FARM-LEVEL IMPACTS OF THE COASTAL ZONE MANAGEMENT ACT PROPOSED EROSION REGULATIONS

In May 1991, the EPA proposed management measures for controlling eros ion in the coastal zone regions of the U.S. One proposed management me asure for cropland soil erosion and sedimentation would require produc ers to limit cropland soil erosion to the lesser of T (soil loss toler ance) or that occurring with conservation tillage. This study estimate d the farm level impacts on cropping patterns, soil erosion, and econo mic returns associated with selected coastal zones complying with this proposed regulation. Three sites were selected for analysis: (1) Texa s Coast, (2) Coastal Georgia, and (3) Northern Indiana. The method of analysis was a farm profit maximization program. Farming practices dat a were incorporated into the models, and the 1987 National Resources I nventory (NRI) data base provided regional hectares of each crop on ea ch of four land types with different soil erodibility. The results ind icate that the Texas Coastal Bend is currently within compliance, thus , there would be little to no expected impact from the proposed guidel ines. For Coastal Georgia and Northern Indiana, row crops on erodible productive land would be expected to shift with bay on less productive land, giving a 25 percent and 43 percent reduction in sheet and rill erosion for the two areas. These shifts in cropping patterns would res ult in about 3.25 percent and 3.59 percent reduction in net returns fo r the case farms.