Agriculture, Water, Land Nexus: Unlocking the Intricacy

On May 28, 2025, the Lambda Alpha International (LAI) Global Water-Land Series Group (Group) hosted the Agriculture, Water, Land Nexus: Unlocking the Intricacy global webinar. Earth Impact (Ei) Advisor, Durga Poudel, Ph.D., then Professor and Coordinator of the Environmental Science Program and Director of Ag. Auxiliary Units, University of Louisiana, Lafayette, was the lead speaker in the prominent webinar. 

In layman's terms, the webinar explains how chemical-based agricultural practices in the Midwest are responsible for the hypoxia scenario in the Gulf of Mexico, commonly known as the Dead Zone.

Global Water-Land Series Group
Co-chaired by Jim Musbach and Ei Founder & CEO Holly Elmore, the Group meets alternating months and hosts global webinars within the following categories:

1. Quality/Quantity - May 28, Agriculture, Water, Land Nexus: Unlocking the Intricacy
2. Control/Ownership/Accessibility - Fall, The Colorado River Water Challenges and/or Status of Great Lakes Water Agreement/Compact between the United States and Canada
3. Global Flooding & Sea Level Rise - September 4, Resiliency around the Globe: Local Responses to Hurricanes, Sea Rise, and Sudden Flooding.

At Holly's invitation, Ei Advisors Brad Bass, Ph.D., Michael Barbour, Ph.D., Tim Rumage, Marina Olmos, and Durga Poudel, Ph.D. joined the Group to share their expertise.

The Regeneration in ACTION (RiA) Magazine article, Water Security: from a pending to a realized crises, introduces the Group and provides in-depth discussion and examples related to each of the previously mentioned categories.

About LAI

LAI is the honorary global network for thought leaders 

in all fields related to the preservation and sustainable development of land.

LAI is a growing network of chapters in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Europe and Asia. Each chapter offers a wide variety of programs with industry leaders, discussion forums, community service projects and networking events.

Membership is highly selective through a nomination process initiated by a LAI member. Nominees for LAI membership must demonstrate ten or more years of experience in their fields, professional distinction, and outstanding contributions to the community in their field of endeavor.

LAI is committed to excellence and high professional standards to make a difference. A value to members is knowing you are someone who helped make that difference.

Ei Era of Regeneration
In June 2017, Ei declared the Era of Recycling Refinement Mission Accomplished and embarked upon the Era of Regeneration. The 2017 RiA article, Beyond Sustainability: Regenerative Solutions, set the stage for the new era with the opening paragraphs:

Over the past decade, sustainability moved from a buzz word to a movement to a culture within leading communities, universities, and businesses. Significant strides were made in zero waste practices, renewable energy technology, and reduced carbon / water footprints. Yet the glaciers continue to melt, global temperatures are rising, the ocean acidification levels are increasing, and desertification is escalating.

... Is sustainability enough to stave off the building crisis of the diminishing food and oxygen supply?

Cover crops on a profitable organic farm
Photo courtesy of Holly Elmore Images

Ei embraced regenerative agriculture before understanding the full implications of chemical-based agriculture's replacement of biology-based farming. It was important to first determine that regenerative or biology-based farming made good solid business sense for the farmer. Once determined, Ei delved into the far-reaching impacts of using GMO (genetically modified organism) seeds, petroleum-based fertilizers, and the "cides"* 

The 2021 RiA article, From Organic Certification to Regenerative Agriculture to Rewilding Landscapes: an evolution towards soil integrity, educates on the daunting health implications to humans, wildlife, and water/soil ecosystems from the use of glyphosate and GMO seeds. The article explains how organic-certified farming eliminates, or at least drastically reduces, the use of toxic chemicals within food production. Regenerative agriculture goes beyond organic farming to embracing soil stewardship.

A subsequent 2024 article, What We Eat Matters, emphasizes how the food that we choose to eat drives markets and farming decisions on toxic chemical use; the article explains how the farming practices in the Midwest cause hypoxia in the Gulf of Mexico, resulting in the "Dead Zone."

* "cides" are defined as herbicides, pesticides, insecticides, and fungicides. 

Agriculture, Water, Land Nexus: Unlocking the Intricacy

Pursuant to Durga's webinar document:

Description:

This webinar aims to explore the intricate relationships between agriculture, water quality, and land economics, with a focus on the Mississippi River Basin of the United States of America. It will provide a comprehensive overview of how agriculture contributes to non-point source (NPS) pollution and the Gulf of Mexico’s hypoxia problem. Furthermore, it will examine the economic implications of water pollution on land values, especially in regions like Louisiana, where agriculture and waterways are vital to the economy and ecosystem. 

Purpose:

1. 
   Provide insights into the land economics as influenced by agriculture, water quality, and environmental degradation.
2. Educate stakeholders on implementing agricultural Best Management Practices (BMPs) and enhancing environmental quality and land values.
3. Foster discussions among policymakers, academics, industry professionals, and farmers to develop holistic solutions to pressing challenges of agricultural production, surface-water quality, and land values. 

Key Topics to Be Covered: 

1. Impact of Agriculture on Water Quality and Land Value
2. Gulf of Mexico Hypoxia and Land Economics
3. Agricultural Best Management Practices  (BMPs), Runoff and Land Value

Target Audience: 

This webinar is ideal for policymakers, environmental professionals, economists, academics, farmers, and anyone interested in the intersections of agriculture, water quality, and land economics.

Speakers:

1. Durga D. Poudel, Ph.D., University of Louisiana - Impacts of Agriculture on Water Quality and Land Value
2. Doug Daigle, Louisiana Hypoxia Working Group - Gulf of Mexico Hypoxia and Land Economics
3. David Isermann, fifth-generation Illinois farmer - Agricultural Best Management Practices (BMPs), Runoff, and Land Value

Impacts of Agriculture on Water Quality and Land Value
In his presentation on the Impacts of Agriculture on Water Quality and Land Value, Durga used a Case From Southwestern Louisiana to substantiate his scientific findings and conclusions. Durga's presentation covered five topics:

• Surface-water pollution in Louisiana
• Water-quality monitoring at the field, microwatershed, watershed, and basin scales
• Biological integrity of surface-water bodies
• Invasive aquatic vegetation
• Conclusions

Field Testing
Photo courtesy of University of Louisiana

With different beginning and ending dates, surface-water quality sampling and field and laboratory determination of water quality at the field, microwatershed, watershed, and basin scale projects began in September 2000 and continued through March 2015. 

Average concentrations for total suspended solids (TSS), total dissolved solids (TDS),  total solids (TS), total Kjeldahl nitrogen (TKN),  five-day biological oxygen demand (BOD5), total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorus (TP),  nitrate/nitrite-nitrogen (NO3/NO2-N), and  soluble reactive phosphate (SRP) for surface runoff from sugarcane fields, pasturelands, and residential areas, as well as from a microwatershed and three different watersheds, were determined via laboratory testing. The field measurement of surface-water quality included the determination of dissolved oxygen (DO), turbidity, conductivity, pH, and surface water temperature. One of the projects also conducted benthic invertebrate and fish sampling. *

Pollutant concentrations aligned with agriculture practices of phosphorus and other applications. Research showed that the three main pollutants included sediment, phosphorous, and nitrogen, in descending order of their importance.

A byproduct of the water-quality research showcased the local aquifer draining. According to Coastal Desk, March 9, 2021 Louisiana's Biggest Source Of Groundwater Is Losing Water Fast, WWNO - NEW ORLEANS PUBLIC RADIO | Tegan Wendland:

“A centuries-old law gives Louisiana landowners “ultimate dominion” over the groundwater beneath their property. That means farmers, manufacturers and homeowners can take as much as they want, when they want it — no fees required.

But this hands-off approach to groundwater management is creating big problems in southwestern Louisiana, where the state’s largest and most important aquifer is losing water fast. More than 661 million gallons of water are being pumped every day from the Chicot Aquifer System, while only about 313 million gallons are being returned through rain or natural drainage.

The aquifer is being overdrawn by 348 million gallons each day — well beyond a sustainable measure.”

