Opportunities to sustain "greener" farming: comparing impacts of water quality regulations in two catchments: Lake Taupo (NZ) and Tomales Bay, California (USA).

Livestock farming in New Zealand and the United States is increasingly being scrutinised for its environmental impact. In some regions regulations intended to reduce non-point source pollution have been introduced. Regulations can impact agricultural sustainability and may have undesirable consequences including land use change. Livestock farmers in two catchments, Lake Taupo and Tomales Bay (California) were interviewed regarding the impacts of new water quality regulations on farm sustainability. The interviews identified motivations for farming and incentives for farms to improve water quality. The impact of a market-based strategy to reduce and cap N leaching in the Lake Taupo catchment seems to be resulting in fewer but more intensive farms. Concerns of future sustainability have driven some farmers in the catchment to sell their farms. The Tomales Bay catchment strategy, which requires self-assessment of farm water quality impacts, is resulting in most farmers initiating new conservation practices with little impact to farm sustainability. Regulations that go beyond market-based incentives and include substantial technical assistance and costshare incentives may be more effective at providing opportunities for sustaining less intensive farms.