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For future funding the Rabbit River Watershed Project is focused on two grant proposals. The grant proposals include a grant from the Great Lakes Commission called the Great Lakes Basin Program for Soil Erosion and Sediment Control. This grant will be proposed in collaboration with the Kalamazoo River Watershed Council, Allegan County Drain Commission and the Allegan County Road Commission. Focus will be on projects that reduce sediment from reaching the Great Lakes, in this case Lake Michigan. These projects will include use of two stage channel design, a culvert replacement and programs to increase the use of conservation tillage among the producers in the Rabbit River Watershed.

Additional future funding will be seeking a new 319 grant administered by the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality. The focus of this proposal will be on Wetland Restoration, Best Management Practices (BMPs), and conservation tillage through Farm Bill Programs. Both of these grants will include a significant education and outreach component.

The Allegan Conservation District has been working hard to increase it’s use of electronic means for outreach and education. Over the current grant and use of electronic education we have seen a consistent increase in the use and number of individuals we are reaching through this communication. We will continue to utilize both new innovative techniques for outreach as well as integrating long standing methods of public education.

Currently, we are focused on implementing BMPs with The Allegan County Road Commission and The Allegan County Drain Commission. These projects are the current on the ground work that is progressing under the current 319 grant. We are also working to contact any landowners in the Rabbit River Watershed that have unrestricted livestock access to waterways including drains, ditches, channels and streams. Reducing unrestricted livestock access is critical to reducing nonpoint source pollution (NPS) in the watershed.

The next meeting of the Rabbit River Watershed Steering Committee will be held in July 2013. Feel free to contact the Project Manager with any questions, comments, or concerns.

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Native plants are suited to the local climate so they can require less watering and maintenance compared to flowers from other countries and they rarely become aggressive or invasive. (The worst invasive species in America right now, started as decorative plants which nurseries brought in from other countries). Wildlife, including butterflies and insects are adapted to native plants. They receive nutrients from, help pollinate and also lay eggs in native plants. If a yard has only non-native plants, then these garden beauties will go elsewhere to live.

There is a wide range of native plants, shrubs and grasses to suit any gardener’s tastes. They can be found in reds, yellows, oranges, pinks, whites, blues and purples and in varying needs of sun or shade, wet or dry. This spring take some time to look into native plants when you shop for your yard or gardens and you’ll be pleasantly surprised with the results.

We’re having a Native Plant Sale this year. Please look at our list of 40 Native Wildflowers, 5 Native Grasses, 3 Native Shrubs, and 5 native Ferns. Orders are due by May 6th, and the plant sale is scheduled for Friday, May 17th, from 4-8pm at the Allegan Conservation District Office.

Native Plant Sale Order Form

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Governor Snyder approved $21 Million for 58 dredging projects at public recreational boating facilities in Michigan. Kalamazoo Lake in Saugatuck is one of the additional locations added to the list. The “emergency dredging” is needed to allow boats access to Michigan harbors. The need is suggested to revolve around falling lake levels in the Great Lakes creating depth issues for boats. The access issues are for recreational vessels, and also for ships as well.

Sediment in the Harbors Comes from Upstream

Dredging is not a solution to the larger problem of excess sedimentation. The issue is not limited to lower lake levels and boat access to harbors. We need more than a quick fix for soil erosion and increased sediment coming downstream. There is no certainty that lake levels will rise or fall in the future. Dredging will allow boats to move in and out of harbors this season, but lake levels may continue to fall. This could lead to the need for more “emergency dredging”. The only certainty is that without a change in upstream land management, we will continue to dump large quantities of sediment in harbors and the Great Lakes.

Even without lower lake levels, we have the issues of upstream erosion that require regular dredging in harbors. The upstream sources of sediment are soils from a variety of inland locations where soil is bare. Significant sources of sediment are introduced from runoff and excessive erosion in stream channels from water racing downstream in straightened channels during rain events.

Runoff from rain events that travel over bare ground or exposed soil erodes soil into the stream system. This sediment load will travel downstream as long as it moves fast enough to remain suspended in the water. Water flows slower when it reaches lakes, reservoirs or harbors. At this point, the sediment is dropped out of suspension or dumped, settling to the bottom. Accumulation of sediment occurs in slower moving waters, particularly harbors or on arrival to the Great Lakes. These accumulated sediments require dredging to maintain ship passage even without lowering lake levels.

