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Sept. 17: learn about Whole Farms for Clean Water program in the Mill Creek Watershed

By Lisa Carolin

The Huron River Watershed Council has a new project that empowers farmers to reduce phosphorus runoff.

The project is called Whole Farms for Clean Water, and its coverage area includes the Mill Creek watershed in the Chelsea area.

You can learn more about the project on Tuesday, Sept. 17, at a noon-1 p.m. free lunch at the Chelsea District Library.

The project uses cost-effective conservation techniques and incentive payments to farmers for reductions in phosphorus. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is providing $649,353 to the HRWC for the project.

Filler strips act as a natural buffer along water corridors and trap soil and fertilizers before they can drain into the water. This helps farmers to minimize soil erosion and nutrient losses from their fields.

According to Pam Labadie, marketing director for the HRWC, “The project’s innovative approach uses a nutrient flux model that relies on HRWC chemistry and flow monitoring data and local economic information. The model can predict the expected phosphorus reduction from a specific conservation practice applied to any field the farmer chooses.”

The Huron River watershed is contributing significant phosphorus loads to Lake Erie. Water quality problems like excess phosphorus and nitrogen promote the overgrowth of algae, which can cause fish kills, shut down water supplies, and close beaches.

Labadie says, “Tremendous progress has been made to reduce urban and stormwater runoff by 40%, but agricultural runoff has not improved. This project seeks to reduce 10.5 tons of phosphorus runoff per year.”

She says that farmers who participate in the project will be eligible for a Whole Farm Plan, a business plan for the land and farm operation developed by professional agronomists tailored to the individual farm. The project team will provide technical support.

If you are interested in attending the lunch at the Chelsea District Library, please RSVP.

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