The Press-Dispatch
Issue link: https://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/870146
C-8 Pike County Planter SWCD Newsletter September and October 2017 The Press-Dispatch The Press-Dispatch Pike County Planter SWCD Newsletter September and October 2017 C- 8 Pike County SWCD SUPERVISORS Norman Dillon, Chairman Paul Lake, Vice Chairman Kelly Atkins, Supervisor Josh Collins, Supervisor Tom Rudolph, Supervisor Brad Smith, Associate Supervisor STAFF S. Erica Burkemper-Fischer, District Administrator Emily Kelly, Agronomic Technician Julie Loehr, Watershed Coordinator Travis Gogel, NRCS District Conservationist SWCD/NRCS HOURS Monday through Friday 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Due to the nature of the work that the SWCD and NRCS staf f performs, at times there will be no one in the office. Call 812-354-6120 ext. 3 before visiting. Farm Service Agency COUNTY COMMITTEE Robert Weitkampt II, Chairman Chris Rudolph, Member Jeff Brenton, Member Katrina Seitz, Minority Advisor STAFF Amy Barber, County Executive Director Amy Foust, Program Technician Lisa Gladdish, Program Technician Brenda Nicholson, Program Technician FSA OFFICE HOURS: Monday through Friday 8 a.m.-4:30pm Sept. and Oct. 2017 VOLUME 8, ISSUE 5 Special section published bimonthly by The Press-Dispatch Pike County Soil and Water Conservation District Newsletter Pike County Soil and Water Conservation District Newsletter Planter Planter DISTRICT MEETINGS The Soil & Water Conser va- tion District has set its 2017 monthly board meetings for the first Tuesday of ever y month. These meetings will take place at 5:30 p.m. at the USDA Ser vice Center confer- ence room in Petersburg, Ind. The meetings operate under an open door policy. Meetings are subject to unexpected cancel- lation the day of a scheduled meeting if a quorum cannot be met. For more information or to be added to the SWCD meeting email chain, contact the SWCD office at 812- 354-6120 ex. 3. Middle Patoka Watershed receives second round of cost share funding Pike County SWCD seeks candidates for Supervisor Positions The Pike County Soil and Water Con- ser vation District (SWCD) is looking for persons with an interest in natural resources management who would like to ser ve as a district official. Candidates are being sought for one elected seat and one appointed seat to sit on the district's five‐member board of super visors. The term for these seat runs from Februar y 2018 through Februar y 2021. Pike County SWCD is a legal subdivi- sion of state government responsible for the protection, conser vation and wise use of the soil, water and related natural resources within the county. Working cooperatively with federal, state and local agencies and organizations, the district brings educational, technical and financial assistance to bear on the conser vation problems of the county. Activities of the district are directed by the five super visors, three who are elected by the local land users and two appointed by the State Soil Conser vation Board. Meetings are held on the first Tuesday of each month but could be rescheduled if necessar y to have a minimum number for a quorum. During the meetings, super visors plan and oversee the efforts aimed at fulfilling the district's responsibilities, which include: • Assessing natural resources manage - ment needs within the county. • Developing and implementing policies and programs that address those assessed needs. • Carr ying out program initiatives given to SWCDs by state and federal government and advise local government on natural resource management issues. As compensation for their ser vice, super- visors can receive salar y per diem when engaged in district business. Candidates for Pike County SWCD's elected and appointed super visor positions must be of voting age and reside in the county. For more infor- mation about the Pike County SWCD, its programs, super visor duties and qualifica- tions, and the specific position to be filled or to register as a candidate, visit the district office at the USDA Ser vice Center, 2101 E Main Street, Petersburg, Indiana or call 812- 354-6120, Ext. 3 no later than November 15. The Pike County Soil & Water Conser vation District is pleased to announce that cost share opportunities will be available to landowners and producers who own/farm land within a critical area of the Middle Patoka Watershed in Pike and Dubois County. A federal grant application was submitted to the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) and the SWCD learned in August that it had been awarded and was executed. This grant will bring over $200,000 in best manage- ment practices that will reduce sediment and nutrient runoff within the Middle Patoka watershed for the next three years. While a detailed cost share program with guidelines is being developed, the SWCD anticipates to offer cost share on the following: • Cover Crops • No-Till • Precision Agricultural Equipment upgrades • Grassed Water ways • Livestock Practices (mul- tiple practices involved) • Nutrient & Pest Manage- ment Plans • Conser vation Cover • Field Borders • Filter Strips Interested parties who would like to apply for cost share on the above list are encouraged to contact the Pike County SWCD office for more information. Again, the cost share program is still being developed and will come with guidelines and restrictions on the above practices. All applications must meet NRCS standards for installation too. The funding will be on a first come, first ser ve basis to those who meet the cost share fund- ing requirements. Funding for urban conser va- tion practices will be available on a first come, first ser ve basis and must also meet standards and criteria. Such practices include permeable concrete, raingardens, roof runoff structures and more will be available for those who do not have production crops. Again, interested parties are encouraged to contact the of- This map shows the critical area that has been determined during a previous study of the Middle Patoka Watershed. This critical area will be the focal point of cost share funding to reduce sediment and nutrient reduction into the watershed. See FUNDING on 10