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.
2006-2011
Business Plan Statements of Intent
Drainage
-
Through January 2009, educate land users on how to properly maintain drains.
-
By December 2011, increase the number of regulated drains in
-
By December 2011, secure funding through local/state/federal government to
clear drainage obstructions in
-
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.
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.
Issue Action Step ___ ______Who _____ __
___When
Drainage
Education Address drainage issues at Dist.
Coord.,
Annual Meeting. Board,
USACE, January
Cnty.
Officials
Address drainage issues
in newsletter Dist. Coord.,
articles. Drainage
Board January
Address drainage issues
in newspaper Dist. Coord.,
articles. Drainage
Board September
Host Bob Tobias on
Muscatatuck log jam Dist. Coord., January
Report.
Post information on the
SWCD website. Dist. Coord., Ongoing
Drains Work with Drainage Board
and Board, Natural February
Commissioners to
increase the number Resources
of regulated drains. Conservation
Service
(NRCS)
Form a Stormwater Utility Workgroup Board February
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 January
with legislators about
the need for John Hardin
increased funding to
clear out Bill Comer
drains.
Post information on the
SWCD website. Dist. Coord. Ongoing
Issue Action Step ___ ______Who _____ _____
When
Soil Erosion and Soil
Quality
Erosion- Promote no-till and
conservation Dist.
Coord., June
ag land programs/practices at
field days. Board, NRCS March ‘09
Promote federal
conservation Dist. Coord., Ongoing
programs such as
Conservation NRCS Jan., April,
Reserve Program (CRP)
and July,
October
conservation practices
such as
buffers. Include brochure with newsletters
Post information on the
SWCD website. Dist. Coord., Ongoing
Erosion- Maintain contact with Rule 5 contractor Board, Monthly
urban to monitor and implement conservation Dist. Coord.
plans.
Post information on the SWCD website. Dist. Coord., Ongoing
Soil Host a Soil Quality
Workshop. Dist.
Coord., June
Quality Make it a breakfast
to talk Board,
NRCS,
about benefits of soil
testing,
cover crops and hopefully Department of
available grant $ Agriculture
(ISDA)
Promote cover crops in newsletter Dist. Coord., April
articles.
Post information on the
SWCD website. Dist. Coord., Ongoing
Issue Action Step ___ ______Who _____ _____
When
Forestry Create newspaper
articles to educate Dist. Coord., Annually in
landowners on the importance of spring, fall
well-managed forests. May,
October
Create newsletter articles to educate Dist. Coord., Annually
landowners on the
importance of well April,
October
managed forests.
Post information on the
SWCD website. Dist. Coord., Ongoing
Offer an incentive
payment of $30 per Dist. Coord., Annually
acre to landowners
improving their Board,
NRCS,
existing forest. Payments will be DNR Publicize
in
made on 100 acres over 5
years, at May,
October
approximately 20
acres/yr. These
payments may piggyback
NRCS
programs. Mention in articles
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 November
articles.
Promote EQIP and GRP in newsletter Dist. Coord., Annually
articles. Include brochure with newsletters Jan., April,
July,
October
Promote EQIP, GRP, BMPs,
and Dist. Coord., Annually
proper fertilization at
field days. Board,
NRCS March/November
Address specialty
animals (e.g., goats, Dist.
Coord., Annually
sheep, horses) at field
days. Board,
NRCS March/November
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
Publicize a farmland
preservation article Dist. Coord., January
in annual report. Board
Create agricultural land
conservation Dist. Coord., Annually
& preservation
articles for the November
newspaper.
Post information on the
SWCD website. Dist. Coord., Ongoing
Wildlife Promote wetlands and programs NRCS, Annually
available to landowners.
Dist. Coord.,
Jan., April,
Include brochure with newsletters July,
October
Distribute wildlife
seed. Dist.
Coord., Annually
Quail March
Unlimited
Create newsletter
newspaper articles Dist. Coord., Annually
pertaining to wildlife and habitat, and in
spring
various programs
available to landowners. March
Post information on the
SWCD website. Dist. Coord., Ongoing