Nutrient Load Modeling and Nutrient Reductions
This summary of CAST (the pollution reduction model that EPA uses to guide decision-making in the watershed) can be found under the larger umbrella course called Clean Water Coordinator Training Academy. This section of the webinar discusses what CAST is at a high-level, how the model functions, and how it’s used to produce Bay goals.
This webinar is from 2020 and overviews CAST. It would be good to understand the principles behind the model. This will help explain why BMP reporting and verification is important.
The following sections are required viewing for this webinar:
(6:30-23:00) Overview and summary of CAST
(49:00-51:30) Inputs to the model that may affect milestone updates and progress reporting that the county sees.
(1:05:00-1:11:00) Discusses how influential the ag census and animal populations as well as change in crop types, etc. are in affecting nutrient loading in the model between CAST versions in different years. It also discusses some effective BMPs to deal with nutrient loading coming from these sources. This section also covers CAST Updates and how they may affect communication of reductions to counties.
This document list the various best management practices that the Chesapeake Bay Program has approved for nutrient reduction planning purposes. The guide lists the practices, how the practice functions within the watershed model, what is needed for the practice to be reported for annual progress submissions, and additional information. The guide gives an understanding of nutrient reduction considerations relevant to various practices.
This document provides many frequently asked questions that relate to Best Management Practice (BMP) reporting in PracticeKeeper as well as explanations on BMP reverification. Please refer to this document BEFORE contacting your Project Advisor to see if the question has already been addressed.
This short document gives CAP Coordinators an idea on what kind of information from other partners/programs is already set up for reporting and inclusion into nutrient reductions progress for the county. It also explains how data collection and tracking works within the Phase 3 WIP Process (ignore FieldDoc references – all CAP-funded practices are now reported in PracticeKeeper). The last page also provides a helpful reminder on how counties annually report their progress.
Note: The PA Clean Water Tool is referenced in this document. This tool is not functional. Progress reporting each year is distributed to the counties for their review prior to the start of the annual reporting cycle.