a planting blend were of great importance to yield performance. Extend orchardgrass tended to be the best of the orchardgrasses in Massachusetts for yield, but this was not observed in either PA or VT. Perennial ryegrass was susceptible to winter injury. In summary in Massachusetts, based on yield and four-year revenue stream (long term), Blend 13, a 6-species mix performed best. It was composed of Extend orchardgrass, Boost perennial ryegrass, Select and Summit tall fescue, Slezanka timothy, Kentucky bluegrass, and FSG 9601 red clover. Dr. Sid Bosworth presented the Vermont plot trial results done on a heavy clay soil with a high water table. Five varieties of Festulolium were badly damaged in winter by white mold. It recovered but was weak in late May compared to other grasses growing in adjacent plots. Perennial ryegrass tend to pro-duce well the first year, but yielded much less and inconsistently, varying from 5 percent of total dry matter yield to 35 percent depending on variety the following years. Species diversity tended to im-prove dry matter production and suppress weeds the first year. However, by the second year as volun-teer grasses and broadleaf weeds invaded, the more diverse mixture yielded less than the 2- species mixture even though the planted grass in both mixtures had declined significantly. The invading grasses gave the 2-species seeded mixture (now more diverse, no longer a 2-species sward) the edge in yield over the 3-4 species and 5-6 species seeded mixtures. The diverse species mixtures continued to suppress weedy grasses and broadleaf weeds and therefore were less productive than the 2-species mix when the grassy weeds and broadleaf weeds were included in the total yield of all mixtures. Pastures as they naturalize tend to drift towards higher diversity from simple seeded mixtures. The fourth technical session featured organic farming methods of seeding and managing pastures. Sarah Flack was the first speaker and went over recent amendments to the National Organic Program of USDA pasture rules for organic dairies. The main elements to the amendments are: Recognizes pasture as a crop. Producers must manage pastures and other outdoor access areas in a manner that does not put soil or water quality at risk. Producers must establish a functioning management plan for pasture and incorporate the pasture management plan into their organic system plan (OSP). Producers must provide ruminants over 6 months of age with pasture throughout the grazing season at their geographic location and outdoor access during the non-grazing season. Grazing season will be 120 to 365 days. Ensure ruminants derive not less than an average of 30 percent of their dry matter intake (DMI) from pasture during the grazing season. Detailed records must be maintained to keep organic certification intact. They include an OSP  Organic System Plan, which is filled out annually, and dry matter intake records & grazing records. These records are needed to pass the annual inspection. The job of the inspector is to verify management is as stated in the OSP. Mr. J. Keith Waldron, IPM Coordinator, Cornell Extension, talked about fly management on organic dairy pastures. Potential arthropod related losses of 5 percent for a 65-cow dairy herd can mean an annual loss of $11,050 in income. Keith said the 3 major flies of pastured cows were face, horn, and stable flies. Each are found on a unique part of the cow. Face flies, as the name implies, are on the cow's face. Horn flies are found in large numbers on the backs of cows. Stable flies concentrate on the lower legs. The elements of pasture fly management as an integrated approach is to: correctly identify key pests, know their biology and habitat to know when and how to control them, monitor their numbers and assess if it is time to control them, and then use the control tactics that are available. Control tactics are: Cultural, Mechanical, Biological, and Chemical. On organic pastures, there are various fly traps that are available that work to catch different flies. Dr. Heather Darby of the University of Vermont was the final speaker of this session. She took a soil health approach to producing healthy organic pastures. She explained that soil health is the ability of a soil to provide a physical, chemical, and biological environment for the plant that is health sustaining. Nutrient cycling in the soil is highly dependent on an active and diverse community of microbes. These microbes are dependent on abundant active organic matter for food and shelter. These microbes, once the soil temperature rises above 500 F., feed on this organic matter releasing nitrogen tied up in it. This nitrogen then is available for plant uptake. This organic matter also helps glue soil particles to-gether so the soil becomes granular and able to