ISSUES AND PRACTICES
There are four major categories of issues that the Delaware County SWCD seeks to address in our community and in East Central Indiana. We aim to address these issues with the accompanying Best Management Practices.
Agricultural Land
ISSUES
Decrease in Soil Heath
Loss of soil structure, loss of organic matter, erosion, and increased compaction.
Contributing factors from Agricultural land
Contributing factors from Non-Agricultural land
PRACTICES
On Agricultural Land – encourage landowners and/or operators to:
No-till corn on present tilled corn acres
No-till wheat
Install buffers - i.e. filter strips, grassed waterways, etc.
Utilize nutrient and pest management plans on cropland acres
Utilize manure management plans
Utilize fencing to exclude livestock from streams, creeks, etc.
Utilize rotational grazing systems
Utilize cover crops
Ecological Land
ISSUES
Photo: http://www.sicim.info/
Degradation of native habitat
Invasive Species
Negative impact to wildlife
Negative impact to beneficial insects
Negative economic impact
PRACTICES
Photo: https://www.equipmentjournal.com/
Mechanical invasive removal
Wildlife and pollinator habitat plantings
Identify and manage invasive species
Establish tree plantings
Assist city as they work to improve urban forest cover
Water Resources
ISSUES
Photo: https://conservationdistrict.org/
sediment in streams
modification of channels
health of fish and aquatic life
PRACTICES
Photo: https://www.PaEnvironmentDigest.com
Natural Channel Design
Land use and Planning
ISSUES
Sprawl/fragmentation
leap frog development patterns
incompatible land use mixes and
development in woodlands
degradation
Loss of prime farmland
Loss of productive forest lands
Loss of wildlife and pollinator habitat
Excessive costs to provide infrastructure and services
PRACTICES
Encourage development in blighted or vacated areas rather than agricultural lands or greenfields in rural Delaware County
Other Partnership Issues
ISSUES
Photo: Wikipedia
Other Land Users
Cooperate with all city and county government agencies to incorporate conservation practices and technologies into all land use activities.
Assist county health department as they promote proper septic system maintenance to reduce contamination from failing septic systems
Educate homeowners about conservation practices (i.e. rain barrels, water quality, septic system management, etc.)
PRACTICES
Photo: https://cleanwatercataraqui.ca/
Delaware County Well Head Protection Program
Extend the multi-use trail at Prairie Creek Reservoir northward to the beach area