Some Sediment is Natural

Some erosion in streams is normal. Stream channels are always naturally changing. It’s also normal to see a delta form where rivers reach large bodies of water. Therefore, some sediment accumulation in harbors is to be expected. Most of our stream systems in Michigan are not all natural. We have continuously increased the speed at which water gets into streams by lengthening, building, straightening, and dredging channels. Due to these practices we have fast moving water and channels with more energy (water volume and speed) than can be handled by the channels. This is coupled with a loss of capacity of the surrounding lands to slow overland flow from rain. As a result these channels erode more and carry large amounts of suspended sediment for great distances. This sediment piles up downstream.

Dredging Regardless of Changes in Lake Level

Harbors and channels are dredged regularly regardless of lake level changes. This increase in sediment causes significant ecological problems in the stream channels, the Great Lakes, and the economic issues in harbors as well.

It appears that this year many harbors are now scheduled to be dredged with State money. Many people see this as a waste since they don’t own boats and receive little to no benefit from the work. Others see tourism and boating as a way of life in Michigan and believe this is an important way to utilize tax dollars. In addition to this debate we should include how we are using the money to keep our harbors accessible. It is possible that spending tax dollars upstream to reduce erosion and sediment in the stream is thelong term solution to multiple issues, not just one symptom of sediment in harbors. Without reducing sediment flowing into the harbors the issue will continue and many dollars will continue to be spent on emergency fixes. Of course this isn’t an answer to the question of why lake levels are falling, but it is another important component to managingthe land and waters of Michigan.

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Location: Outdoor Discovery Nature Preserve
4214 56th Street, Holland, MI 49423

Cost: $6

Event Flyer

To register and pay by credit card please visit our online store.

To register and pay by check, please complete the form below and send a check to the Allegan Conservation District at 1668 Lincoln Rd., Allegan, MI 49010.

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Close on heels of commencing use of wastelands in northern districts and rooftops in towns and cities, Gujarat is set to potentially use the existing 19,000 km-long network of Narmada canals across the State for setting up solar panels to generate power.

 The Chief Minister, Mr Narendra Modi, will inaugurate the first of a series of this project, known as Canal Solar Power Project, when he launches a 1 megawatt (mw) pilot project, which is already commissioned, on Narmada branch canal near Chandrasan village of Kadi taluka in Mehsana district on Tuesday.

 Last week, he inaugurated a 600-MW solar power project spread across 11 districts. This included a 214MW Solar Power Park, the largest such generation centre at a single location in Asia. Also, Azure Power, leading independent power producer in solar sector, announced a 2.5 MW rooftops project in Gandhinagar.

 Gujarat, which invests nearly Rs 2,000 crore an year on renewable energy, has attracted investments of Rs 9,000 crore so far on solar energy projects.

 The pilot project has been developed on a 750-m stretch of the canal by Gujarat State Electricity Corporation (GSECL) with support from Sardar Sarovar Narmada Nigam Ltd (SSNNL), which owns and maintains the canal network.

 Energy, water security

 The pilot project will generate 16 lakh units of clean energy per annum and also prevent evaporation of 90 lakh litres of water annually from the canal, an official told Business Line here on Monday. The concept will, therefore, tackle two of the challenges simultaneously by providing energy and water security.

 The cost of per megawatt of solar power, in this case, is likely to be much less than the estimated Rs 10-11 crore, as the two banks of the canal will be used to cover the canal by installing solar power panel and the government will not have to spend much on creating basic infrastructure, including land acquisition .

 Today, Gujarat has about 458 km of open Main Canal, while the total canal length, including sub-branches, is about 19,000 km at present.

 When completed, the SSNNL’s canal network will be about 85,000 km long.

 Assuming a utilisation of only 10 per cent of the existing canal network of 19,000 km, it is estimated that 2,200 MW of solar power generating capacity can be installed by covering the canals with solar panels.

 This also implies that 11,000 acres of land can be potentially conserved along with about 2,000 crore litres of water saved per year.

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Below is a list of ten ways that any individual can reduced the pollution of our environment. Just so there is no confusion, the water that we drink comes from the ground. We drink water from wells and aquifers, all of it is pumped from the ground to the places we need it. The water that we all pollute, drains into the groundwater. Maintaining a healthy environment for all creatures is also a great reason for following these simple steps. The many species of plants and animals also will be healthier with fewer pollutants in their habitat. Here is how you can keep the water source clean for all of us.

1. Use reusable water bottles, not disposable.

Excessive waste from our society is a problem. It is best to have one waterbottle that you refill rather than using disposable bottles that end up in the trash, on the street, and in a landfill, or possibly floating down a river, in a lake, or in the ocean.

2. Don’t wash your car in the driveway, wash it on the lawn.

A variety of pollutants and detergients are rinsed from your vehicle during washing. By parking your car on the lawn the plants in your lawn can limit the amount of these pollutants that enter into the street drain and then to streams and lakes. Plants will uptake the chemicals and reduce the pollutants that make it to the streams.

