Since 1998, the Douglas County Conservation District has been involved in implementing water quality funds through the nonpoint source cost share program, part of the governor's water quality initiative. The funds are used to implement practices to improve the water quality. Here is a brief explanation of each project work plan.
Plugging abandoned water wells helps to keep pollutants from reaching and polluting the groundwater. When polluted, groundwater is nearly impossible to clean up. With each well plugged, we are working toward protecting our groundwater.
Critical-area planting is the seeding of grass that under normal circumstances would not adequately treat the land to keep it from eroding. These areas are treated to meet erosion control criteria, thus reducing the amount of sediment entering our water bodies.
Free soil testing analysis is available for land in our county. This free analysis is open to landowners until the allocated funds are depleted. Information received from the soil analysis tells the landowner whether fertilizer is needed. If fertilizer is needed, analysis states the amount and type required. Fertilizing when it is not needed results in the fertilizer washing away with the next watering or rainstorm, letting fertilizer flow into and pollute our water sources.l Many people do not realize that whatever washes off a lawn does not go to the treatment plant but is channeled to the river through storm-water drains. What goes down these drains end up in streams. Anyone who uses fertilizer, whether in the city or country, should have a soil test analysis done before applying fertilizer. If the soil test analysis funds are depleted, a routine soil test can be done for $7.50.
Livestock waste facilities are very costly and required for operations that meet the per-head volume criteria. Livestock waste runoff can cause fecal coliform bacteria to enter water bodies. To prevent this, waste storage facilities are built to contain and manage livestock waste.
Pasture and rangeland management plants grass on highly erodible land. Grass is the best way to protect soil from erosion. These areas then can be utilized by haying or grazing.
Riparian and wetland improvement helps filter out pollutants before they reach water bodies. Improvement such as planting of grass or trees, fencing out livestock from riparian areas and making an alternative water supply available can improve water quality.
Upgrading failing household waste systems improves the water quality by fixing failing systems that otherwise may be dumping into a ditch or creek. Fecal coliform bacteria can come from household waste; upgrading these systems minimizes contamination.
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