R2000-185 AUTHORIZING AGREEMENT - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

� . , . - • ' r ' � � �� . . ' � ' � . • � '' - � ; - � -- - r �-""=_ • ` - - Y � � � � �- � �1 - �1�� . : �� — . _ � Y r_ � _ �� . . _ . _ — -_ r _- _ _ � � . . _ — _ �. � - a , . _ •, _ _4. - � � � ,1 i i. ��C . _ • � � r � ��. �-�- � .�,-- , 3 .:� � - � _ � , . _ . _ __ May 2000 A�ST�I�A��T f The Urban Team included NRCS Resource Planning Specialist � Because the resurgence of soil erosion and sedimentation Tom Krapf, and NRCS Resource Soil Scientist (community continues to be a long-term water quantity and quality resource assistance) Don Fehrenbacher. � concern for Lake Decatur, the City of Decatur has requested that the Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) perform an The Streambank/woodland Team included NRCS Civil Engineer update of the Lake Decatur River Basin Reservoir study for Tom Book; Environmental Specialist Paul Krone, MCSWCD Sediment Reduction. Cropland, urban land, and streambank/ Watershed Specialist Shannon Allen; and MCSWCD County woodland erosion concerns were inventoried, according to Level Technician Jeff Hyett. 3 Erosion and Sedimentation Study for Illinois, and an emphasis � was placed on keeping the inventory and planning project-neutral. 1 �IVF�IT�OItY �E�aCTENT The intent of the inventory is to explain which best management practices, or BMP's, are needed to successfully reduce erosion in Cropland the determined land-use areas, to develop strategies that will target An inventory that included actual sampling from 51% of the existing cost-share dollars for installing BMP's in a cost-effective monitored area was conducted on 4,848 cropland acres, which � manner, and to provide a resource document to the Planning included those acres that contribute to the direct drainage area(s) Committee so that other funding sources—both public and of Sand Creek and its tributaries. The Farm Service Agency(FSA) private—may be pursued in order to allow for the installation and aerial photos, Macon County Soil Survey maps, and topography application of additional BMP's which promote resource mapswereusedtodeterminethelocationsoffieldreconnaissance management systems. for the cropland inventory. I � �T�0��4.�T�0� Acres inventoried included soil mapping units classified as potentially highly erodible land (PHEL) and highly erodible land ( Numerous meetings with the Technical Advisory Committee(TAC) (HEL), which when managed for crop production with mapping in the spring of 1999 yielded useful information concerning a re- units that are non highly erodible (NHEL) still cause significant examination and study of Lake Decatur's watershed. Due to the increases in sheet, rill, and ephemeral erosion losses. Although study areas large size, 925 square miles, the TAC decided to these crop fields are considered NHEL because less than 33 1/ "break" the watershed inventory project into two phases, Phase I 3% of the field is HEL, the portions of fields containing the HEL and Phase II (see insert map). mapping unit were significantly contributing to soil losses in the Sand Creek Watershed. , Because Sand Creek already had an extensive modern resource plan,the Committee decided to update this resource plan first prior Data collection from the inventory was loaded on Microsoft Excel to any new investigations or inventories. NRCS District software and tabulated. For further explanation of erosion losses Conservationist Hal Pyle contacted Randy Fransen, Chairperson from sheet, rill, and ephemeral/gully erosion, please seeAppendix of the Sand Creek Planning Committee, and discussed the need 1 "Synopsis of Sand Creek Inventory." Ifor an update on the original Sand Creek Resource Plan. Fransen, ( who is also Assistant Vice President of Decatur's First National Soil loss caused by sheet and rill erosion for the update was Bank, responded to Hal with a letter that indicated his interest and measured using the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation � support of a chance to revisit and update the current resource (RUSLE) . The original 1995 study measured soil loss according k plan. to the Universal Soil Loss Equation (USLE). Fieldwork for the inventory was conducted with an interdisciplinary There are subtle differences between the two equations; for team approach. The Cropland Team included: NRCS District example, RUSLE uses "revised" rainfall factors, new erodibility Conservationist Hal Pyle; Soil Conservationists Les Nichols, Dave factors, different length and slope factors, and can further quantify � Mizek, and Joe Sullivan; Macon County Soil and Water the effects that contouring has on soil loss. The net result of all Conservation District (MCSWCD) Watershed Specialist Shannon these RUSLE factors is usually that fewer tons of soil are lost per IAllen; FOD3Agronomist Britt Weiser,Environmental Specialist Paul acre than with calculations made using USLE. For example, I Krone; and MCSWCD County Technician Jeff Hyett.