take up water readily, be well aerated, and resist com-paction by cattle hooves. Soil compaction in pastures can be a problem. It can cause forage yield loss, nitrogen loss through denitrification, and higher precipitation runoff due to a lack of soil porosity. Tap rooted crops, such as forage radish, can help break up soil compaction. Key-line plowing can also break up soil compaction. Nutrient distribution on pastures can be greatly enhanced by rotational stocking cattle on paddocks compared to set stocking them on a much larger pasture (curtails selective grazing and use of permanent camp sites, such as at water and shade). Frost crack seeding of legumes and perennial ryegrass can be a good way to renovate organic pastures. The percent of seeds that germ-inate and grow is low but good stands are possible if seeded at recommended rates. Legumes that are inoculated with rhizobium bacteria add nitrogen to the soil for grass uptake. Off-farm manures and non-synthetic fertilizers, such as rock phosphate and green sand (potassium), can be used to improve soil fertility in organic pastures. The last technical session was held on the morning of January 26. This session was about silvopasture opportunities in the Northeast. Mr. Brett Chedzoy from Cornell Cooperative Extension and Dr. Jim Neel from ARS at Beaver, WV (closing ARS research unit due to ARS budget cuts) spoke about thinning out hardwood forest stands so that enough light reached the soil surface to grow grass. Orchardgrass does very well in hardwood silvopasture being a shade tolerant grass (hence its name). Brett said that it is much easier to introduce grass into a thinned forest stand than it is to introduce trees into a pasture (loss of or severe damage to seedlings and saplings by livestock). New biomass and fuel wood markets have created a commercial outlet for the low quality wood harvested from the thinning operation. There are also some new clearing machinery, such as the Pecon brush eater, to make it easier to prepare the silvopasture site for grass seedings. The Beaver, WV ARS research unit had worked on silvopasture for 12 years. Dr. Jim Neel said it improves summertime grass growth. However, silvopasture under hardwoods produces only 60 percent of the grass growth of open pasture, but the grass is of higher quality. The shade offered by the trees decreases the amount of time animals linger at waterers. Tree diameter at breast height (DBH) should range from about 50 to 65 feet/acre to help ensure grass stand longevity and maximize productivity. Adequate light penetration is a must to avoid grasses that are too high in protein and too low in energy. This results in decreased livestock intake and performance, and possibly animal loss due to nitrate poisoning (high nitrates). When adequate light penetrates the tree canopy, animal performance in a silvopasture is similar to open pasture, with lambs achieving 0.20 lb ADG under the ARS management scheme. Water quality im-proved under silvopasture with reduced nitrate in soil leachate, increased movement of fecal organisms into the soil that reduced runoff contamination, and dissolved organic matter more readily leached to the soil/bedrock interface rather than leaving via runoff water. The last presenter was Dr. Rachel Gilker for Mr. Matt Burke, owner of Bloomfield Farm. Matt is planting hedgerows around his pastures to create barriers to keep livestock in, predators out, and to reduce wind exposure. They can also provide browse. Hawthorne is a very good hedge species. Other good species are rugosa and swamp rose, black locust, and seaberry. All hedge species need protection until they have established and matured to hedge height. To finish off this session with a counterpoint solution to silvopasture, Rachel gave a presentation on "Reclaiming Forest Land for Pasture" authored by Mr. George van Vlaanderen, owner of Does Leap Farm near Bakersfield, VT. George uses goats and hogs to eat brush and root up existing vegetation roots. The farm produces goat cheese and kefir. They have work horses to do the farm work and move logs from areas being cleared of trees. Marginal forestland is converted to pasture to expand his livestock operation. For acreage larger than 10 acres, it is best to have a logger clear the land with a feller-buncher and grapple skidder. A chipper can clean up branches and brushy material and the chips sold to a biomass buyer, such as Burlington Electric. Once cleared of trees and slash, keys to converting former forestland to pasture are addition of organic matter, animal impact by rooting and treading, frost seeding, fertilization, and multi-species grazing of the established seeding. Over-wintering animals on the cleared ground and feeding them hay at high density stocking rate incorporates organic matter into the forest