Tillage Surveys Coming Soon

     Watershed management planning has been something that WCCD has been a part of for decades.  These plans guide stakeholders in creating future projects with the goal of improving water quality within that watershed.  Creating these plans takes quite a bit of data collection such as a survey of water quality knowledge, water testing, stream walks as well as agricultural tillage surveys.  Over the next couple of years, the River Raisin Watershed Council will be updating the watershed’s management plan thanks to a 319 Nonpoint Source Grant from EGLE and WCCD will be assisting on this endeavor.

    This spring you may see the WCCD truck out driving slowly along some roads in the southern part of the county.  We will be looking at fields to learn how widespread particular fall and spring tillage practices are.  Is no-till the dominant practice?  How widespread is cover crop adoption?  Is there erosion happening on fields without any residue cover?  Answers to these questions will help inform us where our outreach efforts need to be and how to get more conservation practices on the ground. 

    So, if you see us rolling down the road, please excuse our slower speed and give us a wave.  If you have any questions regarding the survey, feel free to contact me at Nicholas.machinski@washtenawcd.org.