Through Durga's surface-water-quality monitoring and modeling effort, clear spatial patterns of the pollutant load of the surface-water bodies were observed, as more concentrated and higher pollutant loads in water bodies were associated with and were closer to the intensive agricultural lands.

Pond covered with an invasive species
Photo courtesy of University of Louisiana

A byproduct of the contaminated waters from agriculture is invasive aquatic vegetation in LA water bodies. Native to Brazil, Giant salvinia (Salvinia molesta) is a small free-floating aquatic plant and is found in LA waterways. Due to its nature, Giant salvinia can easily cover water and extend a couple of inches inside and outside the surface water. Once established, the invasive aquatic vegetation negatively impacts the local ecosystem and surrounding land value.

Conclusions:

• Agricultural systems have huge reservoirs of NPS pollutants, and these systems release NPS pollutants to surface-water bodies continuously during an extended rain event. Residential areas also contribute to NPS pollution.
• Surface-water pollution in an agricultural watershed directly relates to the agricultural activities in the watershed. Often, there are excessive concentrations of fecal coliforms in surface-water bodies in agricultural watersheds.
• Sediments and nutrients constitute the major NPS pollutants in agricultural watersheds. The Soil Water Assessment Tool model is useful in identifying critical areas for NPS pollution in an agricultural watershed.
• The implementation of the BMPs improves surface-water quality; surface-water quality is poor in areas where agricultural activities are intense. Benthic invertebrate diversity negatively relates to Total Suspended Solids and 5-Day Biological Oxygen Demand.
• Invasive aquatic vegetation degrades the biological integrity of a surface-water body, clogs navigation canals, destroys winter habitat for migratory birds, and lowers the land values.
• The impact of agriculture on water quality and quantity and land value occurs in many different ways, including surface-water pollution, erosion and sedimentation, ecological degradation, and land degradation.
• These complex processes require an in-depth understanding and careful planning and implementation of BMPs in agriculture for surface-water-quality improvement, soil and water conservation, and ecological preservation in the region. This will increase land productivity and land value.

Durga's PPT presentation is available for download at this LINK.

* the scientific copy provided by Durga after reviewing the article.

Gulf of Mexico Hypoxia and Land Economics

In his opening remarks, Doug explained that he is the coordinator for the Louisiana Hypoxia Working Group (LHWG) that was formed in 2003 to support the Gulf Hypoxia Plan. The entire Mississippi River Basin, including the Ohio and Missouri River Basins along with other tributaries, is addressed; the Ohio River Basin contributes most of the water including nutrient loads while the Missouri River Basi contains most of the sediment.

Mississippi River Basin
Image courtesy of the LA Hypoxia Working Group

It is common knowledge that the main nutrients - nitrogen and phosphorous - in the Mississippi River come from row-crop agriculture in the Midwest. Corn and soybean crops account for 52% of the nitrogen load; for phosphorous, the sources are more evenly distributed between pasture and range (37%,) corn and soybean crops (25%,) and other crops (18%.) Per Doug, these exact percentages are outdated and my not be accurate. Yet, importantly, the proportions remain consistent.

Doug was clear that any increases or decreases in nutrient-load contributions have a direct impact on the flow into the Gulf.

Once deposited into the Gulf, the nutrients feed large algae blooms, the zooplankton feeds on the algae and release fecal pellets that float to the bottom, bacteria consumes the fecal pellets and dead algae, and the bacterial decomposition depletes the water-oxygen levels. The hypoxia scenario, or diminished oxygen, generally resides in the bottom shelf where the decomposition occurs. Yet, hypoxia can occur in other parts of the water column. Due to the lack of oxygen, marine life either flees or dies. 

As benthic organisms, ocean-floor life, either die or move to a more oxygen-rich environment, the entire ocean ecosystem is out of balance and subject to collapse into a Dead Zone; the recreational and commercial fishing industry is severely impacted causing economic strife. According to Doug, the Gulf of Mexico fishery is the last productive wild fishery in the continental U.S. outside of Alaska.

2024 Gulf of Mexico Dead Zone
Image courtesy of LA State University

As ocean currents flow in a westerly direction, the Gulf of Mexico Dead Zone extends westward from the Mississippi River delta along the coast to Texas. Since 1985, a Louisiana Universities Marine Consortium mapping boat annually cruises the Dead Zone area for a week measuring the hypoxia levels; the mapping cruise measurements provide the key metric as well as trends for the Dead Zone. In general, fluctuations in the annual hypoxia metrics coincide with the river-flow variations. 

In the past, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) was the primary funder and will hopefully continue funding in the future.

The Gulf Hypoxia Plan 2008 for Reducing, Mitigating, and Controlling Hypoxia in the Northern Gulf of Mexico and Improving Water Quality in the Mississippi River Basin includes representatives from 12 states within the Mississippi River Basin, five federal agencies, and the National Tribal Water Council. Though not legally binding, the national policy vehicle is a voluntary cooperative of participants that provides recommended guidelines.

In 2015 the Gulf Hypoxia Plan updated their Action Plan Goals as follows:

• We strive to reduce the five-year running average areal extent of the Gulf of Mexico hypoxic zone to less than 5,000-square kilometers/1950-square miles by the year 2035.
• An Interim Target of a 20% reduction of nitrogen and phosphorus loading [to the Gulf from the MARB] by 2025 is a milestone for immediate planning and implementation actions…

Progress is underway with reducing the nutrient loads yet funding deficiency prevents achievement of the goals. With the current political scenario, future funding sources remain uncertain.

Doug's PPT presentation is available for download at this LINK.

Agricultural Best Management Practices, Runoff, and Land Value
Isermann Farms (IF), located about 90-miles southwest of Chicago in LaSalle County, is a fifth-generation, family-owned farm operated by David and his son Jim. At IF sustainable conservation practices are standard-operating practices, and IF is the recipient of numerous awards over the years. 

David & Jim Isermann
Photo courtesy of Isermann Farms

David is active with the Illinois Farm Bureau and President of the LaSalle County Farm Bureau. Active in the local and state agricultural community, David shares his farming wisdom with innate generosity,  

IF commits to building a more resilient farm that weathers climate events and increases their profitability by adoption of sustainable farming BMPs. The empowering added value is the current generation leaves a healthier world for future generations.

With an understanding that their farming practices directly impact the conditions of waterways and soils downstream, IF BMPs intend to:

• Stop Erosion
• Stop Nitrogen and Phosphorous loss
• Increase soil health
• Increase “sustainability”
• Financial stability
• Environmental footprint
• Climate resiliency
• Add livestock to the mix
  

Current crops include corn and soybeans augmented by a cow-calf herd. 

High-tech equipment and participating in local and national government programs are integral to IF's success. Nitrogen and other nutrient applications are closely monitored via timing, quantity, and depth of application; the depth prevents the nutrient runoff that costs the farm dollars and harms ecosystems down river.

IF participated in a DIFM (Data-Intensive Farm Management) program, a collaborative agronomic research initiative that utilizes precision technology to design and execute randomized field trials on commercial farm fields. The DIFM report validated that IF's nitrogen-reduction plan was effective. From the DIFM report: 

In short, the data and analysis provided strong evidence that the farmer's status quo management plant was quite efficient, and DIFM recommends no manor changes to the current N management strategy.

Cover crops are integral to farm operations and serve four main purposes: 1> covers the soil in between crops, 2> prevents soil erosion, 3> provides weed control, and 4>serves as a food source for the 60 head of cattle. Radish and cereal rye cover crops are aerial seeded into standing corn.

With cattle grazing in the field, manure and urine are stomped into the soil, providing additional nutrients. Manure is consistently tested to understand the nutrients distributed upon the field; manure is also an excellent indicator of the herd's health.

IF minimizes tilling via planting corn and other crops in thinner strips. 

