Alabama Partnership Works to Improve Water Quality

NRCS in Madison County, Alabama, is partnering with Alabama A&M University, the District Watershed Advisory Committee, and a New Hope area landowner to make environmental improvements on her farm. The landowner, who leases her farm for cattle production, is concerned about the impact the cattle are having on a stream that flows through her property. Sam Sandlin, Flint River Watershed Coordinator and NRCS District Conservationist Danny Williams visited the site and suggested that the landowner consider the Continuous Conservation Reserve Program buffer program. As a result she has agreed to install a total of 38 acres of buffers consisting of hardwood and pine planting.

Visit the NRCS Alabama web site.

Alabama A&M University will monitor the change in water quality that the buffer makes for the next three years based on a baseline representing current stream conditions. The water monitoring project is being coordinated by Alabama A&M masters degree candidate, Mike Landers with faculty directing the project. The A&M School of Forestry will oversee the planting of pine and shrubs areas outside the buffer and biologists will monitor buffer wildlife usage.
Your contact is Julie Best, NRCS public affairs specialist, at 334-887-4549.