3. Dispose of hazardous chemicals properly. Don’t dump down the drain, indoors or out.

Hazardous chemicals include cleaners, paints, and many other often used chemicals. The idea that the chemical will be deluted and won’t be a problem is false. Drains are not for disposing of liquid garbage. These items are probably the most important to store, use, and dispose of properly. Visit the Allegan County Website for more information on disposing of household chemicals in Allegan County.

4. Recycle used motor oil. Deliver used motor oil to a recycling location.

This one seems like a no brainer. If you have used motor oil it can be recycled and needs to be taken to a proper location. Dumping oil down a drain is never a solution. Some auto shops and filling stations will recycle used motor oil for you.

5. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

This three teered system is the best way to reduce waste. First Reduce. Reduce the amount of items you consume especially things that can be replaced with something reuseable, such as a washcloth instead of paper towel. Second, always reuse items rather than use disposable. Anything you do can help, you don’t have to make every change at once. Lastly, recycle. If it is something you have to dispose of, recycle what you can. All of this will reduce the amount you pollute and should also leave a few more dollars in your pocket as well.

6. Reduce auto emissions.

The best way to reduce emissions of your vehicle is to make sure it is working properly and not leaking any chemicals like oil or anti-freeze. The test is to see if there are spots left on the pavement after your car has been setting there overnight.

7. Use insecticides, herbicides and fertilizers, as well as other lawn and garden chemicals, sparingly.

These chemicals should only be used when needed. There is no reason to spray a lawn or garden if there is no known issue that you are taking care of specifically. Use a soil test and use fertilizers, herbicides, and insecticides only if there is a presence of the issue. In a small garden, hoeing can often be done more quickly than herbicide application.

8. Start a compost pile.

A compost pile can decompose leaves, grass clippings, and food waste into a great fertilizer for your home garden. It is also just a way to reduce the amount of waste material from the lawn, leaves, and garden. A compost pile doesn’t have to be a big hassle and doesn’t have to smell badly. The truth is a compost pile, that is turned regularly, is a necesary part of a home yard or garden.

9. Soil test before you fertilize.

If you are spending money on fertilizer without testing your soil, you may just be dumping fertilizer in the river and polluting. You may be suprized that you don’t have to fertilize your garden every year. Soil tests are easy to do, collect the samlpe and send it in to MSUE. Here is a link so you can get your soil test this spring.

10. Don’t sweep dirt and fertilizer from sidewalks into drains.

Dirt and fertilizer left on sidewalks should be swept into the lawn rather than washed down the storm drain. Always remember the storm drain leads to streams. Not only chemicals but excess sediment (dirt or soil) is also a pollutant in streams. Save the effort and sweep it back into the lawn.

The post 10 Ways to Prevent Personally Polluting the Great Lakes appeared first on Allegan Conservation District.

The meeting was a fairly open forum where anyone in the workshop interjected to steer the conversation towards the interest of the participants. Producers were present from a variety of locations, including the Rabbit River Watershed. Area resource agencies were present including MAEAP, NRCS, MSUE, MDEQ, and others.

Farm Bill Cost-sharing Programs

The meeting spurred conversations on cost-share programs to help increase the use of conservation practices on agricultural lands. The focus of the presentations was to make sure everyone understands why conservation practices such as cover crops are not only important to conservation but also to the bottom line of the farm production. For instance a practice like cover cropping that keep topsoil on a farm field is in the best interest of the farm production.

In Favor of No-Till

All the conversations together created a great discussion of tillage. Specifically, what a no-till system could do for a farm production. Soil health and it’s relationship to productivity are keys to success in no-till systmes. Most of all, the advantage of having healthy soils is important for keeping moisture and nutrient available to crops. The discussion can go on and on, so give us a call if you’d like to discuss this or other conservation tillage practices and the associated cost-share opportunity.

MAEAP Verification

Mike Ludlam, Water Stewardship Technician for MAEAP was present to give an overview of the program and to provide a phase 1 opportunity. There are great incentives provided once a farm is verified including legal protection in the case of an accidental spill.MAEAP is an excellent tool for marketing and it as a part of beign a good citizen and community member.

NRCS and FSA

Both the Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) and the Farm Service Agency (FSA) provided information on their services, what cost-share programs are available, and how they work together to provide landowners and farmers with the assistance to apply for these programs. Bruce Van Den Bosch of NRCS provided information on how to apply for cost-share programs and explained how the system works. Many producers that apply for cost-share funding are interested in Chemical Storage Buildings, High Tunnels, Conservation Tillage, and many others practices. The best time to get started on an application for the future is right now. Getting through the process has a couple of steps and a producer can get started by providing information to complete the paperwork for eligibility.

