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| I. | IMPROVE PUBLIC KNOWLEDGE OF WATER QUALITY CONCERNS AND
MEASURES. |
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| A. | Improve public knowledge of water use, water quality
issues, and the costs and benefits of water quality protection.
Action Items: |
| | 1. | Provide at least 4 timely news releases each year to
local news media concerning water quality information and watershed protection activities.
On-going; 1997 - 2000. |
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| | 2. | Conduct an annual "Higginsville City Lake Field Day." The
"Field Day" should provide water quality information as an entertaining and educational family
experience. Sponsorship may be provided by the Chamber of Commerce, local and other interested
businesses, city and county governments, and through state and federal grants. Activities may
include a family picnic or barbecue, collection (for proper disposal) of household and
agricultural hazardous materials, presentations about water quality principles and protection,
water distribution, fish and wildlife, and watershed activities. May also include tours of
water plant, wastewater treatment plant, farm fields, wildlife areas, and other areas of water
quality protection interest. Summer; Annually, 1997 - 2000. |
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| | 3. | Conduct a public meeting to announce the Watershed
Management Plan. Local committee members, elected officials, and NRCS staff will explain the
Plan and respond to comments and questions. January/February 1997. |
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| B. | Increase rural resident knowledge of water quality
concerns and protection. (NRCS and University Extension plan to sponsor an AmeriCorps project
that will provide Farm*A*Syst (Farmstead Assessment System) assessments of water quality risks
on farmsteads (rural residences). If the project is approved, an AmeriCorps member will be
assigned to Lafayette County. The AmeriCorps members will perform Farm*A*Syst assessments,
speak to adult organizations and groups, and provide water quality presentations to students.)
Action Items: |
| | 1. | SWCD, NRCS,
AmeriCorps, and Water Resources Needs
Committee sponsor presentations on water quality and the Farm*A*Syst (farmstead assessment for
water quality protection). |
| | | a) | University
Extension/NRCS/AmeriCorps presentation
at SWCD Board Meeting. |
| | | b) | University
Extension/NRCS/AmeriCorps presentation
at Extension Council Meeting. |
| | | c) | University
Extension/NRCS/AmeriCorps presentation
at Farm Bureau meeting. |
| | | d) | University
Extension/NRCS/AmeriCorps presentation
at 2 other adult meetings. April 1997 |
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| | 2. | News media coverage of Farm*A*Syst
and AmeriCorps services. |
| | | a) | 2 published articles by March 1997
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| | | b) | All agency newsletters include at
least one feature article on Farm*A*Syst and farmstead water quality protection. |
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| | 3. | AmeriCorps member provided by NRCS and Extension Service to perform Farm*A*Syst
Assessments on farmsteads and other rural residences. 20 assessments by December 1997 |
| C. | Provide water quality information to students
in Lafayette County.
Action Items: |
| | 1. | Establish a water quality education
program using SWCD, NRCS, and volunteer staff. Education program should include annual
presentations to one middle school or junior high grade level and one high school grade so
that all students will receive at least two water quality classes by the time that they
graduate. On-going, starting in 1997. |
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| | 2. | Develop an outdoor classroom on city
property adjacent to the public water supply lake (or on school property). Use the outdoor
classroom as part of school curriculums. Utilize SWCD, NRCS, Missouri Department of
Conservation, and volunteer staff and programs. Begin Fall 1997; On-going. |
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| | 3. | Provide tours of the water treatment
plant and wastewater treatment plant to students and adults each year so that all students tour
the plant by the time they graduate high school. On-going, starting in 1997. |
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| | 4. | Presentations on water quality will
be provided to at least 80 students in the Higginsville School District by the USDA -
AmeriCorps member. Fall 1996 - Spring 1997. |
| II. | MAXIMIZE AGRICULTURAL RETURNS AND MINIMIZE
ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY RISKS |
| A. | Conduct and coordinate a farm owner and
producer education and information program with the Lafayette SWCD and Higginsville City Lake
Watershed Steering Committee.
Action Items: |
| | 1. | Conduct at least one winter meeting
for farmers in the watershed (less than 20 people) to share local successes and failures.
Meeting may include a guest speaker from private industry or government but should focus on
farmer discussions and interaction. February/March 1997 and annually through 2000. |
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| | 2. | Assist other county entities
(SWCD,
University Extension Council, other watershed committees) to conduct a county-wide winter
meeting with industry and government guest speakers. (Attendance > 50 people) Guest speakers
should address conservation tillage, no-till, pest control, fertility, ICM, and other specific
local concerns. February/March 1997 and annually through 2000. |
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| | 3. | Conduct spring or summer field tours
in the watershed to discuss and demonstrate local crop production challenges, successes and
failures. Encourage farmer interaction. June/July 1997 and annually through 2000. |
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| | 4. | Utilize existing newsletters (USDA,
Extension Service, agricultural dealers, Rural Electric Cooperatives, etc.) in order to
publicize meetings, meeting proceedings, and improved management techniques. February 1997 and
on-going. |
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| | 5. | Develop a water quality newsletter
for quarterly (timely) distribution to all public water users. Could be co-sponsored by other
watershed committees, the SWCD, and/or the University Extension Council. Beginning
January/February 1997 through 2000. |
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| B. | Use Integrated Crop Management
(ICM) measures
to prevent cropland runoff contaminants from exceeding Health Advisory (HAL) and Maximum
Contaminant Levels (MCL).
