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5 demonstration practices (demos) have been selected to showcase alternative or uncommon methods of reducing nonpoint source pollution. These will be showcased through tours and field days throughout the project duration.

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Spring Development - One of the most common practices that we cost-share on as a district are ponds, and very often, these ponds are constructed to be used as a water source for livestock as well. Unfortunately, some sites may not qualify for the cost share program. One of the things that will exclude a site is the presence of bedrock at shallow depths, commonly associated with the effects of years of excessive erosion on the shoulders and back-slopes of hillsides. In areas where this situation typically occurs, the geology of the landscape is often favorable for the presence of natural springs. Water aquifers form either in the layer of glacial till or seep through cracks in bedrock. If a spring is in an accessible location, has a high recharge rate, and meets certain other criteria, it may be modified to create a cheap, reliable and low maintenance source of livestock water.

Limited Access Watering Point - It is common for producers to allow their livestock to have direct access to streams and tributaries. While this may be an economical source of water, it is very damaging to the water body itself. Erosion and nutrient loading are the two major concerns here. The integrity of the riparian vegetation is compromised, allowing sediment and animal waste to easily enter the stream course. Greater sediment loads cause a murky water matrix, and covers stream bottom habitat. Fertilizers attached to the soil particles are dissolved in the water and cause algal blooms and deplete oxygen levels in the water. The concentration of manure increases the nutrient load and introduces bacteria into the water which creates health concerns. These factors combined with increased water temperatures upset the delicate ecological balance that exists in streams and rivers. Ponds respond similarly when livestock are allowed to freely wade in the pool area. Limiting access to one area and excluding livestock from the rest can preserve the health of both ponds and streams.

A stream is only as healthy as the watershed that surrounds it. More importantly, a stream is only as healthy as the riparian zone that protects the stream from the watershed that surrounds it. A riparian zone is the vegetation that buffers a stream channel from the pollutants, be it urban or rural, that are carried by water as it flows to the stream. This vegetation acts as a filter as it slows the water and allows sediment, chemicals, fertilizers and a host of other potential pollutants to enter the soil where it can be neutralized. Without this protection, water and the accumulated pollutants flow freely into the stream channel. Proper management of the riparian zone helps to reduce the amount of nonpoint source pollutants that enter the stream.

This practice will demonstrate the positive impacts of stabilizing a section of the Hickory Creek that is experiencing severe channel erosion. This type of erosion most commonly occurs where the surrounding vegetation has been cleared so that the ground can be farmed. These stream banks are extremely susceptible due to the lack of root structure which helps to hold the soil in place. Methods used to stabilize the channel will include one or more of the following methods: riparian re-establishment, rock / rip-rap pilings, revetments and willow shoot plantings.

Planned grazing systems and nutrient management are important components to any livestock operation. When employed properly, these practices not only maximize a producer's return on investment, but also have tremendous conservation benefits. The incorporation of a forage shed is an innovative means of providing a concentrated feeding area that helps to reduce the nonpoint source pollution associated with grazing and feeding operations. This covered feeding and watering area incorporates a manure collection and storage system that makes it easy to feed hay and to utilize the manure to fertilize pastures.

Bats historically have been considered nuisance and even dangerous mammals. Generations of myth and misconception have given them this stigma. In truth, they are important components of our ecosystem and are irreplaceable as a natural form of insect control. The bats that we could expect to encounter in this area feed heavily on mosquitoes as well as insects that at some point in their lifecycle inflict damage to our crops (both field and garden). With this demo, we will place constructed bat houses in various locations throughout the watershed in an attempt to increase available habitat to these hunters of the night.

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