Franklin County Conservation District

Cost Share Practices 

Photo Gallery of Conservation Practices  

Abandoned Water Well Plugging

Plugging of priority abandoned drilled and hand dug water wells through the process of disinfecting, filling water bearing zone and non-water bearing zone and capping the well with an approved grout material.  Prevent the introduction of contaminants into sources of groundwater via an abandoned or inactive well. (Pictures of well plugging demonstration)

Brush Control Management 

This practice applies on rangeland, and warm and cool season pasture and hay-land where removal or reduction of excessive woody, non-herbaceous plants is desired.  This practice will be applied to manage eastern red cedar, thorny locust, osage orange, sandhill plum, pricklypear, and yucca. Requires SCC Grazing Management Plan Form and, for warm season grass, a use exclusion cage.

Contour Buffer Strips Strips

Planting of perennial vegetation alternates with wider cultivated strips that are farmed on the contour (can be installed in place of terraces).  To stabilize the soil, reduce erosion, trap nutrients and pesticides and to improve wildlife habitat.

Critical Area Planting

Planting vegetation such as trees, vines, grasses or legumes on highly erodible or critically eroding areas. 

Diversions

A channel constructed across the slope with a supporting ridge on the lower side.  To divert excess water from one area for use or safe disposal in other areas.

Dry Hydrant for Rural Fire Protection

A non-pressurized permanent pipe assembly system installed into water source that permits the withdrawal of water by suction. Provide access to water supplies for use in combating wildfires, and prescribed burning. 

Fence 

Riparian fencing, cross fencing or fencing in conjunction with other water resource projects; we do NOT pay for perimeter fencing. Enclosing or dividing an area of land with a suitable permanent structure that acts as a barrier to livestock, big game, or people (does not include temporary fence).  To exclude livestock or big game from areas that should be protected from grazing, control domestic livestock while permitting wildlife movement, protect new seedlings and plantings from grazing, or subdivide grazing land to permit use of grazing systems and utilize grazing management strategies to enhance grass conditions and to prevent concentration of animals in riparian zones.  Requires SCC Grazing Management Plan Form and, for warm season grass, a use exclusion cage.

Field Border

Establishing a border or strip of perennial vegetation at or around the edge of a field by planting herbaceous vegetation. Used to control erosion, reduce competition from adjacent woodland, if present, and to increase production of wildlife by providing food and/or cover. 

Filter Strips (along stream, planting grass only)

A strip of vegetation for removing sediment, organic matter, and other pollutants from runoff and waste water.  To remove sediment and other pollutants from runoff or waste water by filtration, deposition, infiltration, absorption, decomposition and violation, there by reducing pollution and protecting the environment. 

Grassed Waterway or Outlet          

A natural or constructed waterway or outlet shaped or graded and established in vegetation, as needed, for the safe disposal of runoff from a field, diversion, terrace or other structure. To provide for the disposal of excess surface water from terraces, diversions, or from natural concentrations without damage by erosion or flooding. 

Grade Stabilization Structure

A structure to control the grade and head cutting in natural or artificial channels.  To stabilize the grade and control erosion in natural or artificial channels, to prevent formation or advance of gullies, and to enhance environmental quality and reduce pollution hazards.  

Livestock Waste Facilities

A waste impoundment made by constructing an embankment and/or excavating a pit or dugout, or fabricating a structure.  To temporarily store waste such as manure, wastewater and contaminated runoff as a storage function component of an agricultural waste management system.  Supplemental Funds may be available through the SCC livestock waste account.  Maximum of $30,000.00 may be approved, $10,000.00 for design assistance and $20,000.00 for cost share, between the supplemental funds and regular county cost share dollars.

Livestock Water Supply

A trough, tank or waterer with needed devices installed to provide drinking water for livestock; does NOT include ponds.  To provide watering facilities for livestock at selected locations that will protect vegetative cover through proper distribution of grazing or through better grassland management for erosion control.  Another purpose on some sites is to reduce or eliminate livestock access to streams in order to reduce pollution from animal waste and stream bank erosion.  Requires SCC Grazing Management Plan Form and, for warm season grass, a use exclusion cage. 

