Grant Money Available For Landowners To Help With Farm Runoff

Thursday, February 28, 2013                                    9:30 AM　

A meeting for the Lye Creek Watershed landowners and farmers was held this morning to announce a nearly $400,000 state grant designed to assist in ultimately reducing algae growth in Lake Erie..

(audio below)

Jean Ann Derr, District Program Administrator for the Hancock Soil and Water Conservation District said about 25 were in attendance with various representatives from the ODNR, OSU Extension Office, NRCS, Pheasants Forever and the Blanchard River Watershed Partnership, explaining various "Best Management Practices" for controlling runoff into the creek. Farmers and landowners do have out-of-pocket expenses but the grant assists them depending on the type of practice..

(audio below)

Derr explained that there is assistance available for tile repair and vertical tillage rental as well, all designed to keep sediment and phosphorus out of the creek. Farmers and landowners can contact the Hancock Soil and Water Conservation District to enroll or for more information.