IF is an active participant in the following NRCS (National Resources Conservation Service) USDA programs:

• Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQUIP)
• Prescribed Grazing Plan with Livestock Watering System
• Comprehensive Nutrient Management Plan for Beef Operation
• USDA Conservation Program Participation

Planting equipment with a GPS system
Photo courtesy of Isermann Farms

Via an EQUIP Prescribed Grazing Plan with Livestock Watering plan, the IF cattle paddock and water systems were overhauled. The previous nine paddocks were increased to 20 paddocks with temporary fencing. By adding 6200 feet of underground waterline from the well, the solo watering station was replaced with seven automatic waterers. The new system reduces wasted water and eliminates the muddy area filled with manure and urine around the prior solo water station.

Due to renewed efficiencies via the EQUIP plan, IF may increase their 60-cattle herd to 120 cattle using the same resources and land footprint.  

GPS monitoring systems installed in the planting equipment track the exact location and timing of seeding the fields; the information is used at harvest time to track field productivity and profitability.

David emphasizes that the sustainable conservation practices in place at IF increase the farm's profitability and improve the bottom line.

 

David's PPT presentation is available for download at this LINK.

The recorded 90-minute Agriculture, Water, Land Nexus: Unlocking the Intricacy webinar is available for viewing HERE.

Agriculture, Water, and Land Nexus
Durga prepared the below graphic to illustrate how common agriculture practices' impact on surface water, soil, and groundwater result in decreased land value and economic strife.

The impressive webinar showcased the far-reaching detrimental impacts of toxic chemical-based agriculture practices. Farming practices nearly 1,000 miles north result in the collapse of coastal fishing industries and cause tremendous economic cost to downstream communities.

According to the Union of Concerned Scientists June 2020 article, Nitrogen Washing Off Midwest Farms Cause Billions in Annual Damage to Gulf of Mexico Fisheries and Marine Habitat, New Study Finds Dead Zone Compounds Crushing Pandemic Impact on Gulf Fishing Economy:

... a new study shows that one of the dead zone’s biggest causes—nitrogen that flows downriver from Midwest farms—has been responsible for up to $2.4 billion in damages to Gulf fish stocks and their habitat every year for more than 30 years. The amount of nitrogen coming off Midwest corn and soybean farms, according to the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) study, equates to enough fertilizer to fill 3,000 standard size shipping containers every year since 1980 on average.

Yet, David illustrated how responsible farming practices designed to prevent nutrient and sediment release into waterways improves his farm's bottom line. Thus, the responsible-farming templates are crafted by innovative farmers who are willing to share their lessons learned and successes with fellow farmers.

The time is NOW for citizens to use their power of consumer demand to persuade farmers to implement sustainable farming BMPs. If they experience increased revenue from empowered consumers coupled with lower costs from reduced inputs and other savings, farmers are incentivized to use practices that improve their bottom line and lessen detrimental environmental conditions. Let's use our "business" vs "environmental" voice to convince farmers to reduce the toxins used in their food production.

_______________________________________

Tax-deductible donations in any amount are greatly appreciated to support Ei's important work. 

DONATE HERE

About Earth Impact:

Earth Impact (formerly Elemental Impact) (Ei) is a 501(c)3 non-profit founded in 2010 as the home to the Zero Waste Zones, the forerunner in the nation for the commercial collection of food waste for compost. In June 2017, Ei announced the Era of Recycling Refinement was Mission Accomplished and entered the Era of Regeneration (June 2017 - June 2024). Focus areas included Nature Prevails, Soil Health | Regenerative Agriculture, and Water Use | Toxicity.

The Regeneration in ACTION (RiA) Magazine articles, From Organic Certification to Regenerative Agriculture to Rewilding Landscapes: an evolution towards soil integrity and SOIL & WATER: the foundation of life, published to explain and substantiate the importance of Ei’s rewilding urban landscapes work within the Nature Prevails focus area. What We Eat Matters is an emerging platform that intertwines within the three focus areas.

As Ei enters the Era of Impact (June 2024 – present,) gears shift to a new business model, Ei Educates. Though education was always integral to Ei’s important work, the  primary focus was on projects, pilots, and initiatives supported by Ei Partners. The Regeneration Era focus areas carry over into the Era of Impact.

With the publishing of the March 2025 RiA Magazine article, Water Security: a pending to realized crisis, the Water Use | Toxicity platform evolved into the Water Security platform.

The Holly Elmore Images Rewilding Urban Landscapes-album folder documents two active pilots: the Native-Plant Landscape Pilot and the Backyard Permaculture-Oriented Pilot. The Ei Pilots serve as an educational program.

MISSION:

To work with industry leaders to create best regenerative operating practices where the entire value-chain benefits, including corporate bottom lines, communities, and the environment. Through education and collaboration, establish best practices as standard practices.

Ei’s tagline – Regeneration in ACTION – is the foundation for Ei endeavors.

The following mantra is at the core of Ei work:

Ei is a creator, an incubator.

Ei determines what could be done that is not being done and gets it done.

Ei brings the possible out of impossible.

Ei identifies pioneers and creates heroes.

For additional information, contact Holly Elmore at 404-510-9336 | holly@earth-impact.org.

Introduction to Water and Land Economics

On June 13, the Lambda Alpha International (LAI) Global Water-Land Series Group (Group) hosted the Introduction to Water and Land Economics Global Webinar; introductory in nature, the webinar was designed as a foundation for a plethora of future webinars on more specific topics.

Baja California Sur Pacific Ocean Coast
Photo courtesy of Holly Elmore Images

Group Co-Chairs, Economic & Planning Systems Managing Principal Jim Musbach, LAI Golden Gate Chapter member, and Elemental Impact (Ei) Founder & CEO Holly Elmore, LAI FL Suncoast member, introduced and moderated the webinar.

The esteemed panelists included Jay Lund, Ph.D, Vice Director, Center for Watershed Sciences & UC Davis Distinguished Professor, Civil & Environmental Engineering, Steve Suau, P.E., Consultant at Carbon Life, and Brad Bass, Ph.D, Senior Policy Analysist, Employment & Social Development Canada & University of Toronto Status Professor. Steve and Brad are Ei Advisors and members of the Ei Regenerative Working Group.

Below is a synopsis of the webinar agenda:

Jay Lund - Overview & History 

• Overview of the current water supply and quality scenario and its implications on land economics; give history and name institutions involved in water management.
• Western N America specific challenges, solutions, and success stories.

 Steve Suau - Integrated Watershed Management

•  Four elements of integrated watershed management.
•  Florida specific challenges, solutions, and success stories.

Brad Bass - Algal Blooms, a Economic Perspective

• Overview of the algae blooms that segue into challenges with non-native/invasive species.
• Solutions available at a regional level as well as examples of successful local programs in the Canadian Great Lakes region.

Welcome & Introductions
LAI VP Craig Binning, LAI Simcoe (Toronto) Chapter member, welcomed webinar attendees and gave an overview of the nearly 95-years-old land economics honorary. As he introduced Jim, Craig highlighted Jim's 30 years of LAI membership.

In his introductory remarks, Jim explained that the Group is a subcommittee of the LAI Global Initiatives Committee; the Group's purpose is to create global programming tied to many facets of water and how it relates to land economics.

The Hernando de Soto Bridge 
in Memphis, TN
Photo courtesy of Holly Elmore Images

A vast array of water and land economics topics include policy allocations of scarce resources, infrastructure investment, conservation, environmental sustainability, climate change mitigation, sea-level rise, public health, and population growth. According to Jim, "water and land use is a topic that is deep and wide, literally speaking."

The Group intends to educate on the many dimensions of water-land economics, focus on the array of challenges facing diverse geographic regions, and highlight regional success stories.

Following Jim, Holly explained that this webinar was designed as introductory in nature and to serve as a platform from which to address the specific topics outlined by Jim. Holly gave personalized introductions of each of the panelists and then began the webinar with Jay's presentation. 

Within her introductory remarks, Holly showcased the diversity of expertise within the panelists: Jay shares his engineering acumen from an academia perspective, Steve is "boots-on-ground" with implementation of watershed-management projects, and Brad represents a federal government viewpoint as well as his background in science and economics. 

