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Osage Fork Animal Waste and Nutrient Management Implementation 319 Project
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
The Osage Fork project area, HU 10290201030 and 10290201040, lies within Laclede, Webster, and Wright counties with designated stream uses of warm water aquatic life protection and fishing, and livestock and wildlife watering. The Osage Fork has 6 miles of losing stream segments and is a tributary to the Upper Gasconade River. Based on the 2002 Missouri Farm Facts, Wright (1), Webster (2) and Laclede (4) are in the top four Missouri counties for dairy cattle numbers, with over 197,000 total dairy and beef cows in the three county areas. Nonpoint source pollution in the form of sediment from erosion and organic wastes from livestock contribute to excessive algal production in watershed streams.
OBJECTIVES
1. To construct 8 animal waste systems for dairies in the watershed to manage approximately 141,912 lbs of nitrogen, 22,075 lbs of phosphorus and 81,993 lbs of potassium from uncontrolled release to waterbodies.
2. To develop comprehensive nutrient management plans for all dairies with animal waste systems in the watershed.
3. To promote riparian buffer/vegetative filter strip establishment along 10 miles of stream.
4. To demonstrate manure transfer with six or more producers through cost-share on permanent underground pipe as a way to follow a comprehensive management plans
5. To control nutrients in lagoon effluent and educate producers about proper lagoon storage capacities and nutrient value of manure through rental of lagoon pumping equipment.
6. To demonstrate the benefits to water quality by improving manure distribution and by maintaining vegetative cover for reduction in erosion through implementation of 5 planned grazing systems.
7. To reduce streambank erosion by excluding livestock from riparian areas which will result in reduction of streambank erosion by 100,000 lbs/year.
METHODS EMPLOYED
This project follows two previous projects (Brush Creek AgNPS SALT and Osage Fork 319 Demonstration) in the area that generated interest in animal waste systems. Waste systems are cost prohibitive to many producers who cannot qualify for state or federal Farm Bill funding to construct an animal waste facility. This 319 project will help to fill the gaps within this watershed to control nonpoint source water pollution from area dairies through education and cost-share assistance on animal waste facilities, timely manure transfer from lagoons by demonstration of permanent underground pipe and rental of pumping equipment, planned grazing systems and protection of riparian corridors.
PRODUCTS
Internet website providing educational information about 319 project; 3 or more tours to showcase animal waste systems and permanent underground pipe for manure transfer; Powerpoint presentation that is continually updated as the project progresses; Comprehensive Nutrient Management Plans (CNMPs) for 8 or more dairy farms; Animal Waste System for 8 or more dairy farms; planned grazing system for 5 farms; load reduction information on nutrient delivery to the Osage Fork of the Gasconade River; quarterly and a final report that will document progress and identify challenges to the project.
PROJECT SPONSOR
Laclede County Soil and Water Conservation District
COOPERATING AGENCIES
Laclede, Webster and Wright County Soil and Water Conservation Districts; Natural Resources Conservation Service; Missouri Department of Conservation, University Outreach and Extension, Missouri Department of Natural Resources, local producers and farm organizations.
CONTACT
Mary Jo Tannehill, District Manager
Laclede County Soil and Water Conservation District
1242 Deadre Drive
Lebanon, MO 65536
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