In 3-5 sentences, relate one effect of agricultural water use on North Carolina’s river basins and one conservation strategy that would reduce the effect of agricultural practices on water quality. Provide specific examples in your answer.

Question

In 3-5 sentences, relate one effect of agricultural water use on North Carolina’s river basins and one conservation strategy that would reduce the effect of agricultural practices on water quality. Provide specific examples in your answer.
(4 points) HINT:  Unit 8 Lesson 7, Page 6. Click on Protecting Water Quality from Agricultural Runoff.  CITE THIS SOURCE IN YOUR PARAGRAPH

OPTIONAL SOURCE: North Carolina Water

BE CAREFUL! The lesson does not mention North Carolina’s river basins. The question only uses it as an example. You MUST use the article highlighted in yellow above. When you click on the link to the article, you will see SIX DARK GREEN SUBHEADINGS spread throughout the article. Each subheading is an agricultural practice or activity. To answer the question, choose ONE DARK GREEN SUBHEADING. The subheadings are: Sedimentation, Nutrients, Animal Feeding Operations, Livestock Grazing, Irrigation, and Pesticides.

For the subheading you choose, answer these 2 questions:

(1) How does this agricultural practice affect water?

(2) What is one conservation strategy that farmers and ranchers could use to reduce the effect of that agricultural practice on water quality?

HINT:  Unit 8 Lesson 7, Page 6.  CITE THIS SOURCE IN YOUR PARAGRAPH

OPTIONAL SOURCE: North Carolina Water

GPT-4o mini · Answer

One significant effect of irrigation practices on North Carolina's river basins is the depletion of local water levels, which can lead to reduced streamflow and negatively impact aquatic ecosystems (Protecting Water Quality from Agricultural Runoff). Additionally, excessive irrigation can result in runoff that carries fertilizers and pesticides into water bodies, degrading water quality. A conservation strategy that farmers can adopt to mitigate these effects is the implementation of efficient irrigation techniques, such as drip irrigation, which minimizes water use and reduces runoff. By doing so, farmers can maintain healthier river basins while supporting sustainable agricultural practices (Protecting Water Quality from Agricultural Runoff).