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Schrems West Michigan Trout Unlimited To conserve, protect and restore coldwater fisheries RIPARIAN PROTECTION FOR AGRICULTURAL Michigan farmers have long played a key role in protecting the quality of our trout streams. Over 53% of Michigan’s land area is farmed, and farmers own nearly 7% of the total forest area in Michigan. If public forest areas are excluded, the percentage of forest covered lands owned by farmers increases to over 12.5%. These forests provide critical shade and habitat to many of our trout streams in Michigan. The increase in CAFO’s (Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations) has brought both positive and negative effects to our rivers and streams. On the positive side, CAFO’s are more effective at keeping cattle out of our streams and the ensuing stream bank erosion. On the negative side, the concentration of animals raises the risk level for ecological damage to surface waters and trout streams from their waste products. In order to best protect our streams and lakes, several conservation practices will be needed. For instance, a system of residue management in combination with buffer strips and grassed waterways will be more effective than residue management alone. The Value of Buffers One of the critical systems for protecting our lakes and streams from agricultural run-off is the use of buffer strips. Buffer strips include plantings of trees, shrubs, and deep- rooted grasses to slow water runoff, and trap pollutants such as fertilizers, pesticides, bacteria, pathogens, and heavy metals before they can reach surface or ground water sources. Buffers also trap snow and reduce blowing soil in areas with strong winds. Riparian buffers also improve fish and wildlife habitat. Some buffers, particularly wooded buffers, can even provide a future source of income. Riparian Buffer Strips The Stream Side Forest Buffer is generally designed in 3 zones. Zone 1 is the area closest to the stream or water body and it ideally consists of mature trees to provide detritus to the stream and to provide shade to maintain lower stream temperatures and an extensive root system to prevent erosion. Zone 1 is generally left undisturbed. Zone 2 is the managed forest section where filtration, deposition, plant uptake and other natural processes remove sediment and nutrients from runoff and subsurface flows. Zone 3 is where concentrated flows are converted to dispersed flows by water bars or spreaders to facilitate ground contact and infiltration. A diagram of a typical stream side forest buffer can be found here: The Stream Side Forest Buffer Layout A second type of buffer zone is the Filter Strip. This consists of strips of grass used to trap sediment, fertilizers, pesticides, and other pollutants before they reach streams and lakes. In planting filter strips, it is best to use deep-rooted grasses to improve water infiltration. Creating Buffer Zones: The Value of Buffers and Various Types of Buffers Filter Strips Riparian Forest Buffer Wetland Restoration Native Grass Planting     Residue Management Depending upon the species of animal, 70-80% of the Nitrogen (N), 60-85% of the Phosphorus (P) and 80-90% of the potassium (K) fed to the animals as feed will be excreted in the manure. Livestock operations can generate large amounts of manure and increase the challenge and risks of recycling manure nutrients for crop production without causing these same nutrients to be introduced into local streams. It has been estimated that a large CAFO can produce as much sewage as a city of 100,000 people. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency lists manure runoff from farms as one of the leading causes of water pollution in the United States. What can be done to prevent manure spills or runoff? The Michigan Department of Agriculture has developed Generally Accepted Agricultural Management Practices (GAAMP) which farmers should use to operate as safely as possible. Michigan Generally Accepted Agricultural Management Practices (GAAMP) Manure Management/Utilization GAAMP Pesticide Utilization/Pest Control GAAMP Nutrient Utilization GAAMP Care of Farm Animals GAAMP Programs for Assisting Farmers / Dairies with Conservation Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP): Michigan's Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) was created to help protect our environment and wildlife. Michigan is partnering with the federal government to implement conservation practices of great significance to the state, and valuable to the nation, in matters of soil erosion, water quality, and wildlife habitat. In Michigan’s CREP, farmers and other landowners in priority watershed areas agree to enroll eligible parcels of land in the program for 15 years, and establish prescribed conservation practices. In return, landowners receive cost-share assistance in establishing conservation practices. Approved practices include riparian buffers, field windbreaks, filter strips, wetland restoration, shallow-water wildlife areas, controlled livestock access and conservation easements. Currently the priority areas include the Lake Macatawa, River Raisin, and Saginaw Bay Watersheds. For more information, see the CREP Web Site. Michigan Groundwater Stewardship Program: Its purpose is to provide information and assessment tools for pesticide and nitrogen fertilizer users which help them identify risks to groundwater associated with their pesticide and nitrogen fertilizer use practices and to coordinate local, state, and federal resources to help individuals reduce those risks. The Michigan Groundwater Stewardship Program is designed to be voluntary, to be locally driven, to address the concerns of individuals, and to maintain a focus on the financial and technical constraints which drive real world decisions. Michigan Groundwater Stewardship Program Michigan Groundwater Stewardship Program Local Contacts Michigan Agriculture Environmental Assurance Program (MAEAP): MAEAP is an innovative, proactive program that helps farms of all sizes and all commodities voluntarily prevent or minimize agricultural pollution risks. MAEAP teaches farmers how to identify and prevent environmental risks and comply with state and federal environmental regulations. Farmers who successfully complete the three phases of a MAEAP system are rewarded by becoming verified in that system. MAEAP was developed by a coalition of agriculture producers, commodity groups, state and federal agencies, and conservation and environmental groups. While the Michigan Department of Agriculture (MDA) is the verifying agency, MAEAP is not a government or regulatory program but rather a partnership effort. MAEAP Web Site Links Manure and Nutrient Management - MSUE Sustainable Agriculture MSU Soil & Plant Nutrient Laboratory Michigan Generally Accepted Agricultural Management Practices (GAAMP) Manure Management/Utilization GAAMP Pesticide Utilization/Pest Control GAAMP Nutrient Utilization GAAMP Care of Farm Animals GAAMP Michigan Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) Creating Buffer Zones: Filter Strips Riparian Forest Buffer Wetland Restoration Native Grass Planting