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Raccoon Creek Watershed Project
The Raccoon Creek Watershed is a located north of highway 6 and west of Crowder State Park in western Grundy and eastern Daviess county in north central Missouri. The Raccoon Creek drainage area includes approximately 15,000 acres. Raccoon Creek feeds into Sugar Creek near Brimson, Missouri.
The water quality problems being encountered or threatened include loss of habitat of the Topeka Shiner, which is directly related to sedimentation of the stream channel, loss of riparian corridor, loss of native prairie, loss of wetlands, sedimentation of raccoon Creek, overgrazed and under managed pastures, and erosion of cropland.
Many of these problems are interrelated. For example, cattle are allowed direct access to the stream in many places and tend to linger in the stream or on the shaded banks, especially in the summer. This damages the trees and causes loss of riparian areas, and stream bank erosion, which in turn causes sedimentation of the stream. Cattle in the stream also cause excessive nutrient and other problems. These effects combine to cause damage and loss of habitat for the Topeka Shiner, which is already a candidate species for listing as endangered.
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
The grant funds will be used to hire a project manager, to support a part-time clerical staff for project administration and to provide for supplies, travel, training and other associated expenses as approved by MDNR. The project will also offer technical support to help construct terraces, grazing systems, filter strips, riparian forest buffers, conservation cover, residue management, critical area treatment, grass waterways, water and sediment basins and prescribed burning. The project will demonstrate best management practices for lawn care, human effluent, modified tile outlets, and the development and implementation of integrated crop management (ICM) plans. Tours and demonstrations of BMPs such as modified tile outlets, ICM plans, grazing systems, and proper installation of septic systems will be given to create public awareness of how water quality and the environment are protected by the adoption of these practices in partnership with other funding sources.
OBJECTIVES
1. Provide technical assistance to Rural communities and farmers in the Raccoon Creek Watershed in order to implement restoration and demonstration practices for the purpose of improving and protecting water quality in Raccoon Creek and its tributaries;
2. To emphasize personal and environmental advantages of such practices to producers and to encourage them to adopt and maintain those practices long-term;
PRODUCTS
Develop MOU with Daviess, Harrison, Grundy counties; Developed WRAS; 15 acres of riparian forest buffers; 15 acres of filter strips; 250 acres of native prairie; 5 acres of wetlands; 5 tours/field days; 2,000 acres of conservation cover; 1,200 acres of conservation crop rotation; 25 acres of critical area treatment; 15 acres of grade stabilization structures; 5 grass waterways; 5 water and sediment basins; 200 acres of cropland converted to pasture/hayland; 10,000 feet of terraces; 7,500 feet of underground outlets; 1 modified tile outlet terraces demonstration; 5 well decommissioning; 500 acres of upland wildlife habitat management; 1,200 acres of residue management; 300 acres prescribed grazing demonstrations; 1 prescribed burns; 1 residential runoff demonstration; 20 radio programs; 5 school programs; 20 newsletters; 3,000 acres of ICM plans developed and implemented.
PROJECT SPONSOR
Grundy County Soil and Water Conservation District
COOPERATING AGENCIES
USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service; Missouri Department of Conservation; Harrison and Daviess Conservation Districts, local landowners and Missouri DNR Soil and Water Conservation Program.
CONTACT
Grundy County Soil and Water Conservation District
3414 Oklahoma Ave
Trenton, MO 64683
Scott Roy
telephone: 660-359-5685 ext 3
email: scott-roy@mo.nacdnet.org
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