Cover Cropping and a Slake Test

Also present was Paul Gross, talking about cover crops and providing an interesting demonstration of a slake test.  A slake test can tell you how well your soil will hold together in the rain when run off occurs. Keeping soil on your property is an important natural resource for a farmer. Replacing topsoil is a slow process and farmers can’t afford to lose productivity. You can visit our website to see the presentation and slake test or go see a demonstration video specifically of a slake test. Using No Till production and incorporating cover crops will help maintain the topsoil on your farm.

What is Your Residue Worth?

Jerry Grigar, NRCS, came to talk about crop residue. Crop residue is plant material left over after harvest is completed. Jerry discussed the worth of residue and that it is important to consider the nutrient value of residue before removing it from the land and selling it off. Often the value to the farmer is far greater if left on the land, than the selling price. Jerry Grigar also discussed the Lucas Model for Soil Organic Matter. This model offers a producer the ability to see what the current farm practices are doing to the soil organic matter. The system will also tell the farmer what changes to their current production could do for their soil organic matter percentage.

It was a well rounded day that included a variety of individuals and plenty of discussion. Feel free to contact us if you have questions on any of the above listed presentations. Most of them have been added to the internet and can be viewed by visiting the Allegan Conservation District website video page.

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10 Reasons to Plant Trees

1. Trees produce oxygen: Trees utilize carbon dioxide and produce oxygen as a bi-product. Since the tree organism doesn’t need the oxygen it is released into the air.
2. Trees give shelter from wind and rain: Trees can act as wind breaks reducing snow drifts as well as soil erosion. Trees can also shelter houses, increasing heating and cooling efficiency. Windbreaks can also reduce the drying of soils and vegetation and help keep moisture in the soil.
3. Trees provide habitat for wildlife and improve biodiversity: Trees provide structure to habitat that doesn’t exist otherwise. Some wildlife species primarily live in the canopy of trees and many more are associated with forests. Without trees these species have no place to live.
4. Trees reduce soil erosion: Trees hold the soil together especially on streambanks and anywhere runoff is present. Areas with a larger number of rooted plants are less susceptible to erosion than areas of bare soil. When trees are planted a natural succession of plants occurs, further reducing soil erosion. Without a canopy of native trees, we are often left to deal with invasive species. Invasive species disrupt the natural landscape and often leave a property owner with a variety of problems and extra work.
5. Trees slow storm water runoff: Trees are heavy drinkers. Not only do trees intercept large quantities of water and uptake it through their roots, the physical presence of trees disrupts the overland flow of water and can reduce the impact of flooding if it occurs.
6. Trees help conserve water: With the addition of trees, areas prone to drought can conserve needed water reserves. Also trees can reduce the instances of flash flooding. Trees can slow down the movement of overland water. This allows for greater infiltration to recharge underground aquifers.
7. Trees shade and cool: Trees are known for offering a spot to sit and cool off on a hot sunny day. This is true for humans and for all animals and plants. Increase the amount of shade and we can reduce the temperature of an area. Urban areas can have significantly higher temperatures in the absence of trees. With the addition of trees these “heat islands” can have a less intense heat increase.
8. Trees help with carbon sequestration: Trees breathe in carbon dioxide and use the carbon. With more trees, more carbon is being removed from the atmosphere. Planting more trees is a great way to pull carbon back down to the ground and out of the air.
9. Trees make food for humans and wildlife: Wildlife not only finds shelter in the trees they also feed on seeds, nuts, and fruits produced by trees. Additionally, insects that live on and around trees are also a food source for birds. Planting trees is a great way to attract wildlife.
10. Trees have social and communal benefits: Trees have a variety of benefits to communities including controlling noise pollution, increasing property value, and beautifying the home and neighborhood. Additionally, trees create a more serene and peaceful environment.

The Allegan Conservation District is already open for tree sale orders. There are many ways to get your order in so don’t worry. We now offer online tree sales and accept credit cards. Look for your order form in the mail or print one from the website and send it or drop it off to our office with your payment. Trees are available for order until March 22nd, 2013. This year the trees will be available for pick up at the Allegan Tech Center on April 13th, from 9:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m.

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According to the USDA, “Producers that are accepted in the sign-up can receive cost-share assistance to plant long-term, resource-conserving covers and receive an annual rental payment for the length of the contract (10-15 years).”

It is also important for those with continuing contracts or expiring contracts to consider their options within the CRP program. Use the link below to access the entire USDA press release. For more information on CRP and other FSA programs, visit or call the local Allegan FSA service center at 269-673-8965 or visit 1668 Lincoln Road, Allegan, MI 49010

USDA PRESS RELEASE

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