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G04-NPS-01
McCroskie Creek Watershed Project
There is 29,863 acres of upland in the watershed. Approximately 12,115 acres is cropland, and over half of the cropped acres are eroding at a rate of over 2 T (soil loss tolerance factor) per year. A very limited number of producers within the watershed are using Nutrient and Pest Management practices. Combining the excessive amounts of pesticides (primarily herbicides) and nutrients (fertilizer) being applied along with the erosion occurring at a 2 T rate creates a water quality problem when runoff enter the watershed streams which then outlets into the Missouri River. Producers over the years have removed or damaged approximately 60% of the riparian buffers. Fields are being tilled right to the bank of the streams. This creates bank instability, which leads to additional erosion as well as reduces the amount of habitat available for wildlife. In recent years, approximately 2,986 acres of the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) ground and pasture has either been converted or returned to row crops. Livestock numbers (cattle) have increased approximately 15%. Cattle on most farms have access to streams on a daily basis. This creates a soil erosion problem as well as a water quality problem, which needs to be addressed.
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
The Carroll County Soil and Water Conservation District and the designated partners will provide technical assistance to complete the conservation practices listed under methods employed. With the use of workshops, tours, newsletters and demonstrations, the district will provide area landowners and producers with the education, information and technical assistance needed to achieve the goals set forth in this project.
OBJECTIVES
The objectives of the project are to improve water quality in the watershed and to treat unprotected croplands with soil saving conservation practices. The district will introduce best management practices like No-Till, Pest and Nutrient Management, Filter Strips and Planned Grazing Systems to area producers. Another objective is to introduce practices such as Marginal Pasture, CP9's, Contour Buffer Strips and Contour Stripcropping. Plans include implementing Waste Management Systems and Streambank Stabilization. Vertical outlets on Tile Terrace Systems will outlet into buffer strips before the drainage flows into the area water sources. By introducing and implementing these practices, producers will be holding sediment, nutrients and pesticides in place and reduce excessive amounts of polluted runoff from leaving treated acres.
METHODS EMPLOYED
The goals for this project are to educate the landowners and area producers on implementing best management practices and treat land eroding above T with the following conservation practices:
1) 280 acres of Terraces Systems with vertical outlets,
2) 525 acres of Cropland Protective Cover,
3) 14 acres of Sod Waterways,
4) 560 acres Planned Grazing Systems,
5) 25 Groundwater Flow Model Demo's
6) 28 Well Closings,
7) 200 acres of Permanent Vegetative Cover,
8) 150 acres of Filter Strips,
9) 420 acres of Marginal Pasture,
10) 280 acres of Contour Buffer Strips,
11) 280 acres of Contour Stripcropping,
12) 70 acres of Riparian Forest Buffers,
13) convert producers from using Conventional Tillage to No-Till on over 2,000 acres of the cropland,
14) introduce and implement both Pest and Nutrient Management on 2,000 acres of cropland, reduce the amount of herbicides and fertilizers that are applied by some 25%, and implement crop scouting on these same acres,
15) install four CP9 practices (shallow water area for wildlife),
16) build two Waste Management Systems,
17) develop demos on the application of Nitrogen and the stabilization of Nitrogen in crop fields,
18) and with the help of the Carroll County Commission (Bridge Department) re-establish Streambank Stabilization in 3 locations of approximately 350 total feet.
The funding for these conservation practices will be provided for by several different sources: 319 nonpoint source, AgNPS SALT McCroskie Creek, continuous CRP, Quails Unlimited, local state cost-share and U.S. Department of Agriculture cost-share
PRODUCTS
Two newsletters with achieved goals will be written, published and mailed to area landowners biannually (totaling 8 newsletters) over the life of the project.
Agendas will be printed for workshops and tours.
A brochure will be developed and published about the watershed and the achievements.
A report on the results of two landowner meetings will be summarized.
Quarterly reports will be written (one per quarter for the life of the project).
A final project report will be submitted to the department.
COOPERATING AGENCIES
With the help of the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, the Environmental Protection Agency, AgNPS SALT, Ray County Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD), Natural Resources Conservation Services (NRCS), Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC), Norborne School Stream Team, Carrollton High School FFA Chapter and the community feels that the goals and objectives of this project can be met.
PROJECT SPONSOR AND CONTACT
Carroll County Soil and Water Conservation District
Pat Davis
Route 1, Box 211C
Carrollton, MO 63873
Phone: 660-542-8728
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