| On request, NRCS will provide an ICM Specialist for one year in order to increase the
understanding and use of ICM and IPM. Future ICM services should be supplied by agricultural
businesses and/or private consultants with University Extension technical guidance. Funding
for future ICM services could be provided through state and federal grants or agricultural
business may charge for services. Funding for incentive programs may come from state or federal
programs and/or from local government. |
Action Items: |
| | 1. | NRCS will provide an ICM specialist
to introduce producers to Integrated Pest Management (IPM) and fertility management techniques
through crop scouting. |
| | | a) | March 1997: Public meeting held to
explain IPM service and recruit at least 3 producers to utilize services. |
| | | b) | 1997: March, April, May, June, and
July IPM newsletter distributed to producers. |
| | | c) | 1997: At least three producers use
scouting service on their cropland. |
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| | 2. | NRCS, University Extension,
agricultural dealers, and private consultants provide ICM specialists to assist development of
farm-specific ICM plans. |
| | | a) | 1998: 40 percent of all watershed
producers develop and fully use ICM plans. |
| | | b) | 1999: 60 percent of all watershed
producers develop and fully use ICM plans. |
| | | c) | 2000: 80 percent of all watershed
producers develop and fully use ICM plans. |
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| | 3. | Crop scouts will be employed to
service ICM plans. (As developed in item #2, above.) |
| | | a) | 1998: 40 percent of farmers us ICM
consultant on their row-crop acres. |
| | | b) | 1999: 60 percent of farmers us ICM
consultant on their row-crop acres. |
| | | c) | 2000: 80 percent of farmers us ICM
consultant on their row-crop acres. |
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| | 4. | Provide cost-share incentives for
farmers to use ICM crop scouting services. Cost-share should be require three years of
participation in order to objectively evaluate the value of services. |
| | | a) | 1998: 75 percent of ICM consultant and
crop scout average costs. |
| | | b) | 1999: 50 percent of ICM consultant and
crop scout average costs. |
| | | c) | 2000: 25 percent of ICM consultant and
crop scout average costs. |
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| III. | MAINTAIN AND IMPROVE THE WATER QUALITY OF HIGGINSVILLE
CITY LAKE |
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| A. | Reduce the presence of contaminants in the
lake.
Action Items: |
| | 1. | Prioritize watershed cropland on
soils that have high potential for atrazine runoff and areas near Higginsville City Lake and
its tributaries for Conservation Reserve Program eligibility. Provide locally funded incentives
in addition to CRP payments. (Soil mapping units are Sogn, Snead, and Sainpsel.) March 1997.
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| | 2. | Information and financial incentives
will be provided to update existing home septic systems and comply with state and federal
regulations. On-going. |
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| | 3. | Provide information and financial
incentives to exclude livestock from water courses. On-going. |
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| | 4. | Offer information and financial
incentives for improved nutrient management. On-going. |
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| B. | Reduce soil erosion and sedimentation hazards
on city owned and managed land.
Action Items: |
| | 1. | Develop and follow a comprehensive
soil conservation, land use, and recreation plan for all city property. Begin 1998. |
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| | 2. | Provide information and education
concerning road and bridge maintenance. |
| | | a) | Offer soil erosion and storm water
control workshops to city and county road and bridge maintenance staff. Attended by
representatives of engineering and design staff, repair staff, and construction crews.
Begin 1999. |
| | | b) | Prioritize critical areas for
treatment and schedule repairs and construction according to priorities. Begin 2000. |
| C. | Be prepared to handle emergency situations.
Action Items: |
| | 1. | Develop a watershed emergency
management plan in coordination with the city of Higginsville and Lafayette County Emergency
Management Plan. December 1998. |
| | | a) | Publicize watershed emergency
management plan availability and elements. On-going. |
| | | b) | Print copies of the watershed
emergency management plan and provide to appropriate businesses, organizations, community
leaders, and residents. December 1998. |
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| | 2. | Install dry hydrants in Higginsville
City Lake and other appropriate locations in the watershed for fire protection. Coordinate
activities with the Prairie Rose RC&D Council. On-going. |
| D. | The Higginsville City Lake Watershed
Management Plan will be reviewed and updated in order to keep the document meaningful and
useful.
Action Items: |
| | 1. | The Plan will be reviewed at least
once each year by the Watershed Steering Committee. Begin December 1996. |
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| | 2. | The Plan will be updated and revised
as needed. On-going. |
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| | 3. | Requests for assistance will be
forwarded to the Lafayette County SWCD and other organizations in order to fulfill the intent
of this Plan. On-going. |
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| | 4. | The Lafayette County SWCD will
include appropriate action items from this plan in their annual and long range plans. Annual
(or more frequent) review for inclusion in the annual plan of action. Begin May 1997. |
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| IV. | MINIMIZE WATER TREATMENT COSTS |
| A. | Effectively and efficiently treat Higginsville
City Lake raw water to meet federal drinking water standards.
Action Items: |
| | 1. | Monitor the lake for contaminants in
order to determine water treatment needs. Regular testing will be supplemented with sampling
for important stonn events. On-going. |
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| | 2. | Develop and utilize a Missouri River
pumping plan to maintain raw water contamination at or below a treatable level. May
1997. |
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| | 3. | Support and participate in Dr. Robert
Segar's (University of Missouri) water treatment study. 1996-1998. |
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| | 4. | Utilize Dr. Robert Segar's water
treatment study to update and improve the Missouri River pumping plan. 1999-2000. |
