Headwaters

Agriculture BMPs

Best Management Practices and Cost Share

The only true measure of what we do is conservation practices on the ground...what we have helped people do on the land.

Since 1975 (through federal and state cost-share practices):

Installed 10,000 acres of conservation cropping systems per year.

This includes No-till, crop rotation, cover crops, contour farming reduced tillage systems, etc. which saves 40,000 tons of soil annually.

Install 3,000 acres of rotational grazing systems per year

This includes livestock watering systems, pasture renovation, fencing and pest control which saves 6,000 tons of soil per year.

Excluded 2.966 acres of land adjacent to streams from livestock

This protects 201 miles of stream banks, creates wildlife habitat and filters out nutrients.

Approved Nutrient Management Plans on 41,775 acres of farmland

Planted over 200,000 hardwood trees in riparian areas

All totaled these practices keep 12,020 (.2 delivery ratio) tons of soil out of our streams every years. This conservation also keeps 1,321 tons of Nitrogen and 990 tons of Phosphorus out of out streams on an annual basis

From the beginning of the Virginia Agricultural Best Management Practice (BMP) Cost-Share program in 1984 until June 30, 2000 the Headwaters SWCD has helped farmers and landowners install 4,346 individual conservation pactices (BMP's). the Headwaters SWCD was the first District in the Commonwalth of Virginia to reach the established 40% nutrient reduction goal for Nitrogen and Phosphorus. We were also the first District in the state to hold a riparian easement, and now hold 23 easements on over 600 acres.

The following is a summary of installed practices for which Virginia Agricultural BMP Cost-Share funds were distributed from 7/1/00 - 6/30/05:

#	Practice
19	Animal Waste Control Facilities
12	Loafing Lot System
48	Grazing Land Protection
1	Stream Protection
2	Stream bank Protection
3	Stream bank Stabilization
12	Permanent Vegetative Cover
55	Nutrient Management
55	Small Grain Cover Crop for Nutrient management
2	Compost Facilities
1	Strip Cropping System
4	Reforestation of erodible Crop & Pastureland

These include 214 practices totaling $1,415,847.

Headwaters also has partnered with USDA, the Chesapeake Bay Foundation and Ducks Unlimited to offer cost-share assistance under the Conservations Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP). Throught 6/30/05, Headwaters SWCD has issued rental payments and cost-share (state portion) of $444,940. CREP focuses on protecting water quality and improving wildlife habitat through the voluntary installation of vegetated buffers. It is the largest conservation program in Virginia's history.

Powerpoint on Best Management Practices

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Agriculture BMPs

Best Management Practices and Cost Share