Overview & History - Jay Lund

Jay opened his presentation with the interaction between land and water and how the availability and quality of water has a direct impact on land values. Beyond the recreational and aesthetic value, proximity to water is necessary for agriculture and urban development. Jay emphasized the important role water access plays in the ability to fight fires. Additionally, water may serve as transportation outlets that support an area's economic vitality.

Proximity to water may also negatively impact land value due to excessive, regular flooding and hurricane/storm damage.

Arial view of the Inner Baltimore Harbor
Photo courtesy of Holly Elmore Images

Throughout history, civilizations often developed around waterways, whether the sea, inland lakes, or rivers. Once irrigation was developed via access to ground water, farming on semi-arid land provided economic benefit and increased land value.

According to Jay, current water issues include:

• Management for droughts
• Groundwater over-draft
• Contamination of aquifers – nitrate, salts
• Contamination of rivers – pesticides, nitrate, nutrients
• Water allocations among users
• Managing with greater variability

Jay emphasized that surface water contaminates quickly and can also be cleaned-up in a reasonable amount of time with concerted effort. However, the nitrate and salt contamination in the aquifers is nearly impossible to resolve and is considered permanent.

The decentralized water management comes with advantages and disadvantages, especially with the multiple layers of government involved.

In the early 1900's, the U.S. Government invested in huge water projects in the North Western lands to foster economic growth and populate the area. At the time, the economy was driven by agriculture. Yet, in the modern-day economy, agriculture only comprises about 5% of the North Western U.S. economy. Thus, there are tensions from regional water systems designed to serve an economy that no longer exists.

Jay detailed the following challenges of the western arid climate:

• Long seasonal droughts every year
• Multi-year droughts
• Salination
• Water and land competition (users and ecosystems)
• Floods too!

Even with infrastructure development to store and move surface water and groundwater, solutions are inherent with water-demand management. Local water-management projects, versus the large regional projects, are the most successful in the western U.S. and around the globe.

Infrastructure cannot solve the overall water-deficit challenges. Every infrastructure-based solution brings new problems, particularly for the environment and sustainability.

In conclusion, Jay emphasized that water and land values always interact and water availability usually enhances land value; water regulation and management affects land economics. Interactions with water have supported and ended civilizations for millennia.

Jay's PPT presentation is available for download at this LINK.

* a significant portion of the Overview and History section was derived from Jay's PPT presentation and transcript of the recorded webinar. 

Integrated Watershed Management - Steve Suau*

Though he has exceptional local-government experience, Steve mentioned that the majority of his 40-year career was spent in the private sector with two partners. One was a water-policy expert and the other a hydrogeologist who focused on ground water and aquifers; Steve's experience was in hydrology and engineering. With the diverse backgrounds, their company covered the bases for extensive water-related projects throughout Florida.

According to Steve, the four principles of integrated watershed management are:

1. Natural systems
2. Water quality
3. Flood protection
4. Water supply

Integrating the four principles into strategic plans, decision making, and project implementation is key to successful watershed management.

An overall effective strategy for water-demand management, is Right Water for Right Use:

• Non-potable water for outdoor irrigation
• Use of water-efficient fixtures for indoor potable water
• Tiered water-rate structures

The Right Water for Right Use strategy resulted in a decreased per person average daily water usage from 105 to 85 gallon from 2003 to 2017 in Southwest Florida. During the same timeframe, the population increased 40% yet the water consumption only increased 20%.

Big Cypress National Preserve Swamp
in the Florida Everglades
Photo courtesy of Holly Elmore Images

In the mid-1800's, Florida drained the abundant wetlands and lakes to create agricultural land; the term used at the time was land reclamation. Subsequently, the aquifers were over pumped to irrigate the farm land. Thus, farming depleted the once abundant waters and contaminated the remaining water via runoff of toxic agriculture chemicals.

A significant project during this time frame was the straightening of the 103-mile meandering Kissimmee River and its floodplain into a 52-mile straight canal from Orlando to Lake Okeechobee. As  it flowed, the canal carried agriculture contaminants into Lake Okeechobee.

To the south of Lake Okeechobee, excess fresh water from Florida's summer-rainy season flowed into the Everglades creating Florida Bay, a thriving estuary. Incentivized to compete with Cuba's flourishing sugar production, the federal government redirected the south flow to east and west flows towards Florida's coasts. The flow diversion created the Everglades agricultural area, about 500 to 600,000 acres.

The east/west canals carry tremendous amounts of agricultural and industrial nutrients, mainly nitrogen and phosphorus, to both coasts; the nutrients are food for algae blooms that are economically and environmentally disastrous for the coastal communities. 

Unintended, yet predicable, consequences include:

• Dire need for fresh water in Florida Bay
• Blue-green algae in the Indian River Lagoon
• Red tide in the Gulf of Mexico

The Florida Water Resources Act of 1972 (Chapter 373, F.S.), established that all water in Florida, on the surface or in the ground, is a public resource managed by the Florida Department of Environmental Regulation through designation of five Water Management Districts (WMDs). The districts were largely delineated around the major watersheds in Florida, not around political boundaries, and have a committed revenue stream based on a percentage of real estate taxes.

Water district responsibilities include:

• Regulation and permitting of water use as well as land development
• Monitoring of science - an enormous amount of data is collected that is critical for decision making
• Land acquisition and restoration for improved water quality
• Infrastructure improvements

Dead fish from the 2018
red tide outbreak
Photo courtesy of Holly Elmore Images

Steve gave an example of how four Southwest Florida counties banded together and formed a regional water-supply authority that receives funding from the Southwest Florida Florida Water Management District (SWFWMD.) The regional authority plays an integral role when hurricanes wreak havoc with the area-water supply. Improvements in utility infrastructure must gain approval from the authority to ensure coordination within the regional water supply.

In Steve's words: 

FARMS - Facilitating Agricultural Resource Management Systems - is a private/public partnership developed by the SWFWMD and the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services as a cost-share reimbursement program for agricultural projects that reduce groundwater withdrawals from the Upper Floridan aquifer through conservation and other alternative water-supply best management practices (BMPs). Water-quality and natural-systems-improvement BMPS may also be cost-shared in priority areas.

SUCCESS: 20 yrs, 240 FARMS Projects, Water Conserved = 20 mil gallons-per-day

In recent years, the SWFWMD embarked on what Steve refers to as the most significant water-restoration project in the world. Yet very few people, even in Florida, are aware of the project. The water district used dynamite to literally blow up the dams on the Kissimmee River, purchased the river flood plains, and restored the meandering 103-mile river. Wildlife immediately returned.

Big Sugar remains an obstacle to cleaning up Lake Okeechobee of agricultural chemicals, stopping the east/west flow of excess water, and restoring fresh-water replenishment to the Everglades and Florida Bay. In 2007 then Governor Crist spoke to the U.S. Sugar Corporation, “I have an idea that might solve all our problems. Why don’t we just buy you out? If Sugar is polluting the Everglades, and we are paying to clean the Everglades, why don’t we just get rid of Sugar?”

In November 2014, about 75% of Florida voters approved an amendment to the state constitution; the amendment requires one third of documentary-stamp revenue to be placed into the Land Acquisition Trust Fund and spent on a variety of environmental programs and initiatives. These funds may prove ample to execute Governor Crist's idea.

Steve's PPT presentation is available for download at this LINK.

* a significant portion of the Integrated Water Management section was derived from Steve's PPT presentation and transcript of the recorded webinar. 

Algal Blooms, a Economic Perspective - Brad Bass*
In his presentation, Brad uses algal blooms as an example in his evolution of studying the economic impact of an environmental phenomenon. With excess phosphorous the main catalyst, in 1970 Lake Erie was in dire conditions from algal blooms and other pollution.

President Nixon & Prime Minister Trudeau
signing the GLWQA April 15, 1972.
Courtesy of the EPA

In 1972, then U.S. President Nixon and Canadian Prime Minister Trudeau signed the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement (GLWQA) that coordinates the actions of Canada and the United States in restoring and protecting the water quality of the Great Lakes. At the time of execution, Trudeau described the state of the Great Lakes as a disgrace. Though later removed, in the original published version of The Lorax, Dr. Seuss included "I hear things are just as bad up in Lake Erie" when referring to water-pollution levels.

