The Watershed Project has provided technical assistance and installation guidelines to install a 140 foot tree-revetment project on the Gun River. This project used conifer trees anchored into the “toe” of the stream to prevent erosion from occuring and to rebuild the river bank.
Tree revetments greatly slow the current along the eroding bank; this decreases erosion and allows silt and sand to be deposited along the bank and within the tree branches. The deposited material forms a good seed bed in which the seeds of river trees such as cottonwood and sycamore can sprout and grow. The resulting trees spread roots throughout the revetment and streambank. By the time the revetment trees have decayed, the bank should be stabilized by the roots of the living trees. As an added benefit, tree revetments provide excellent fish and wildlife cover.
The Gun River Watershed Project cost-shared the use of a no-till drill to plant crops for a Plainwell producer in the spring of 2007. Some of the benefits of no-till vs. conventional tillage are:
A producer can save at least 3.5 gallons of fuel per acre by going 
Low Impact
from conventional tillage methods to no-till. At November 2007 diesel prices, this amounts to $7.70 per acre in production cost savings. On a farm with 1,000 acres of cropland, these savings add up to 3,500 gallons of diesel fuel per year valued at $7,700.
Currently, no-till is practiced on over 62 million acres. If the amount of no-till acreage doubled, farmers could save an additional 217 million gallons of fuel, valued at over $480 million.
No-till is a conservation practice that leaves the crop residue undisturbed from harvest through planting except for narrow strips that cause minimal soil disturbance. Crop residues are materials left in an agricultural field after the crop has been harvested. These residues include stalks and stubble (stems), leaves and seed pods. Good management of field residues can increase efficiency of irrigation and control of erosion. No-till can be used for almost any crop in almost any soil and can save producers labor costs and fuel. It’s a sound investment for the environment and the farm.
In addition to energy efficiencies and cost savings, no-till has several environmental benefits. No-till increases the organic matter in the soil, making it more stable and helping prevent soil erosion. No-till reduces greenhouse gases because it requires less fuel and sequesters (stores) carbon in the soil. Other benefits of using no-till as part of a resource management system include:
• Increased earthworm populations that improve soil quality—an average of 540,000 earthworms per acre versus 285,000 in conventional tillage
• Increased water infiltration—cutting evaporation and runoff by at least 70 percent
• Reduced tilling time per acre—by as much as two-thirds
Have you ever wondered why your neighbors lawn is so green? Have you ever had your soil tested? Well, now is your chance to catch up with your neighbors lawn. A free soil testing program is now offered for your home or garden.
>100% Free soil testing for Gun River Watershed residents
>We cover the shipping charges to the lab as well as the lab analysis
>Soil Testing is for pH, lime deficiency, available phosphorous, potassium, calcium and magnesium
>We will provide recommendations for lime and fertilizer after soil results are returned
>Your lawn can be more productive! And you can use less phosphorous!
Soil Sampling Instructions:
For a large lawn or garden, 10 to 15 sub-samples should be taken.
Take sub-samples in a random or zig zag pattern.
Avoid road edges, next to concrete foundations, walks etc.
Take samples at 4” deep for turf and 6” deep for a garden.
In a large container mix all sub-samples and air dry approximately 2 cups for soil analysis.
For more information call: Shawn McKenny at 269.673.8965
Please leave your name, address, phone number and sample site (garden, lawn etc) with soil sample.