On-site Waste System Repairs/Upgrades

A system composed of a septic tank/field, a wastewater lagoon or an alternative treatment system to treat  wastewater from a single family residence, church, school, business or government office on the site at which it is generated.  A domestic wastewater system installed in conformance with state regulations and county sanitarian/environmental codes to prevent surface and groundwater contamination by disease-causing organisms, organic matter and chemicals.  To dispose of domestic wastewater on-site in a manner that provides adequate treatment and prevents entry of untreated sewage into surface or ground waters. (Eligibility Information)

Pipeline

Installed for conveying water for livestock. To convey water from a source of supply to points of use. Requires SCC Grazing Management Plan Form and, for warm season grass, a use exclusion cage. 

Pasture & Hay Land Planting (Cool Season Grasses)

Establishing and re-establishing long-term stands of adapted species of perennial or reseeding forage plants.  To reduce erosion and to adjust land use. Pasture must have permanent perimeter fence in place before applying for cost share, also must have grazing management plan on file before receiving payment. Use Erosion Control for conversion to pasture/hay.  Pasture Range Management for renovation of pasture/range when changing species. 

Range Planting (Native Grass Mix)

Establishment of adapted perennial vegetation such as grasses, forbs, and legumes to reduce soil and water loss, and to improve water quality.

Riparian Forest Buffers (along stream, trees and shrubs)

In area of trees and shrubs located adjacent to streams, lakes, ponds and wetlands.  To improve stream bank stability, reduce excessive amounts of sediment, organic material, nutrients and pesticides in surface runoff; and improve wildlife habitat.  Requires SCC Grazing Management Plan Form and, for warm season grass, a use exclusion cage. 

Nutrient Management  (SOIL TESTING)     

Managing the amount, form, placement and timing of application of plant nutrients.  To supply adequate plant nutrients for optimum forage and crop yields, lawn maintenance and garden production; minimize entry of nutrients to surface and ground water; and to maintain or improve chemical, physical and biological conditions of the soil.  The assistance provided is targeted towards educating producers to change management practices that will improve water quality and impact favorably on future landowner environmental stewardship.  To stabilize the soil, reduce damage from sediment and runoff to downstream areas, and improve wildlife habitat and visual resources  

Spring Development

Improving springs and seeps by excavating, cleaning and providing collection and storage facilities.  To improve the distribution of and to increase quantity of water for livestock. 

Terraces- gradient, parallel, underground tile outlet

An earth embankment, a channel, or a combination ridge and channel constructed across the slope.  To reduce slope length, reduce erosion, reduce sediment content in runoff water, improve water quality, intercept and conduct surface runoff at a non-erosive velocity to a stable outlet, retain runoff for moisture conservation, prevent gully development, reform the land surface, improve farm-ability, or reduce flooding. 

Tree/Shrub Establishment

To set tree seedlings or cuttings in the soil.  To establish or reinforce a stand of trees, to conserve soil and moisture, for wildlife habitat or protect a watershed.

Underground Outlet

A conduit installed beneath the surface of the ground to collect surface water and convey to a suitable outlet.  To dispose of excess water from terraces, diversions, sub-surface drains, trickle tubes, principal spillways from dams or other concentrations without causing damage by erosion or flooding.

Water and Sediment Control Basin

A short earth embankment or a combination ridge and channel generally constructed across the slope and minor watercourses to form a silt or sediment basin.  To trap and collect sediment, reduce on-site erosion, reduce the content of sediment in water, reduce peak rate of flow at down slope locations, reduce flooding, reduce gully erosion, reform land surface, and improve potential of areas for farming.

Wetland Restoration

A rehabilitation of a drained or degraded wetland where the soils, hydrology, vegetative community and biological habitat are returned to the natural condition to the extent practicable.  To restore hydric soil conditions, hydrologic conditions, plant communities and wetland functions that occurred on the disturbed wetland site prior to modification to the extent practicable.

Windbreak/Shelterbelt Establishment

A shelter to diffuse and deflect winds away from livestock consisting of: a strip or belt of trees or shrubs established next to a feedlot or adjacent to a field; An outdoor living barn that is a specialized windbreak, typically composed of trees and shrubs strategically located in open areas; an earthen berm constructed of sufficient height and length to provide winter livestock shelter; or a constructed windbreak composed of building materials such as wood and corrugated metal normally constructed in an “L” configuration.  To protect soil resources, control snow deposition, moisture conservation, protect crops and provide shelter for livestock.

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