Through regulations focused on wastewater-treatment facilities, erosion control, and phosphate-concentration levels in laundry detergents, the Great Lakes achieved a 60% reduction in phosphorous loadings through the 1980's

With the onset of chemical-agriculture practices, Ontario’s agricultural heartland was becoming the largest source of this bioavailable phosphorus. 

Additionally, there were New Factors at Play:

• Population growth and land use changes
• Changes in phosphorus discharges from urban and agricultural landscapes due to changes in land use and land-management practices
• A changing climate
• increased frequency of severe storms
• increased temperatures
• longer growing seasons
• Ecosystem changes - aquatic invasive species
• changes to water clarity and nutrient flows caused by Zebra and Quagga mussels
• Bioavailable phosphorus increasing
• linkages to above factors 

Lake Erie responded with algal plumes/blooms, and hypoxia that resulted in devastating fish and other marine-life kills.

Brad shared the evolution of his approach for creating effective, long-term solutions to the excessive bioavailable phosphorus. In 2008, Brad viewed this situation as a technology issue and suggested that the use of green infrastructure, designed to represent natural processes in technologies, would be an effective solution.

Zebra mussels, an invasive species, fueled Cladophora outbreaks close to the beaches. Along with a colleague, Brad discovered that zebra mussels were an excellent growing medium in green roofs. Thus, Brad replicated natural processes in technology.

By 2013, Brad noticed the complexity arising from scientific understanding and chose to address the interaction between climate and management of the land. Within the complexity of the scenario, Brad looked at the dynamics of phosphorus movement through a landscape and how green infrastructure might be placed to mitigate this flow.

In 2015, Brad resonated with Aristotle's famous quote: The more you know, the more you know that you don't know. Brad concluded that the complexity arose from the following factors:

• Impact of social and economic factors on adoption of new management practices
• Scientific understanding
• Linkages between different spatial scales
• Interaction between climate and management on the land

When assessing the cost of algal blooms, Brad chose to embrace an economist's, versus an accountant's, perspective and focus on the impact of blooms on social welfare. In his economic analysis, Brad used loss of well being as the barometer of algal blooms' direct cost to the economy,

The following cost categories were used to assess the ecological benefits provided by the lake-water quality:

• Commercial fishing
• Water users: industries (including municipal drinking water treatment plants)
• Recreational users: individuals that participate in lake-based recreation 
• Non-users: individuals that do not use the lake but are concerned about its quality 
• Tourism: the “tourism industry”.
• Property owners along the lakeshore 

Using the above categories, the study assessed the estimated economic impact on the Lake Erie Economic Basin in three scenarios: business-as-usual, policy intervention, and a stable lake. For 2020, total annual benefit of implementing best-management practices was $350.4 million, with the largest benefit of $118.9 million for carbon sequestration.

Brad concluded his presentation showcasing that humanity's demand for ecological resources exceeds the capacity to regenerate in one year; if the entire global population lived in accordance with United States standards, it would require nearly five earths to provide the ecological resources for the living standard.

Brad's PPT presentation is available for download at this LINK.

* a significant portion of the Algal Blooms, an Economic Perspective section was derived from Brad's PPT presentation and transcript of the recorded webinar. 

Question & Answer Session
With the impressive presentations complete, Jim moderated a Question & Answer (Q&A) session. The below is copied with minor edits from the recorded webinar's transcript.

What are the top two or three pricing initiatives that could rationalize or optimize the use of water in the Western United States?

Jay: There's a big difference, I think, between pricing you want to do for the different sectors. Agriculture is the by far the biggest human-based water user, at least in in the West. It's important that water be priced so as to show the opportunity costs, at least in the other economic sectors. And I think that will be sufficient. I think the the true opportunity cost of that water use is often higher than the economic-opportunity costs. But if you get it up to the economic-opportunity costs. I think you're doing pretty well.

Brad mentioned the value associated with the carbon sequestration aspect of the programs featured. Please talk more about how carbon sequestration works in that case and how it creates the value included in your report.

Brad: We were surprised that carbon sequestration was the biggest benefit; we  expected the biggest benefit to be directly in the reduction of phosphorus. What we realized is that many of the best management practices increase vegetation. It's not that they necessarily decrease energy, decrease energy use, but they do increase the ability of the soil to sequester carbon in the surface vegetation. 

For the cost estimate, we took the current price of carbon globally and calculated how much it would increase over the next 30 years. One reason the benefit was so large is the price of carbon; the sequestered carbon could be sold as carbon credits or otherwise receive payment for the sequestered carbon.

How does the carbon sequestration work in the context of the water itself?

Brad:

Cover crops is a farming BMP that
increases carbon sequestration.
Photo courtesy of Holly Elmore Images

It's not the water; it's the actions you do to protect the water on the land that lead to the carbon-sequestration benefit. All of those best management practices are in the soil themselves. If you put up a tree line or wind break, you're going to end up planting a lot of trees. If you put in a cover crop, you're going to increase the amount of vegetation cover on your soil: you could double it, or at least increase it by a third every year. If you restore a wetland, the vegetation in that wetland is going to sequester more carbon than it otherwise would. If you were to restore fragile land with trees that would actually sequester a tremendous amount of carbon. 

A related question. In your cost-benefit analysis, you put a value or a cost number on in-action versus the cost of action.  How do you translate the costs that are done on a kind of the inaction to actual financing that gets applied to these solutions?

Brad: The government of Canada had actually experimented with a using climate bonds to finance

greenhouse gas-reduction activities. If you purchased it, a bond would be used to invest in those specified activities. And I thought, now that we know what the cost of inaction is, we have the basis to create ecological bonds for water quality in the Great Lakes. It was a proposal that I started before leaving the department for another role, and I don't think anybody picked up on it.

Steve, in the context of Florida's scenario, if you could see one policy implemented at the Federal level, what would would it be? And in in the same manner at the state level. What would you see as being policy actions that can be taken at the federal and state levels to address the issues Florida experiences?

Steve, At the state level, reinitiate discussions, to terminate sugar farmed in the Everglades; it is important to work together with the local communities who rely economically on the sugar farms. Due to the devastating environmental destruction from the sugar industry, there is opportunity to work with those communities to create a more resilient economy based upon the value of the world's only Everglades as an attraction.

Organic farming grows healthy soil
Photo courtesy of Holly Elmore Images

As many organic farmers say "We grow soil!" Soils with a healthy, thriving ecosystem absorb, retain, and filter significantly more water than deteriorated soils. Thus, healthy soils are an excellent defense for drought and flood scenarios. 

The USDA Organic Transition Initiative subsidizes farmers in the 3-year period, moving from conventional, chemical agriculture to organic, biology-based agriculture.

In Florida, the citrus industry is exploring a return to biology-based agriculture; the chemistry-based agriculture devastated the soil ecosystem, and the citrus orchards are suffering from diseases and viruses. Production levels deteriorated back to 1963 levels.

A shift to biology-based, organic agriculture would significantly reduce the nitrogen and phosphorous loads in the waterways fueling algal outbreaks. Chemical-based landscape and grounds-maintenance practices also contribute to nitrogen and prosperous levels in the waterways, though in lower quantities.

Brad, The state of Vermont used to give out an award for innovative phosphorus reduction, and 2019 that award went to someone who developed the Biochar filter.

Steve, Biochar is an expensive way for removing phosphorus; we found that woody material, even sawdust, was quite effective.

Going back to the agricultural question, sugar seems to be a big element, and Florida's water juice. Hawaii phased out the sugar industry - are there any lessons to be learned for a transition out of sugar in Florida? Or are Hawaii and Florida completely different markets?

Steve, The type of agriculture is not the main issue; it is the location of the sugar farms just south of Lake Okeechobee where the fresh water flows into the Everglades and eventually to Florida Bay.

So there is an ability to to accommodate the sugar industry in Florida?

