Conservation District Business Plan

 

Scott County Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD)

I find the great thing in this world is not so much where we stand as in what direction we are moving – Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr.

 

Organization:     The District was organized in November of 1945 as a legal subdivision of the State of Indiana.  It was formed as an independent body under and subject only to the Indiana Soil and Water Conservation District Law.

 

 

Function:   The District is responsible for the leadership in conserving and protecting soil and water related resources within Scott County.  We provide information about soil, water and related natural resource conservation; identify and prioritize local soil and water resource concerns; and connect land users to sources of education, technical and financial assistance to implement conservation practices and technologies.

 

We serve: The Scott County Soil & Water Conservation District works with both rural and urban people, non-agricultural and agricultural groups and organizations, local units of government, groups of citizens, individual landowners and others who request assistance. 

 

 

 

Mission Statement: Helping others help themselves conserve and protect the natural resources of Scott County.

 

 

 

Why:  To conserve and improve natural resources for future generations.

 

 

 

Critical Natural Resource Issues:

          1. Drainage

 

          2. Soil Erosion and Soil Quality

 

          3. Forestry

 

          4. Pasture

 

          5. Agricultural Land: Conservation and Preservation

 

          6. Wildlife

 

 

Critical Geographic Areas of Concern:

          All of Scott County

 

 

Statements of Intent – SWCD Goals For Each Identified Issue.

 

Drainage

- Through January 2009, educate land users on how to properly maintain drains.

- By December 2011, increase the number of regulated drains in Scott County.

- By December 2011, secure funding through local/state/federal government to clear drainage obstructions in Scott County.

- By December 2011, secure permits to clear out drains.

 

Soil Erosion and Soil Quality

- By December 2007, investigate the extent of urban soil erosion issues and develop a plan for the SWCD’s role in addressing these issues.

- By December 2007, establish county ordinance procedures for Rule 5 regulation.

- Through December 2011, maintain or increase current levels of acres utilizing no-till.

- By December 2011, improve soil quality and reduce soil erosion on 10,000 acres of cropland by increasing soil organic matter content (and thus soil carbon sequestration) and implementation of nutrient/pest management plans, and maintaining or increasing the use of no-till.

 

Forestry

- By December 2011, increase managed forested acres by 5%.

 

Pasture

- By December 2011, improve pasture quality and get maximum number of head per acre while reducing environmental impacts by 1000 acres.

- By December 2011, correct over/under fertilization by encouraging best management practices (BMPs).

 

Agricultural Land: Conservation and Preservation

- Through December 2011, promote educational materials regarding trust, purchase & development rights, and different methods available to landowners as a resource to help protect agricultural land.

 

Wildlife

- By December 2011, increase wildlife habitat by 500 acres.

- Through December 2011, maintain existing wildlife habitat.

 

 

Priority Actions:

 

Issue                   Action Step                                               Who                     When

Drainage

Education   Host a drainage workshop.                       Dist. Coord.,        Spring

                                                                                      Board,                  2007,

                                                                                      Drainage Brd.,     2009

                                                                                      Cnty. Officials,

                                                                                      US Army Corps

                                                                                      of Engineers

                                                                                      (USACE)    

 

                   Address drainage issues at Field Days.    Dist. Coord.,        2008,

                                                                                      Board, USACE,    2010

                                                                                      Cnty. Officials

 

                   Address drainage issues in newsletter    Dist. Coord.,        2008,

                   articles.                                                      Drainage Board   2010

 

                   Address drainage issues in newspaper    Dist. Coord.,        2008,

                   articles.                                                      Drainage Board   2010

 

                   Post information on the SWCD website.  Dist. Coord.                   Ongoing

 

Drains         Work with Drainage Board and                 Board, Natural     2008,

                   Commissioners to increase the number   Resources           2010

                   of regulated drains.                                   Conservation

                                                                                      Service (NRCS)

 

                   Form a Stormwater Utility Workgroup     Board                   Annually

                   and host meetings annually to

                   brainstorm/discuss drainage issues.

                   Invite Drainage Board and county

                   officials to be part of this workgroup.     

                  

                   Attend Annual Conference and speak      Board                   Annually

                   with legislators about the need for

                   increased funding to clear out

                   drains.

                                     

                   Post information on the SWCD website.  Dist. Coord.                   Ongoing                                                     

 

 

Issue                   Action Step                                               Who                     When

Soil Erosion and Soil Quality

Erosion-      Publicize results of tillage transect.                  Dist. Coord.,                  Fall 2007,         

 ag land                                                                         NRCS                                       Fall 2010                  

 

                   Promote no-till and conservation             Dist. Coord.,                  Annually

                   programs/practices at field days.             Board, NRCS      

                                                                                     

                   Promote federal conservation                  Dist. Coord.,                  Ongoing

                   programs such as Conservation               NRCS

                   Reserve Program (CRP) and           

                   conservation practices such as

                   buffers.      

 

                   Post information on the SWCD website.  Dist. Coord.                             Ongoing

         

Erosion-      Meet with Indiana Department of             Board, IDEM                  November 2006 

 urban         Environmental Management (IDEM)

                   Stormwater Specialist to investigate

                   the extent of urban erosion

                   problems in Scott County and

                   work on solutions.

