Nutrient Offset & Buffer Mitigation Programs

Nutrient Offset

Nutrient Offset may be required for any new or existing development where nutrient reduction requirements exist as part of a nutrient management strategy. In North Carolina, there are four nutrient management strategies: Neuse River Basin, Tar-Pamlico River Basin, Falls Lake Watershed and Jordan Lake Watershed. Please visit the Division of Water Resource's Planning Section website for more information on Nutrient Practices and Crediting. 

Purchasing nutrient offset credits from a private mitigation bank or the NC Division of Mitigation Services (DMS) are options available to new or existing development where nutrient reduction requirements exist. All payments must be in compliance with 15A NCAC 02B .0703, the Nutrient Offset Credit Trading rule (*readopted effective 4/1/20, recodified from 15A NCAC 02B .0240, the former "Nutrient Offset Payments" rule) and G.S. 143-214.26.

Riparian Buffer Mitigation

Riparian Buffer Mitigation may be required for any project within an area covered by a Riparian Buffer Protection Rule for impacts to the protected riparian buffer listed as "(potentially) allowable with mitigation", " allowable with mitigation upon authorization", or "prohibited" in the Table of Uses. For more information about the Riparian Buffer Protection Rules, including the Table of Uses, please see the 401 & Buffer Permitting Statutes & Rules.

Purchasing Riparian Buffer Credits from a private mitigation bank or the NC Division of Mitigation Services (DMS) are options available to meet buffer mitigation requirements.  Use the  Location of Buffer Mitigation Guidance Table to determine where the buffer mitigation needs to be located.  Then, pick from an available private bank within that location using the table below or the map.  If there is no private bank with buffer credits available within that specific location, contact the DMS at DMS.ILF@deq.nc.gov. See the N.C. Division of Mitigation Services for more information about the In-Lieu Fee mitigation programs they offer. 

Satisfying Nutrient Offset and Riparian Buffer Mitigation Requirements

Proof of payment into a mitigation bank or in-lieu fee program or completion of an approved permit-specific mitigation project must be provided to DWR to satisfy the riparian nutrient offset or buffer mitigation requirement. Three (3) options for satisfying nutrient offset and/or riparian buffer mitigation are provided below:

1. Private Banks: Applicants who choose to satisfy the mitigation or offset requirement by purchasing credits from a private bank can find resources to locate approved banks using the table or map provided below

2. In-lieu fee mitigation: Applicant satisfies the mitigation requirement by purchasing mitigation credits through the N.C. Division of Mitigation Services.
   • List of active DMS projects with DWR project numbers (for Mitigation Project Information Upload Form)
3. Project-specific mitigation: Applicant satisfies the mitigation requirement themselves, either at the project site or at an off-site location.