On April 3, 2008, USDA, Michigan Department of Agriculture, the conservation districts in Branch, Jackson,
Hillsdale, Lenawee, Monroe and Washtenaw counties, and the non-profit Environmental Defense Fund
launched an effort to improve water quality and restore wildlife in southeast Michigan’s Western Lake Erie
Basin Watershed.
This effort combines:
• increased funding to conservation districts for
farmer outreach and technical assistance;
• advanced level EQIP practices to improve water
quality, like precision nutrient management,
winter cover crops and continuous notill;
and
• CREP practices that filter runoff and provide
wildlife habitat, such as streamside buffers
and wetland restoration.
Financial assistance to landowners will come primarily
from Michigan’s Conservation Reserve
Enhancement Program (CREP) and the Environmental
Quality Incentives Program (EQIP). EDF
will help provide conservation districts with increased
financial assistance to work with farmers
to plan for and implement the practices. The conservation districts also will receive technical training and assistance
from the NRCS and Michigan Department of Agriculture.
Fact Sheet - Michigan's Western Lake Erie Basin CREP (pdf)
Press Release - Kick-off of New Collaboration to Improve Lake Erie Water Quality (pdf)
|
Warm Season Grasses. |
