NORTH WEBSTER — A tour of three projects in cooperation between farmers, landowners, The Watershed Foundation and partners to reduce sediment and pollution flowing into waterways was held in June and again Oct. 13.

The tour focused on two water and sediment control basins, grassy waterways and a bioswale. The trip was along the north shore of Tippecanoe Lake and east side of Chapman Lake.

Stops included property owned by Sherman Bryant, farmed by Jim Reiff, which focused on the WASCOB program and grassy waterways, Bell Rohr Park where two bioswales were installed, and property farmed by Bob Bishop where WASCOBs were installed.

Scott Zeigler, one-half of The Watershed Foundation’s dream team, led the recent tour. This team, also including Sam St. Clair, speaks with farmers regarding solutions to sediment runoffs and available projects.

The latest tour included several board members and a member of the watershed management committee, along with Lyn Crighton, executive director.

During the stops, Ziegler spoke how WASCOBS, bioswales and grassy waterways work, along with use of no-till and cover crops assisting in retention of water on farmland.

At the Bryant property, Zeigler noted there were numerous WASCOBs on the property. The WASCOBs are dams that slow the surface water down, lengthen the time it stays on the ground to encourage water infiltration and provides better water quality runoff. “The biggest problem (with runoff) is picking up sediment as it moves through. The faster the water goes, the more it picks up. Anytime water is moving across soil, it displaces soil. The slower it moves, the better water quality,” Zeigler noted.

From left Ryan Drake, Lyn Crighton, Chuck Brinkman, Scott Zeigler and Andrew Grossnickle are shown in a farm field that contains numerous WASCOBs, a project between The Watershed Foundation, the farmer and a grant.

He also spoke about compaction and how roots of cover crop and no-till helps cut through compacted soil, increases infiltration of water, and assists in drought situations. Those board members participating in the tour asked numerous questions regarding why more farmers are not using no-till and the cause and remedies for ground compaction.

When viewing the grassy waterways it was noted there was 1,750 feet of grassy waterways on that property. Like WASCOBS the waterways slow the water down, keeps the soil where it belongs. On that particular field the installation of waterways cost $43,000 and was a partnership between the farmer, Lake Tippecanoe Property Owners and a Lake and River Enhancement grant. “The result has eliminated 580 tons per year of sediment from going into the lake,” stated Crighton, adding that includes 500 pounds of phosphorous which equates to 5 million pounds of weeds and algae.

The bioswales at Bell Rohr Park was a partnership with the neighborhood association that not only resolved flooding issues, but also improved water quality. The bioswales infiltrate sediment and pollution runoff with native plants. The project was done with more than 20 volunteers planting more than 3,000 native plants. “It’s an oversized ditch with stone,” said Zeigler. The bioswale can be used in a lot of places instead of catch basins or manholes. The bioswales clean the water as it flows through the plants and enters the lake through culverts.

The final WASCOB viewed was one that utilized dykes or berms and blind inlets – a series of pipes and gravel that filters the water before going into the pipe and out into the lake.

During the tour the various sources of funding were noted such as those from LARE, the farm bill, and other federal grants, depending on the project. “We partner very closely with three county agencies (referring to Natural Resource Conservation Service and soil and water conservation districts offices in each county),” said Crighton, noting these agencies do not have the manpower to go out and do this kind of work. This is where Zeigler and St. Clair come in, who are paid by TWF. Zeigler noted they do a lot of the leg work for agencies to bring farmers into the various programs.