Task 1: Market-place trading tools
Michigan Water Quality Trading - applicable rules for trading tools
The first-of-its-kind, prototype marketplace tool, NutrientNet will be provided by the World Resources Institute for updating and use in this project.
NutrientNet uses a Geographical Information System (GIS) interface that allows users to locate their properties within a watershed and determine the amount of nutrients entering nearby waterways under the user's existing management activities. Information based on existing models of nutrient management, runoff rates, and municipal treatment plant operations are used to assess the cost effectiveness of various nutrient management options. Once users have an estimate of the number of credits available for trading, as well as their cost, NutrientNet allows buyers and sellers to contact each other to exchange their credits. A separate registry (see next section) tracks the trades that occur, providing government agencies and the general public with an easily accessible oversight tool.
NutrientNet is provided to this project as an in-kind commitment; it will remain available as the marketplace tool for the watershed after this project is completed. Using the GIS platform, users in the Kalamazoo River watershed will be able to identify and characterize their operations, estimate baselines and mitigated nutrient loadings, and review expected costs and potential number of credits available to buy or sell. This type of tool lowers transaction costs by easily identifying market participants, standardizing nutrient credit estimation to establish credibility and indexing credit values.
WRI will be the technical lead on tool updates utilizing input from Kieser & Associates and project team members. Tasks to be undertaken:
a) Develop interactive GIS mapping for the Kalamazoo River watershed.
b) Add up to ten additional agricultural BMPs to user menus.
c) Integrate urban stormwater load computational methodologies specified in Michigan rules.
Michigan DEQ - Applicable Water Quality Trading Rules
All rules related to baselines calculation, including point sources and agricultural nonpoint sources, are relevant to Task 1 (R 323.3010, R 323.3011, R 323.3012, R 323.3013, R 323.3014).
- Click on the image below to access NutrientNet website
- Michigan Department of Environmental Quality - Pollutants Control Calculation and Documentation for Section 319 Watersheds Training Manual (1999) - This manual provides methods for calculating sediment and nutrient load reductions for selected agricultural best management practices.
