Carthage Spring River Watershed 319 Project

Spring River Watershed Management Plan Implementation

Project No. G12-NPS-04

April 15, 2012 – April 14, 2014

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

The project will start the implementation of the Spring River Watershed Management Plan, implementing best management practices (BMPs), targeted in areas of possible sources of bacterial pollution occurring from human, agriculture production and livestock operations. Stream riparian corridor and onsite wastewater treatment system cost-share programs will be made available fro landowners to help install BMPs to address the stream bacteria and other nonpoint source pollution related problems. An educational program will be implemented that includes storm water BMP demonstrations, stream team activities, and storm drain stenciling to educate the citizens  about water quality problems in Spring River and practical solutions. In addition, stream monitoring and modeling will be conducted to determine the pollutant load reduction achieved from the implementation of the project.

OBJECTIVES

The primary objectives of the Spring River WMP Implementation project are:

1. Implementing agricultural BMPs outside the City of Carthage in the Spring River watershed project area,
2. Implementing a program to educate homeowners about septic system operation and maintenance.
3. Developing educational outreach projects that bring an increased knowledge of cost-share programs available through Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS), soil and water conservation districts (SWCDs) , and other local businesses to increase the number of landowners implementing these BMP projects in the Spring River Watershed project area.
4. Educating local landowners about the benefits of implementing BMPs to protect water quality.
5. Educating the local youth, including future farmers, about the available methods of water quality protection to provide local youth with the opportunity to learn about and implement their own BMP projects.
6. Provide modeling and monitoring of BMPs throughout the Spring River Watershed project area.