Drop sites for dried soil samples:
GUN LAKE BUILDING SUPPLY AND RENTAL CENTER
81-124TH STREET
SHELBYVILLE, MI 49344
SHAWN MCKENNEY
ALLEGAN CONSERVATION DISTRICT
1668 LINCOLN ROAD M-40N
ALLEGAN, MI 49010
PAUL WYLIE
MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY EXTENSION OFFICE
3255 122ND AVENUE
ALLEGAN, MI 49010
The Michigan Department of Agriculture (MDA) has confirmed that the emerald ash borer (EAB) is present in Allegan County, in Section 27 of Gun Plain Township along M-89. The pest was likely transported to the county on firewood. The presence of this serious pest of ash trees does not mean that all Allegan County ash trees will be dead soon. The beetle does not spread very far on its own, only about ½ mile per year. To slow this spread, it is recommended to remove ash trees within ½ mile of known infestations. However there are no longer any government funds to do so. It is likely that areas within 5 miles of the known infestation will see impacts from EAB in less than 10 years. Ash trees for timber should also be removed or salvaged from these areas within that time frame to minimize EAB losses. To date, no widespread effective treatment has been found for EAB. There are some chemical treatments available to homeowners for valuable yard tree applications, but these treatments can be costly since annual applications are necessary for effective control in an infested area. The most important things all Allegan County residents can do is to be aware of the problem, talk to their neighbors, look for symptoms of the beetle and comply with the statewide and federal quarantines that restrict the movement of firewood. Suspected new EAB infestations may be reported to the MI Department of Agriculture in St. Joseph at 269-428-2575. For more information about EAB or the quarantines, visit www.emeraldashborer.info or www.michigan.gov/eab or contact Kelly Goward at the Allegan Conservation District, 269-673-8965 ×3. Another source of information is the Allegan County MSU Extension office at 3255 122nd Ave, Allegan, phone 269-673-0370, on the web at www.msue.msu.edu/allegan
The National Soil Survey is now avaliable online.
NRCS Web Soil Survey
The Michigan Department of Agriculture (MDA) has confirmed that the emerald ash borer (EAB) is present in Allegan County, in Section 27 of Gun Plain Township along M-89. The pest was likely transported to the county on firewood. The presence of this serious pest of ash trees does not mean that all Allegan County ash trees will be dead soon. The beetle does not spread very far on its own, only about ½ mile per year. To slow this spread, it is recommended to remove ash trees within ½ mile of known infestations. However there are no longer any government funds to do so. It is likely that areas within 5 miles of the known infestation will see impacts from EAB in less than 10 years. Ash trees for timber should also be removed or salvaged from these areas within that time frame to minimize EAB losses. To date, no widespread effective treatment has been found for EAB. There are some chemical treatments available to homeowners for valuable yard tree applications, but these treatments can be costly since annual applications are necessary for effective control in an infested area. The most important things all Allegan County residents can do is to be aware of the problem, talk to their neighbors, look for symptoms of the beetle and comply with the statewide and federal quarantines that restrict the movement of firewood. Suspected new EAB infestations may be reported to the MI Department of Agriculture in St. Joseph at 269-428-2575.
An excellent film being produced regarding our most precious natural resource: WATER
Trailer:
Interested in funding for conservation practices with up to 75% cost share without NRCS caps? No long complicated application process, no waiting for a scheduled review period. Take advantage now!
The Kalamazoo River Trading Program is a new source of grant-based funding available for agricultural producers to put soil and phosphorus reduction practices on the ground in select areas of the Kalamazoo River Watershed, including the Gun River Watershed. Gully stabilization, streambank stabilization, filter strips, feed lot waste management systems, prescribed grazing, conservation tillage, conservation cover, conservation crop rotation, cover crop & green manure, critical area planting, strip-cropping, etc. are all among the eligible practices.
This is a unique opportunity for any producer looking to install conservation practices in the Gun and Kalamazoo River Watersheds.
Please call Shawn for a field appointment or for more information! 269-673-8965 ext 3
Uncontrolled livestock access to surface water can lead to excessive sedimentation and phosphorous loads in rivers and lakes. The Watershed Project worked with a local producer to provide limited livestock access to the Knuth Drain in Allegan County. Previous to the project livestock had unrestricted access to the drain and were causing erosion and sedimentation problems.
Total Project Cost: $5925.00
Pollutant Load Reductions
Sediment: 4.5 tons/ac
Phosphorous: 5lbs
Nitrogen:1lb
The Sandy Pine Golf Course Buffer Strip Project included a total of 15,000 native plant plugs and many busy hands planting plugs over a 7 day period in July, 2006. Special thanks to all our volunteers and to Jim Spray and Max Gibbs from the Sandy Pines Resort for all their efforts and their concern for water quality in the Rabbit River. By fall 2007 the golf course will be a great place to see native plants in action and of course a great place for a round of golf!
Sandy Pines Golf Course
Pigeon Creek Buffer Strip Project
15,000 Native Plugs
Total Project Cost: $12,365.00
Pollutant Load Reductions
Sediment: 3.25ton/ac
Phosphorous:31.25lbs
Nitrogen: 6.25lbs
