Land managers, conservationists, planners, conservation groups, and landowners may be interested
updated
Wed, Apr 4, 2012 09:19 AM
Tuesday, April 17 at 8:45 a.m. - RUTLAND - The Rutland Natural
Resources Conservation District, Vermont DEC - River Management
Program, Vermont Rivers Conservancy, Vermont Agency of Agriculture,
USDA - Natural Resources Conservation Service and USDA - Farm
Service Agency will be sponsoring this workshop on April 17th, 2012
at the US Forest Service Building on North Main Street in Rutland.
The workshop will begin at 8:45 a.m. and will address the many
issues involved with managing floodplain soils. As focus
intensifies on nutrient loss from farmland and resulting water
quality problems, floodplains soils are potentially at high risk
for erosion and inundation - over time. Alluvial soils are
generally the best, most fertile soils for crop production - yet
overnight flood waters can wipe out investments in seed, fertilizer
and other inputs. Predicted climate scenarios point to an increase
in the likelihood of catastrophic Irene type storms.
The overall goals of this workshop are to: increase awareness of
serious erosion/inundation issues with alluvial soils, explore
options to lessen sediment loads and protect floodplain soils with
a variety of practices, and discuss tolerable soil loss in terms of
water quality concerns.
Landowners are often bewildered by the assortment of conservation
programs offered by numerous agencies. This workshop will delve
into the many conservation options that are available. Integrating
efforts and information between agencies to improve service to
landowners will be illustrated.
The program will start with a demonstration of floodplain
processes. Next, there will be a presentation covering soil maps,
the highly variable nature of floodplain soils and phosphorus
pollution from eroded sediment. We will also discuss policy issues
and the lack of rating systems for measuring the vulnerability of
alluvial soils. In addition, we will present successful case
studies of practices that help lessen soil loss. The indoor session
will wrap up with an open panel discussion that will cover the
current tools available for floodplain management and areas for
improvement. Comments and input from the audience will be
encouraged. The afternoon will involve a field trip to get a
firsthand look at conservation in action on a floodplain -- on
Patrick Medeo's farm in Shrewsbury on the Cold River.
There is no cost for attendance and the workshop is open to all.
Attendees should bring a bag lunch. Coffee, tea and snacks will be
provided. Space is limited so register early by calling Nanci
McGuire at the Rutland Conservation District office at 775-8034
ext. 17 or e-mail nanci.mcguire@vt.nacdnet.net
Tagged:
rutland, The Rutland Natural Resources Conservation District