Steve, Yes. In the past there was an issue with the location of the dairy farms. Thus, the State purchased the dairy farms and relocated them to another part of Florida. A similar scenario could work for the sugar farms.

Is the sea-level rise likely to affect coastal land values, restoration, and recreation activities?

Jay, We have a saying in ecosystems for aquatic ecosystems, at least in estuaries. that elevation is destiny; I think that is going to be true. The urban coasts will probably harden like the Dutch have done over 1,000 years or so. Some coasts are too expensive to harden, and we will simply let them go.

Sea-level rise is a particular challenge for barrier islands and places subject to hurricanes, like the entire Florida coast.

The big coastal cities that have ample resources, are very well organized, and have access to tremendous expertise will still face sea-level rise challenges. It' will be fairly expensive for them to raise their waste facilities, their drainage systems, and their wastewater-discharge systems. Additionally, the cities must protect their their land from flooding.

One final question: with Florida such a low-lying state, how will it be impacted by sea-level rise?

Steve, The state legislature is actively incentivizing coastal communities to prepare for sea-level rise and will provide revenue to fund projects implemented in consideration of sea-level rise.

Many coastal communities have what we refer to as "sunny-day flooding" during a King Tide, an exceptionally high tide during a full moon. Based on the orientation of the moon to the earth, King Tides will be more frequent starting around 2030.

Most homes and buildings on the barrier islands are elevated due to hurricanes and are expected to fare well with sea-level rise. Planning for the infrastructure including roads, utilities, water & sewer lines, and lift stations is underway. Yet, roads can only be elevated so much. Sea-level rise is an exceptional challenge for the barrier islands.

... and sea-level rise will have a huge impact real estate values.

Jim, in San Francisco, the northern waterfront plans require the elevation of the seawall and the finger peers by up to 4 feet, which costs billions and billions of dollars. Sea-level rise is a problem that we're all going to be facing in the future.

After the Q&A session, Jim thanked the speakers for their outstanding presentations and those who attended the webinar. Jim reminded all that the webinar was recorded for post-event viewing. 

Holly closed the webinar with announcement of the fall webinar topic: Agriculture’s Impact on Water Quality & Quantity and Land Economics that will be orchestrated in a similar format.

To view the recorded Introduction to Water and Land Economics webinar, click HERE.

_______________________________________

About Lambda Alpha International (LAI)

LAI is the honorary global network for thought leaders in all fields related to the preservation and sustainable development of land.

LAI is a growing network of chapters in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Europe and Asia. Each chapter offers a wide variety of programs with industry leaders, discussion forums, community service projects and networking events.

Membership is highly selective through a nomination process initiated by an LAI member. Nominees for LAI membership must demonstrate ten or more years of experience in their fields, professional distinction, and outstanding contributions to the community in their field of endeavor.

LAI is committed to excellence and high professional standards to make a difference. A value to members is knowing you are someone who helped make that difference.

_______________________________________

Tax-deductible donations in any amount are greatly appreciated to support Ei's important work. 

DONATE HERE

About Earth Impact:

Earth Impact (formerly Elemental Impact) (Ei) is a 501(c)3 non-profit founded in 2010 as the home to the Zero Waste Zones, the forerunner in the nation for the commercial collection of food waste for compost. In June 2017, Ei announced the Era of Recycling Refinement was Mission Accomplished and entered the Era of Regeneration (June 2017 - June 2024). Focus areas included Nature Prevails, Soil Health | Regenerative Agriculture, and Water Use | Toxicity.

The Regeneration in ACTION Magazine articles, From Organic Certification to Regenerative Agriculture to Rewilding Landscapes: an evolution towards soil integrity and SOIL & WATER: the foundation of life, published to explain and substantiate the importance of Ei’s rewilding urban landscapes work within the Nature Prevails focus area. What We Eat Matters is an emerging platform that intertwines within the three focus areas.

As Ei enters the Era of Impact (June 2024 – present,) gears shift to a new business model, Ei Educates. Though education was always integral to Ei’s important work, the  primary focus was on projects, pilots, and initiatives supported by Ei Partners. The Regeneration Era focus areas carry over into the Era of Impact.

The Holly Elmore Images Rewilding Urban Landscapes-album folder documents two active pilots: the Native-Plant Landscape Pilot and the Backyard Permaculture-Oriented Pilot. The Ei Pilots serve as an educational program.

MISSION:

To work with industry leaders to create best regenerative operating practices where the entire value-chain benefits, including corporate bottom lines, communities, and the environment. Through education and collaboration, establish best practices as standard practices.

Ei’s tagline – Regeneration in ACTION – is the foundation for Ei endeavors.

The following mantra is at the core of Ei work:

Ei is a creator, an incubator.

Ei determines what could be done that is not being done and gets it done.

Ei brings the possible out of impossible.

Ei identifies pioneers and creates heroes.

For additional information, contact Holly Elmore at 404-510-9336 | holly@earth-impact.org.

Environmental Stewardship: the business perspective

The Temple of Understanding (ToU)* invited Elemental Impact (Ei) to host the May monthly Eco Justice for ALL Dialogue. With the topic, Environmental Stewardship: the business perspective, Ei Founder & CEO Holly Elmore orchestrated the following panel of Ei Advisors as the dialogue speakers.

• Stephanie Barger -TRUE Certification for Zero Waste / U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) Global Director of Market Transformation
• Simon Lamb -, author of award-winning Junglenomics
• Tim Trefzer - Honeycomb Strategies Event and Venue Sustainability VP, Sports & Venues.

Holly served as the dialogue moderator.

The entire Environmental Stewardship: the business perspective Dialogue is available for viewing on YouTube.

In addition to Ei Advisors, the panelists are members of Lambda Alpha International, a 90-year-old land economics honorary.

* The ToU is an international interfaith organization that advocates for interfaith values in the secular setting of the United Nations.

Eco Justice for ALL Dialogues (EJAD)

According to the website, EJAD are special intimate discussions about the climate emergency with international ChangeMakers.

The EJAD series is an ongoing ToU-project focus for past 12 years; the focus is to increase awareness among religious leaders of the climate crisis and its negative impact on achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals. In particular, the EJAD focus is on peace, justice, women's health & safety, food sovereignty, and environmental sustainability.

In her welcoming statements, ToU executive director Alison Van Dyk mentioned that the Environmental Stewardship: the business perspective dialogue was the first time the EJAD hosted a business-oriented topic.

As she closed her welcoming statements, Alison turned the program over to Holly as the dialogue moderator.

The Overview
Within her opening remarks, Holly established herself as a seasoned business woman who started her career as an Arthur Andersen auditor and later served as Controller of Trammel Crow Residential, SE Division. Holly's 15 years in the foodservice industry as a restaurateur and off-premises caterer was the perfect background for the 2009 Zero Waste Zones (ZWZ) launch.

In 2010, Ei was formed as the home to the ZWZ, the forerunner in the nation for the commercial collection of food waste for compost. From inception through 2017, Ei operated with tremendous success within the Era of Recycling Refinement (RR.) In June 2017, Ei declared the Era of RR Mission Accomplished and segued into the Era of Regeneration where Nature Prevails is the primary platform.

During the Era of RR, Ei worked closely with Stephanie and Tim; Holly and Simon support each other in the  Environmental Economics focus area, which resides within the Nature Prevails platform.

As her opening remarks closed, Holly shared the dialogue landscape: it began with Stephanie presenting a broad perspective on why environmental stewardship makes good, solid business sense. Tim followed with specific examples of accomplishments within his role as Director of Sustainability at the Georgia World Congress Center, the nation's fourth largest conference center and home to the Atlanta Falcon's football stadium, and involvement with major sporting events. 

For the final presenter, the discussion shifted gears with Simon's talk on Junglenomics and how sustainable accomplishments are no longer feasible to avoid climate disaster; regenerative solutions are imperative.

Holly turned the microphone over to Stephanie to answer a series of prepared questions.

