Saline County SWCD;
COW CREEK Water Quality Project
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The Cow Creek watershed contains approximately 20,405 acres,15,444 of which are highly erodible cropland. As a result, improvements in management of this cropland will be given the highest priority. Although pesticide and nutrient leaching and runoff are the main concerns, gully erosion, animal waste management, and streambank erosion will also be addressed. Incentives will be offered to producers who use Integrated Crop Management (ICM) techniques to apply correct amounts of chemicals. Producers will be encouraged to develop Total Resource Management plans that include Best Management Practices for livestock waste management, the proper use and application of pesticide and fertilizers, and the installation of erosion control practices to reduce sedimentation. Objectives for this project are to:

1) develop and implement 91 total resource plans,
2) have 10,750 acres at or below tolerable soil loss ("T") levels,
3) develop 36 Total Resource Management plans with a forage legume in the rotation,
4) reduce gully erosion on crop and pasture to no more than one ton of soil loss per acre per year,
5) develop and implement approved grazing plans on 30% of pasture land,
6) establish or improve existing riparian corridor along 10 miles of stream,
7) use a reduced amount, or non-residual, herbicide on 5,000 acres of cropland,
8) educate 70% of operators on water quality issues, and
9) test 100 private drinking sources for water quality.

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Missouri Department
of Natural Resources

Missouri Watershed Information Network (MoWIN)
Send comments to: mowin1@missouri.edu
205 Agricultural Engineering
Columbia, MO 65211
Phone: (573) 882-0085
Toll Free: (MO only): 1-877-H20-shed (426-7433)
Fax: (573) 884-5650

Page last updated August 26, 2008