OUTDOOR CORNER: NEW PROGRAM TARGETS STREAMS

For many years, Missouri's streams have been suffering due to poor stream and watershed (the area of land that drains into a stream) management practices. Removal of trees and other vegetation along the stream, channelization or stream straightening, timber clearing in the watershed, poor farming practices and urbanization are some of the causes of degraded streams.

This past July, the Missouri Conservation Commission approved a new Landowner Incentive Program. This program will assist landowners in implementing best management practices that will improve water quality and stream health, while maintaining or improving agricultural productivity. In Southeast Missouri, the program consists of two parts, Stream/Watershed Restoration Projects and Alternative Watering Sources for Planned Grazing Systems.

Stream/Watershed Restoration Projects are designed to improve land management practices within a specific watershed. They combine best management practices for stream restoration, livestock grazing, forest management and crop management. The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) will cost share on practices or pay landowners to set aside the land along a stream. Landowners must sign an agreement to maintain the practice for its life expectancy (generally 10 years). In return, MDC will pay 75 percent of the cost of implementation. Set aside payments will be based on the statewide average rental rates for the appropriate type of land use (crop, pasture, grazed woodland or woodland). Amounts will be determined by the University of Missouri Extension Service.

Since this is a new practice, Stream/Watershed Restoration Projects, will be implemented in one watershed that already has a Soil and Water Conservation District Salt or Earth project started. If this program becomes popular, we can expand to other watersheds. We hope to have a watershed selected by January.

Alternative Watering Sources for Planned Grazing Systems provide funds for stream side landowners who are implementing a planned grazing system practice with the Soil and Water Conservation Program. It provides a payment to assist in the installation of a watering system and fencing to exclude livestock.

Landowners must have a stream directly affected by livestock and must agree to exclude livestock from the stream channel and stream corridor. This practice will be available in all counties that have Planned Grazing Systems (DSP3) Cost Share offered by the Department of Natural Resources Soil and Water Conservation Program (SWCP).

Landowner Cooperative Projects are still available statewide. These are stream improvement projects that are jointly installed by MDC and private landowners. The goal of these projects is to create demonstrations of stable, healthy stream channel and stream corridors for viewing by agricultural agencies, other landowners and educational groups.

The Forest Stewardship Program is another incentive program that is offered statewide. This program was developed to encourage wise use and management of all forest resources according to the landowner's own expectations and goals. The program promotes each resource equally, with opportunities to manage private woodlands for soil and water protection, aesthetics, forest improvement, tree windbreak plantings, wildlife habitat, fish habitat and sustainable forest products.

Within this program, incentives are available for soil and water protection and improvement, stream corridor and wetland protection and improvement and fish habitat enhancement. To be eligible for incentive funds you must be a non-industrial private landowner, own at least 10 acres, have an approved 10-year Forest Stewardship Management Plan and agree to maintain and protect practices for 10 years.

MDC can also help by providing technical advice to landowners with stream erosion problems. Personnel will make arrangements to visit your site to discuss problems and offer recommendations.

For more information on incentive programs, contact the Missouri Department of Conservation in Cape Girardeau at 290-5730.

~Brad Pobst is an aquatic services biologist for the Missouri Department of Conservation.