 

                   Work with county officials to establish    Board                             December 2006 

                   ordinance(s) on Rule 5.

 

                   Post information on the SWCD website.  Dist. Coord.                             Ongoing

 

Soil             Host a Soil Quality Workshop.                            Dist. Coord.,                  Winter 2008

 Quality                                                                         Board, NRCS,

                                                                                      (ISDA)

 

                   Promote cover crops in newsletter          Dist. Coord.                             Annually

                   articles.

 

                   Post information on the SWCD website.  Dist. Coord.                             Ongoing

 

 

Issue                   Action Step                                               Who                     When

Forestry

                   Order educational brochures from           Dist. Coord.,                  July 2007

                   Partners (e.g., Department of Natural      NRCS, DNR

Resources (DNR), NRCS) for          

                   landowners to study at home.        

 

                   Create a tri-fold brochure promoting       Dist. Coord.                             August 2007

                   the Forestry Field Day and highlighting

                   resource concerns such as the

                   importance of timber and its

                   profitability, proper forestry

                   management, sustaining existing

                   forests, and environmental/recreational           

                   benefits of forests.

 

                   Host a Forestry Field Day covering          Dist. Coord.,                  September 2007

                   managing forest land for profit,                Board, NRCS,

                   woodland practices to improve future     DNR biologist,

                   production, sustainable timber harvest   DNR forester,

                   practices, timber stand improvement,     ISDA

                   invasive plants, insect/disease, and

                   federal/state funding available to help

                   landowners such as CRP, Wildlife  

                   Habitat Incentives Program (WHIP),

                   Environmental Quality Incentives  

                    Program (EQIP), and Classified Forest    

                   and Wildland Program.

         

                   Create newspaper articles to educate     Dist. Coord.                             Annually in

                   landowners on the importance of                                                    spring, fall                              

well managed forests.

                  

                   Create newsletters articles to educate   Dist. Coord.                             Annually

                   landowners on the importance of well

                   managed forests.

 

                   Post information on the SWCD website.  Dist. Coord.                             Ongoing

 

Issue                   Action Step                                               Who                     When

Forestry

(cont.)        Offer an incentive payment of $30 per     Dist. Coord.,                  Annually

                   acre to landowners improving their                   Board, NRCS,

                   existing forest.  Payments will be            DNR

                   made on 100 acres over 5 years, at

                   approximately 20 acres/yr.  These

                   payments may piggyback NRCS

                   programs.  

                                     

                   Provide assistance to landowners            NRCS, DNR                             Ongoing         

                   such as conservation planning and                   

                   resource information.

 

Pasture

                   Promote EQIP and Grassland Reserve     Dist. Coord.                             Annually                  

                   Program (GRP) in newspaper

                   articles.

 

                   Promote EQIP and GRP in newsletter      Dist. Coord.                             Annually

                   articles.

 

                   Promote EQIP, GRP, BMPs, and                Dist. Coord.,                  Annually

                    proper fertilization at field days.              Board, NRCS

 

                   Address specialty animals (e.g., goats,    Dist. Coord.,                  Annually

                   sheep, horses) at field days.                     Board, NRCS

 

                   Host a pasture workshop.                         Dist. Coord.,                  Annually in

                                                                                      Board, NRCS,                July

                                                                                      NRCS Grazing

                                                                                      Land Specialist

 

                   Post information on the SWCD website.  Dist. Coord.                             Ongoing

                                                                                     

Issue                   Action Step                                               Who                     When

Agricultural Land: Conservation and Preservation

                   Host a farmland preservation speaker     Dist. Coord.,                  February 2008

                   at annual meeting.                                    Board

 

                   Create agricultural land conservation     Dist. Coord.                             Annually

                   & preservation articles for the

                   newspaper.

 

                   Post information on the SWCD website.  Dist. Coord.                             Ongoing

 

Wildlife

                   Explore partnering with Ducks                 Board                             January 2007

                   Unlimited and Quail Unlimited to help

                   fund the purchase of a Plotmaster

                   (food plot machine) or similar

                   equipment.

 

                   Promote wetlands and programs              NRCS,                            Annually

                   available to landowners.                           Dist. Coord.        

 

                   Distribute wildlife seed.                                      Dist. Coord.,                  Annually

                                                                                      Quail

                                                                                      Unlimited

 

                   Create newsletter articles pertaining      Dist. Coord.                             Annually in

                   to wildlife and habitat, and various                                                 spring

                   programs available to landowners.

 

                   Post information on the SWCD website.  Dist. Coord.                             Ongoing

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Key Individuals to Reach for Program Success:

County Council

County Commissioners

County Officials

Department of Natural Resources- Division of Forestry

Department of Natural Resources- Division of Fish & Wildlife

Drainage Board

Ducks Unlimited

Extension

Indiana Department of Environmental Management

Indiana State Department of Agriculture

Legislators

Natural Resources Conservation Service

Quail Unlimited

United States Army Corps of Engineers

 

 

This Soil and Water Conservation Business Plan was completed by the Scott County SWCD with the assistance of SWCD staff and supporting conservation agency partners on October 19, 2006.