The Dexter Leader
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Conservation District announces highlights for '07
PUBLISHED: January 3, 2008
Accomplishments of the Washtenaw County Conservation District during fiscal year 2007 will be announced in the District's annual report.
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Through the partnership between the Conservation District and USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), technical assistance was provided to 2,273 businesses, community groups and individuals. This assistance included soils information, technical standards and specifications for applying conservation practices, conservation planning and other services.
Other assistance provided in 2007 included: 228 requests for forestry and wildlife assistance; groundwater stewardship program assistance provided to 189 people; two Michigan Agricultural Environmental Assurance Program (MAEAP) verifications completed; 20 groundwater program Farm-A-Syst or Crop-A-Syst assessments completed; 10 abandoned wells closed; 106,337 trees, shrubs, native plants and other conservation materials distributed through 738 orders; and 15,434 visits to the Conservation District Web site.
The District's "Conservation Update" newsletter annual report issue will be available at www.washtenawcd.org in late December.
According to Steve Olds, district conservationist with the NRCS, "there has been a strong demand from Washtenaw County landowners for conservation planning and other technical assistance in 2007. The NRCS and Conservation District partnership has continued to meet this demand. As a result, our cooperators have been better able to protect their valuable natural resources."
During 2007, Washtenaw County landowners, assisted by the District/NRCS partnership, developed 23 conservation plans written for 2,399 acres. All were developed into approved contracts, or were used to support local farmland/open space preservation programs.
Other key conservation practices applied in fiscal year 2007 included: 3,810 feet of field borders; 8 acres of filter strips; 1,933 acres of residue management; 15 acres of wetland restoration; and 930 acres of wildlife habitat management.
Many of these practices were applied as a direct result of Federal conservation programs, including: Conservation Reserve Program (CRP); Conservation Security Program (CSP); Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP); Farm and Ranchland Protection Program (FRPP); and the Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program (WHIP). Local preservation programs supported through District/NRCS planning efforts were the City of Ann Arbor's Greenbelt Program and Washtenaw County Parks & Recreation Commission's, Natural Areas Preservation Program (NAPP).
These accomplishments, plus award presentations for the 2007 Conservation Farmer of Year and Tree Conservationist, will be highlighted at the Conservation District's annual meeting, to be held at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 24, 2008 at the Washtenaw County Farm Council Grounds, 5055 Ann Arbor-Saline Road. The public is welcome to attend.
The featured program at the annual meeting, "The Fascinating World of Bees and Beekeeping" will be presented by Roger Sutherland, retired Professor Emeritus of Schoolcraft College. Professor Sutherland taught biological sciences for 34 years and is a past president of the Michigan Beekeepers Association.
A buffet dinner will be served to start the meeting. Donations for dinner are $9 for adults and $5 for children 12 and under. Reservations are needed for the dinner and should be made by Jan. 18, 2008.
For more information about the Washtenaw County Conservation District annual report, or to make reservations for the annual meeting dinner, call the District Office at (734) 761-6721.
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