The Broad Perspective

Stephanie Barger
Photo credit:
Holly Elmore Images

In her self introduction, Stephanie mentioned that she shares a common accounting and audit background with Holly and entered the environmental non-profit realms in 2000 with the launch of Earth Resources. As the founder and executive director of the U.S. Zero Waste Business Council (USZWBC,) Stephanie orchestrated the annual National Zero Waste Business Conferences from 2012 through 2016. Additionally,  the USZWBC launched the Zero Waste Certification Program (ZWCP.) 

When the USGBC purchased the USZWBC in 2016, Stephanie segued into the USGBC Global Director of Market Transformation position, and the ZWCP transformed into the TRUE Certification for Zero Waste. In her USGBC capacity, Stephanie works closely with global corporate leadership on achieving zero waste and embarking on other sustainability endeavors.

Driving Forces
Multiple factors - many consumer driven - motivate corporations to embrace environmental stewardship. Often the local, state, and federal regulations governing pollution generation, manufacturing by-product disposal, natural resource extraction, and beyond were the result of public outcry related to environmentally damaging common practices.

Astute companies realize that they must protect the limited valuable resources used in their products to ensure their long-term sustainability; thus, these companies developed internal environmental stewardship practices to protect their corporate longevity. Additionally. company products must be safe to use and free of hazardous materials to maintain a profitable customer base.

Another driving force for sustainable best practices is they simply makes good, solid business sense on tangible and intangible levels. When less resources and energy are expended in the production, packaging, and transportation cycles, lower costs are incurred and the bottom line benefits. An intangible benefit is improved staff morale, which aids in employee retention and recruitment; overall, employees enjoy working for a company that cares about their environmental impact.

Industry Leaders
For zero waste initiatives, Japanese companies were early leaders with embracing resource-recovery and waste-not practices. Limited landfill space on the island was a natural incentive for operating within zero waste standards. Japanese manufacturers Toyota, Subaru, and Ricoh Electronics incorporated their standard zero waste practices when opening U.S.-based plants across the country. 

Eiko  & Stephanie 
Photo credit: Holly Elmore Images

At the inaugural NZWBC in 2012, Ricoh division manager Eiko Risch was an empowering keynote speaker who inspired the audience on "what could be done." The 2012 Regeneration in ACTION (RiA) article, U.S. Zero Waste Business Council hosts first-rate conference, highlights Eiko's impressive keynote presentation.

When their products directly impact customer health, such as personal beauty items and cleaning supplies, a manufacturer often incorporates environmental stewardship within its corporate ethics. Earth Friendly Products (EFP) is a prime example; EFP is a home-based product manufacturer who adheres to ethical standards ranging from manufacturing ingredients, employee and social equity stewardship, and zero waste practices.

At the 2015 NZWBC hosted in Los Angeles, EFP Vice-President Sustainability and Education Nadereh Afsharmanesh spoke at the conference and hosted Holly on a pre-conference tour of their local zero waste-certified plant; the EFP environmental policies were beyond impressive. The 2015 RiA article, Zero Waste Makes Good Business Sense, features the EFP tour as well as Nadereh's and other zero waste leaders' presentations.

Beverage companies like Sierra Nevada are environmental leaders via their ingredient sourcing, zero waste practices, and supporting local economies. Over the past decade, many farms shifted to regenerative agriculture practices and incorporated agri-tourism into their business models. The 2018 RiA article, Regenerating a Bright Future for Planet Earth, features regenerative ranch White Oak Pastures (WOP) within the synopsis of The Savory Institute's Global Network Reunion hosted at WOP in south Georgia.

Corporate Culture
Corporate culture is key to a long-term environmental stewardship commitment. Beyond the executive team, the company stakeholders, including the Board of Directors and stockholders along with the supply chain, must be in alignment with the commitment. 

For TRUE certification at the highest level, the supply chain must adhere to strict zero waste practices; otherwise, there is waste inherent within the raw materials used in product manufacturing and/or services provided. Additionally, the company's product packaging must be minimal for safe transportation, reusable or recyclable, and contain no waste passed on to the consumer.

For employees to align with the culture, environmental stewardship must be discussed during the employee-interview process, included in job descriptions and evaluations, and integral to consistent staff training, similar to safety standards.

Certifications

As she closed her dialogue, Stephanie explained the important role third-party certifications play with establishing industry standards, setting metric-collection protocol, and preventing green washing. Additionally, trusted certifications educate the public on environmental and health concerns within commonly accepted operating practices as well as with building structures.

While the TRUE Zero Waste Certification takes a holistic approach via supply chain waste practices and product-packaging implications, the USGBC LEED - Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design - certification addresses how buildings are designed, constructed, and operated. Internationally held in high esteem, LEED is a green-building-certification program that recognizes best-in-class building strategies and practices within the USGBC umbrella.

Beyond LEED certification, the International WELL Building Institute certification focus is on the built environment's impact on employee's mental, physical, and emotional health. Focus areas include air and water quality, nourishment, light, fitness, comfort, and mind.

Corporate Stewardship

During his decade-long tenure at the Georgia World Congress Center Authority (GWCCA), Tim excelled in the new position that segued into the Director of Sustainability at the state-owned 220-acre campus; the GWCCA campus housed the nation's fourth largest convention center, the Georgia Dome (home to the Atlanta Falcons football team,) and Olympic Centennial Park. 

Tim presenting at an Ei Partner Meeting
Photo credit: Holly Elmore Images

The RiA article, Changing of the Guard: Welcome Tim Trefzer to the Ei Leadership Team!, welcomes Tim to the Ei Leadership Team and gives an overview of his impressive environmental accomplishments during his GWCCA tenure.

Tim utilizes his extensive sporting event expertise in his current position as Honeycomb Strategies Event and Venue Sustainability VP, Sports & Venues to support venues and teams with their environmental stewardship commitments.

Sporting Event Industry Leadership

As they encompass a vast cross section of business, government, and community sectors, the sporting event industry emerged as an environmental leader early in the sustainability movement. A multitude of businesses engage with sporting event venues for a variety of services and benefits, ranging from food service to grounds maintenance to corporate-sponsorship contracts  Often local or state governments own or are otherwise financially involved in the venue; the GWCCA is a state-owned facility.

Sporting event venues are a significant local employer, especially during games or other events. Employees as well as fans are drivers for environmental stewardship, especially in the zero waste realms. Zero waste initiatives are easily observed and experienced by the employee and/or fan. Though it is an important component to environmental stewardship and a cost-saving initiative, energy efficiency is intangible and not directly part of the fan experience.

When Tim initially joined the GWCCA team, LEED Certification was pursued as a competitive advantage for winning large sporting event contracts. A decade plus later, LEED Certification is simply expected.

Georgia World Congress Center
On October 28, 2014, the Georgia World Congress Center (GWCC) announced the 3.9 million-square-foot conference center was awarded LEED Silver certification. The announcement thrust Atlanta into the national | global sustainability spotlight as home to the world's largest LEED-certified convention center AND the 14th largest LEED-certified building.

Holly & Tim with Gold LEED plaque

Recertifying two years early, on November 28, 2017, the GWCC was awarded LEED Gold certification, the second highest level in the rating system. In the recertification, the GWCC was thirteen points higher than the 2014 application and five points higher than the minimum requirement. The majority of the additional points related to the energy-saving performance contract.

IMPRESSIVE: the GWCC experienced a 40% reduction in energy usage via the $28 million energy-saving performance contract! Via the contract terms, the new equipment was paid for with energy savings with no upfront investment by the GWCC.

The 2018 IMPACT Magazine article, Atlanta: the greenest convention, sports, and entertainment destination in the world, showcases the GWCC's exceptional environmental stewardship commitment under Tim's leadership.

Sporting Event Expertise

As host to the 2013 NCAA® Men’s Final Four®, the second most popular sporting event across the globe, Atlanta set a high standard for sporting event sustainability practices. One of the Atlanta Local Organizing Committee (ALOC) stated goals was to make the 2013 Final Four the "greenest games ever." Tim took the helm for achieving the lofty goal.

SUCCESS: the comprehensive ALOC plan culminated in impressive green footprints before, during and after the games. The ZWA Blog article, Final Four green footprints continue after the games, gives an overview of event sustainability stats; the May 2013 Final Four Sustainability Report is the official in-depth report.

