SWCD Working Group Recommends Resource Priorities
WARSAW — The Kosciusko County Soil and Water Conservation District hosted a local working group prior to its regular monthly meeting Tuesday, Oct. 6.
The purpose of the working group was to gain input on prioritization of local natural resource concerns. Those present represented the SWCD, the Kosciusio County Extension, the FSA and other entities. The ranking pertained to areas where funding is available.
Natural resource conerns were numbered one through 10, with one being considered the most in need of attention. Categories included soil erosion, soil quality degradation, water quality degradation, excess or insufficient water, air quality impacts, degraded plant condition, fish and wildlife, livestock production limitation, inefficient energy use and priority watershed.
Areas of concern identified under these categories included, from one to 10:
- Concentrated flow, listed under soil erosion
- Emission of greenhouse gasses
- Excessive sediment in surface waters
- Excess nutrients in surface and ground waters
- Compaction
- Organic matter depletion
- Undesirable plant productivity and health
- Pesticides transported to surface and ground waters
- Inefficient moisture management and
- Sheet, rill and wind.
There were no objections to prioritizing these items in this order. Funding available will be based on the needs in these areas.