soil. Multi-species grazing does these specific things: Small ruminants control stump sprouts and forbs, second class grass eaters such as horses or heifers graze the pasture forages, and pigs control ferns and other undesirables by rooting them up to eat them. On the evening of January 25, the Producer Showcase session was held. Mr. Bob Richardson, owner of Rocky Acres Farm, presented his dairy farm operation in a presentation called Greening of Rocky Acres. The farm is in central Massachusetts on a high ridge. His herd is made up of black and red Hol-steins and Brown Swiss. Dry large round bales are stored in a shed. A $10,000 shed pays for itself in 10 years as dry matter loss from a round bale can cost $5 in lost feed. Forage samples are taken to check magnesium and calcium levels to balance them in the ration fed to the cows. Protein runs about 14% on pastures. Corn meal is used to keep milk urea nitrogen levels in the 12-15 range. When the dairy cows are on pasture 15 pounds of grain per cow per day or less is fed along with some dry hay. The pastures tend have a good white clover content with some red clover. The grass is primarily orchardgrass. Cows are turned into a paddock when the forage is 8 inches tall. Bedstraw is present in the pastures, but the cows will eat it when it is young. The seasonal cowherd is calved in March and April to fit lactation curve to the growth curve of the pasture forages. The calf pasture is kept close to the farm house because coyote predation is a big danger. Wild turkeys follow calves and cows on pasture to work on the dung pats for food. Electric fences are solar powered. Plastic pipelines are used to convey water to waterers in each paddock. Water is pumped from 2 ponds. Multiflora rose is a problem. It is rotary mowed and spot sprayed with an herbicide. Bob has used the Grassland Reserve Program of NRCS to build perimeter fences and watering systems. He also is using that program to reclaim stony, brushy land and turn it into pasture. Bob and Martha bottle raw milk and sell it by the half gallon or gallon. They are licensed by Massachusetts to do so. They were the eighth farm in the State to be licensed. The bottled raw milk is sold within 24 hours of being produced. Bob was followed by Mr. Morgan Hartman, owner of Black Queen Angus Farm in eastern Renssellaer County, NY. Morgan produces 100 percent grass-fed beef and also sells Angus breeding stock. Grass-fed steers are slaughtered at 22 months of age with good marbling but yield a smaller cut than grain-fed animals. Cows needed for the grass-fed markets are ones of moderate size with good disposition and easy fleshing. They also should have the volume and capacity to eat pasture forages, well-formed udders and teats, be structurally sound, and long-lived. This cow can overwinter on stockpiled forage, hay, and snow most winters, losing up to 200 pounds of weight and still produce a calf and rebreed. Morgan is a believer in line breeding to get a good herd of cattle for producing grass-fed beef. Line breeding is done by breeding the same bull to daughter and granddaughter in a closed herd. 12.5% in-breeding is ideal. Further than that and in-bred regression begins taking place. The Wye Angus herd in Maryland is a closed herd with in-breeding at 11.5%. The Trask Polled Hereford herd at Clemson University is intensely line-bred and their steers range from high choice to prime on grass only. In two breakout sessions, the Private Sector (farmers and agribusiness people) revised Consortium pasture research priorities, produced a resolution asking the NRCS to cost-share perimeter fences on where cropland was being converted to pasture under the Environmental Quality Incentive Program (EQIP), produced another resolution asking NRCS to fund the pastureland National Resource Inventory in 2012 when they found out it was being cut from the reduced 2012 budget, and reconstituted the Stakeholder Action Committee. Orchardgrass die-off was also raised as a concern. In their two breakout sessions, the Public Sector sought ways to fund the Consortium in 2012 as ARS's budget is extremely tight due to a budget cut and the expense associated with closure of ten ARS research units and the cost of relocating their employees to other surviving research units. ARS has underwritten the Consortium since 1996, but will not be able to in all likelihood this fiscal year. The Public Sector also discussed the issue of cost-sharing of perimeter fences in EQIP. In the Northeast, it is a needed incentive to get landuse conversion from cropland to pasture. Often times from an environmental standpoint, the more marginal cropland being converted to pasture would greatly improve water quality and reduce soil erosion to near zero. Another issue raised was the die-out of orchardgrass in the Mid-Atlantic states