Water

By Mary Scott On Wednesday, June 9, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Department of the Army announced their intent to revise the definition of Waters of the United States (WOTUS) under the Clean Water Act (CWA). A press release from the agencies states, “Today’s action reflects the agencies’ intent to initiate a…… Continue reading →

The Schuyler County Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) in New York is using different state funding mechanisms to implement projects, including planting nearly 60 acres of riparian buffers to preserve and enhance water quality across several watersheds. “Buffers are one of the most cost-effective conservation practices we can utilize,” Schuyler County SWCD Manager Jerry…… Continue reading →

By Katrina Stacey In Hopkins County, Kentucky, where gully and sheet erosion are common natural resource concerns, the Hopkins County Conservation District has utilized NACD Technical Assistance Grants to address a backlog in completing survey and design projects related to those and other natural resource issues. Through its first grant, the district was able to…… Continue reading →

By: Kate Giannini, Iowa Watershed Approach Communications Specialist, Iowa Flood Center THE WATERSHED APPROACH The Middle Cedar Watershed covers about 1.5 million acres in east central Iowa and spans 10 counties. Nearly 75 percent of the watershed consists of agricultural lands, with many small towns and three large metropolitan areas. [caption id="attachment_43683" align="alignright" width="250"] Cedar…… Continue reading →

The Northern Virginia Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) has teamed up with Virginia Department of Forestry to help the state reach its goal of planting 9 million trees in the next five years. The goal will bring about targeted water quality improvements in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed, increase the SWCD’s visibility, and draw in…… Continue reading →

NACD President Michael Crowder has called for the creation of a Groundwater and Aquifer Task Force, which will help promote water conservation across the country. NACD recently sat down with Harold Crose, a retired area conservationist now with the Grant County Conservation District in Washington State. Crose, a member of the Task Force, shared with…… Continue reading →

By Phil Dwyer, Research Principal, ScottsMiracle-Gro In celebration of World Water Day and spring greenup, we’re sharing tips and insights to help you understand ways to maximize lawn water use efficiency all season long. #1 You can water less How much water do lawns really need? It may be a surprise, but our lawns are…… Continue reading →

By Candice Abinanti Of the nearly 3,000 conservation districts across the United States, over 300 are located on the coasts and Great Lakes. These coastal districts face unique conservation challenges: coastal habitat and species loss, harmful algal blooms, shoreline erosion and sea-level rise to name a few. Throughout National Ocean Month in June 2020, NACD…… Continue reading →

By  Erin Fuller The Van Buren Conservation District (CD) in Paw Paw, Mich., has been awarded a two-year $413,362 grant from the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) through the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The grant will fund efforts to reduce nutrient and pathogen runoff in Pine and Mill Creeks, which are both tributaries of the…… Continue reading →

By Erin Bush, Champaign County SWCD and Megan Baskerville, The Nature Conservancy The Saving Tomorrow's Agriculture Resources (S.T.A.R.) initiative is an innovative conservation program that helps farmers, ranchers and landowners track how well they are caring for our soil and water while producing crops using the free S.T.A.R. field evaluation tool. Created in 2017 by…… Continue reading →