Post-event, Tim and an EPA colleague drafted the Final Four Sustainability RFP sustainability section. Thus, new industry standards were established!

Tim & Jack Groh at a Super Bowl event

For several years, Tim consulted with the College Football Playoff and the Super Bowl leadership on establishing sustainability standards at their prestigious sporting events. In addition, Tim was the sustainability liaison for the 2018 College Football Playoff National Championship and the 2019 Super Bowl host committees. The events were hosted at Mercedes-Benz Stadium (MBS;) on the GWCCA campus, MBS replaced the Georgia Dome as home to the Atlanta Falcons and other sport franchises.

Validating Tim's significant contributions to sporting event sustainability, National Football League Director of Environmental Programs Jack Groh honored Tim, along with two other icons, in his 2017 Green Sports Alliance Environmental Leadership Award acceptance speech.

Small Businesses

For his final commentary, Tim addressed how a small business may adopt environmental best practices for their facility and operations. Power-purchase agreements are often available where a third party funds the renewable energy-equipment installation and gets paid via energy savings.

Tim recommended that small businesses shift their waste-stream perspective. Beyond reducing the waste stream, there is a market for many of the disposed materials; mini bales of aluminum, water bottles, and cardboard are three common items that may be sold in the commodities market. Thus, by shifting from a waste to a materials-stream perspective, the business may achieve an improved bottom line via reduced waste-hauler charges and revenue from material sales.

Holly advised small businesses to check with their local government for programs designed to fund renewable energy conversions or other energy savings. 

Regenerative Solutions

In the 2017 RiA article, Beyond Sustainability: Regenerative Solutions, the below opening paragraph sets the stage for the dialogue's final speaker Simon Lamb.

Over the past decade, sustainability moved from a buzz word to a movement to a culture within leading communities, universities and businesses. Significant strides were made in zero waste practices, renewable energy technology, and reduced carbon / water footprints. Yet the glaciers continue melting, global temperatures are rising, the ocean acidification levels are increasing, and desertification is escalating.

Sustainability merely prevents increased waste, energy usage, resource extraction, and release of toxins into the atmosphere, soils, and waterways. With the tremendous damage inflicted upon the earth via human activity, regenerative solutions that repair, heal, and rejuvenate earthly resources are necessary for life as we know it to survive and once again thrive on our blue-green planet. 

Junglenomics

Simon pursues an academic approach to economic solutions for environmental challenges. Published in 2019, Junglenomics encapsulates 25 years of Simon's study and research on how to create economic markets that support and value environmental stewardship. Within Junglenomics, social policy is equally important to environmental policy.

In his self-introduction, Simon explained how his lifelong passion for regenerative solutions based on economic markets emerged. Simon was strongly influenced and inspired by renowned oceanographer, filmmaker, and author Jacques Cousteau as well as Silent Spring by Rachel Carson published in 1962.

As a young man, Simon was enthralled with the ancient oak woodlands near his home in the North Wales countryside; the woodlands were a place of reverence, a place of joy. Simon cherished the profound diversity within the forest life cycle including a plethora of insects and pollinators, abundant flora and fauna intermingled within the elder trees, along with a variety of species from the animal and fungi kingdoms. 

Yet, Simon discovered an unfathomable alternative perspective: others only valued the ancient woodlands for the lumber derived from fallen oak trees.

According to Simon, evolution and economics are closely related within the concept of own wealth, a self wealth. Every creature perceives the world with a unique perspective based on their priorities and need to acquire resources. The economic markets flow within a similar manner as individuals are driven to acquire profitable commodities that provide basic needs for their families and businesses. Thus, individuals are constantly seeking profitable resources.

A core problem is the current commodities markets value natural resources once they are extracted or otherwise destroyed; there is no financial incentive to keep the natural resources and their related environmental services in tact.

Junglenomics presents Nature's clear blueprint for reorganizing the current economic domain,

Environmental Services Bonds

Often, the countries rich in natural resources are poor in financial stature with severe poverty, food scarcity, high illiteracy rates, and significant health challenges.

By creating commodities markets that align with Nature, Simon believes that big business will shift from extractive measures to conservative and regenerative practices. With the extensive damage to natural resources, it is imperative to create financial incentives that regenerate resources back into abundant, balanced states.

Utilizing one of the many Junglenomics policies, Simon proposes an Environmental Services Bond market where wealthy countries purchase environmental services from the poor country rich in natural resources. The capital is used to create national parks where resources and wildlife are protected, restore depleted land using regenerative agriculture practices, and create healthy communities with access to nutritious food, education, and medical services.

Closing Commentary

In the Q&A and closing commentary, the speakers addressed how consumers may take effective, individual action.

The three speakers emphasized using the power of consumer demand to influence change in corporate practices and product development. Consumers may cast an empowering vote via purchases with their financial resources and by engaging with business managers. In addition to constructive criticism, it is important to applaud businesses for their environmental stewardship successes. 

Stephanie recommends a review our own lifestyle and habits prior to looking to businesses for solutions. Supporting local small businesses builds a resilient economy where regenerative practices may flourish.

Simon recommended purchasing stock in targeted businesses to obtain a stockholder vote. Additionally, Simon emphasized that government is essential and sets the tone for corporate policy and practices and personal living choices; the Environmental Services Bond market requires government participation.

In her answer to Tim's question on the USGBC's future focus, Stephanie commented that a plethora of new third-party certifications are added to their portfolio; a primary USGBC emphasis is "lifting everyone up" by providing an array of tools that businesses may use to reduce their various footprints and increase their environmental stewardship.

Alyson closed the Environmental Stewardship: the business perspective dialogue with empowering praise and a commitment to include the business perspective in future dialogues and initiatives. 

If government, educational institutions, non-profits, the secular sector, and businesses work together, major strides in environmental stewardship will naturally flow for a WIN benefiting humanity and all life on our lovely planet.

The entire Environmental Stewardship: the business perspective Dialogue is available for viewing on YouTube.

________________________________________

 Tax-deductible donations in any amount are greatly appreciated to support Ei's important work. 

DONATE HERE

About Earth Impact:

Earth Impact (formerly Elemental Impact) (Ei) is a 501(c)3 non-profit founded in 2010 as the home to the Zero Waste Zones, the forerunner in the nation for the commercial collection of food waste for compost. In June 2017, Ei announced the Era of Recycling Refinement was Mission Accomplished and entered the Era of Regeneration (June 2017 - June 2024). Focus areas included Nature Prevails, Soil Health | Regenerative Agriculture, and Water Use | Toxicity.

The Regeneration in ACTION Magazine articles, From Organic Certification to Regenerative Agriculture to Rewilding Landscapes: an evolution towards soil integrity and SOIL & WATER: the foundation of life, published to explain and substantiate the importance of Ei’s rewilding urban landscapes work within the Nature Prevails focus area. What We Eat Matters is an emerging platform that intertwines within the three focus areas.

As Ei enters the Era of Impact (June 2024 – present,) gears shift to a new business model, Ei Educates. Though education was always integral to Ei’s important work, the  primary focus was on projects, pilots, and initiatives supported by Ei Partners. The Regeneration Era focus areas carry over into the Era of Impact.

The Holly Elmore Images Rewilding Urban Landscapes-album folder documents two active pilots: the Native-Plant Landscape Pilot and the Backyard Permaculture-Oriented Pilot. The Ei Pilots serve as an educational program.

MISSION:

To work with industry leaders to create best regenerative operating practices where the entire value-chain benefits, including corporate bottom lines, communities, and the environment. Through education and collaboration, establish best practices as standard practices.

Ei’s tagline – Regeneration in ACTION – is the foundation for Ei endeavors.

The following mantra is at the core of Ei work:

Ei is a creator, an incubator.

Ei determines what could be done that is not being done and gets it done.

Ei brings the possible out of impossible.

Ei identifies pioneers and creates heroes.

For additional information, contact Holly Elmore at 404-510-9336 | holly@earth-impact.org.