of Maryland, Virginia, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia. This grass species is a very important component of many Northeast pastures. It is getting more susceptible to insect and disease attacks. The underlying cause is unknown. During the Reports session, Bob Richardson, Private Sector Co-Chair Elect and Rob DeClue, Public Sector Co-Chair Elect gave each sector's report to the whole Consortium. Bob announced that the Private Sector had nominated Don Wild and Ken Miller to replace Clyde Bailey, whose term had expired, and Angus Johnson, who had to step down due to health reasons. Eric Noel was nominated to Chair the Stakeholder Action Committee. Rob reviewed the Public Sector's ideas for continued funding of the Consortium. This included asking member land grant Cooperative Extensions each to donate $1000 to $2000. Submitting a Conservation Innovation Grant (CIG) proposal to do pasture outreach work. Gathering agribusiness support was another idea. Depending on the level of funding, a less costly place to hold the annual meeting/conference was offered as a measure to reduce expenses. Dr. Jim Dobrowolski, National Program Leader for Rangeland and Grassland Ecosystems, was the first USDA agency person to speak representing the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). Jim said that China is fast catching up to the US in agricultural research spending. In the US, more research and development funding is done by the food industry than the agricultural industry. He asked that we get researchable items to him concerning pastureland issues. He then went over different grant programs where the Consortium could apply for funding. NIFA tends to favor large projects that will have big impacts. The SARE grant program, the AFRI Foundational Program priority areas - plant health or animal health, the Rangeland Research Program, Beginning Farmer and Rancher Develop-ment Program, and the Organic Agriculture Research and Extension Initiative were mentioned as possible funding vehicles. Currently, NIFA is led by Acting Director Chavonda Jacobs-Young. In place of the ARS agency report, Mr. Bob Wagner from the New England Farmers Union, gave a presentation on their carbon credits program funded by a Conservation Innovation Grant. The New England Farmers Union seeks to be an aggregator of farms applying for carbon credits. For an individual farm, it would not be profitable to apply as an individual, because the fees to get annual carbon audits and verifications would exceed the return an individual farmer would get in payment for the farm's carbon credits. Bob gave an example on how carbon credits are earned and expensed out on a farm switching from total confinement to a pastured cow dairy. Mr. Dennis Thompson, National Rangeland and Grazing Lands Ecologist, gave the NRCS report by speaker phone. Both ARS and NRCS have severe travel restrictions so their National leaders could not travel to Latham. Dr. Jeff Steiner of ARS was called away to meet with the Department of Energy at his scheduled speaking time. Dennis had with him Mr. Mark Rose who administers EQIP. The peri-meter fencing policy was still under review for cost-share assistance under EQIP. They were aware of the Consortium's concerns about it not being cost-shared for land use conversion from cropland to pasture. Dennis also conveyed his concern that the pastureland NRI was not funded for 2012. Pasture-land CEAP could also be in jeopardy due to the contraction of funding to NRCS in 2012. The Business Meeting followed the Reports Session. Jill Ott, Public Sector Co-Chair and Rachel Gil-ker, Private Sector Co-Chair presided over it. Margaret Smith, Administrative Advisor to the Consortium, spoke about the land grant universities' agricultural experiment stations that are funded through NIFA. Our Consortium is a project of the Northeast Agricultural Experiment Station Directors Association. Their Coordinating Committee re-newed the Consortium for another 5 years recently as a project of theirs. It commenced on October 1, 2011. Each year we file a report to them describing our accomplishments and impacts. Jim Cropper, Executive Director, writes this report. Angus Johnson, a long-time farmer member of the Consortium and Chair of the Stakeholder Action Committee since 2007, was honored with a meritorious service award plaque. This was given to him by Rachel Gilker, Private Sector Co-Chair. Angus thanked everyone for this honor and said he had grown close to many members over the years. He regretted that he had to leave to take care of his health. He had worked hard to promote the Consortium in Washington DC and in the Northeast Region, and the pasture consortium concept to the Southeast US. The new Private Sector members to the Consortium Executive Committee were introduced to the whole membership, Ken Miller from Massachusetts and Don Wild from New York. Ken Miller would serve as a liaison for the Stakeholder Action Committee (Angus Johnson's seat) on the Executive Committee. Don Wild would serve as the Private Sector member-at-large. The Public Sector did not nominate a member-at-large to the Consortium to replace outgoing member, Dr. Stephen Herbert. Jim Cropper upon not hearing any nominations from the floor said that he would get in touch with Dr. Andre Brito of UNH to see if he would agree to succeed Dr. Herbert. This would maintain a land grant university researcher on the Executive Committee. Dr. Brito subsequently in February agreed to serve on the Executive Committee. Two resolutions were passed by the Consortium members. Support of EQIP payment for perimeter fencing was the first resolution brought before the Consortium. Clyde Bailey moved to approve the resolution and send it to NRCS for their consideration. Angus Johnson seconded the motion. Discussion on wording changes ensued and after those changes were made, the Consortium unan-imously passed the resolution. The second resolution was in support of the NRCS Pastureland National Resource Inventory continuing to be gathered in 2012 and beyond. Lawrason Sayre moved to approve the resolution and send it to NRCS for their consideration. Clyde Bailey seconded the motion. Discussion of this resolution revolved around the threat to discontinue gathering inventory data in 2012 due to budget cuts. The consensus of the Consortium was that if this did occur, it would cause a loss in data collection acumen and set the whole data collection effort on a downward spiral to non-completion that would severely hamper the Conservation Effects Assessment Program to assess the environmental state of the pastureland landuse. Less than half of the Country is currently involved in the data collection to begin with. The resolution was passed unanimously by the Consortium membership. Mr. Clyde Bailey would hand deliver them to Dr. David White, Chief of NRCS, at the National Association of Conservation Districts Annual Meeting the following week. The two resolutions were signed by Bob Richardson, Co-Chair of Private Sector on the Executive Committee and by Rob DeClue, Co-Chair of the Public Sector on the Executive Committee at the end of the Business Meeting. Jim Cropper announced the co-chairs for 2012. They are Mr. Bob Richardson, Private Sector Co-Chair, and Mr. Rob DeClue, Public Sector Co-Chair. Jim thanked Mr. Clyde Bailey, Private Sector Past Co-Chair and Dr. Stephen Herbert, Public Sector Past Co-Chair, for their work on the Executive Committee and their continued support as members of the Consortium. This concluded the annual meeting and it was adjourned.

Email sent to USDA Secretary of Agriculture, Tom Vilsack, opposing Agricultural Marketing Service entering the food safety regulation arena. The Food Safety Bill was passed and signed into law last December. AMS was not the agency designated to do food safety work, FDA was. AMS has no one on staff to do food safety regulatory oversight. Support letter for Dr. Andre Brito for seed grant money from the Agriculture & Food Research Initiative for a project called, Towards Sustainable Food, Fuel, and Forests in New England. Review and comment on May 9th meeting of the Chesapeake Bay Program's Agricultural Water Quality Team. This meeting involved a detailed discussion on how to model different nutrients inputs and losses in the Bay Computer Model. There were a couple of oversimplifications that could lead to erroneous results. Sent email alert to Private Sector members from the Crop Science Society of America about the 2011 National Organic Certification Cost Share Program. This provides cost share assistance to people tooling up for organic certification and expenses incurred by organic producers associated with continuing organic certification inspections by a USDA accredited certifying agent. It pays up to 75% of those costs not to exceed $750 per year. Review and comment on National Academy of Sciences Report on the Chesapeake Bay Program's progress. I used the Water Quality Goal Team's response form in Microsoft Excel format to make comments concerning the findings and some of the WQ Goal Teams responses to those findings. Rural septic systems is one area where improvement is needed and has largely been ignored. Some townships and counties do a lot to enforce good design and maintenance while others do nothing at all. Urban runoff concerns seem centered around lawn runoff which is nil while ignoring sewage treatment plant overflows during intense storms when sewer inflow is too great for the treatment plant to handle due to storm water entering the system from several sources, some intentional while others due to poor design or maintenance.