Agricultural
Best Management Practices
Pictured: Riparian Fence near Grand Lake
A description of these BMPs follows:
(Credit: Natural Resources Conservation Service)
Filter/buffer strips are strips or area of herbaceous vegetation that removes contaminants from overland flow. This practice is used to reduce suspended solids and associated contaminants in runoff and excessive sediment in surface waters, reduce dissolved contaminant loadings in runoff and/or reduce suspended solids and associated contaminants in irrigation tailwater and excessive sediment in surface water. These are typically 25 to 50 feet wide and the area required to implement this BMP is taken out of production. Riparian buffers tend to reduce flow velocities because the vegetation in the buffer provides greater resistance to water flow which also increases infiltration. Buffers also promote the uptake of nutrients, denitrification, and assimilation/transformation on the surface of soil, vegetation, and debris.
Riparian buffers are trees and/or shrubs and other vegetation located adjacent to and up-gradient from watercourses and water bodies that filter nutrients and sediments in rainfall runoff. The most common buffer widths are 100 feet.
BMPs for septic systems include replacing failing systems or removing the septic system entirely and connecting the wastewater discharge to an existing wastewater treatment facility. Connecting to an existing wastewater treatment plant is controlled by the state so it is beyond the scope of this plan.
The proper pasture forage height help reduce the quantity of stormwater leaving a site. Reducing the quantity of stormwater leaving the site impacts the downstream receiving channels. It also improves the quality of stormwater leaving the site. In addition, increasing infiltration assists in ground water recharge.
Pasture Stream Fencing is another practice that protects the receiving stream from erosion, sediment runoff and excessive nutrients. Stream fencing will reduce direct deposition of nutrient loading from livestock loitering in streams and creeks. This BMP will need to be done with other BMPs to ensure grazing livestock are provided adequate, acceptable alternative water sources. It is used to control the movement of animals and people, including vehicles. Fencing materials, type and design of fence installed shall be of a high quality and durability. The type and design of fence installed will need to meet the management objectives and site challenges. Based on objectives, fences may be permanent, portable or temporary. Fences that are installed in areas of heavy wildlife movement or traffic (such as riparian areas) shall be planned with appropriate wire spacing type, and height to decrease the impact of fences on wildlife.
An alternative water source will be necessary to provide water to grazing animals if steps are taken to prevent the access of the stream or water body to the animals. There are different ways to do this but could be cost prohibitive depending on location. Some of these include piping or hauling water to the site.
Overapplying manure to land can result in runoff of excessive nutrients. A BMP to reduce land application of manure and poultry litter where they have been historically applied and moving it to other sub-basins outside of the watershed for beneficial use could reduce this runoff. In addition, manure is typically higher in phosphorous and is not utilized by plants so switching to a commercial fertilizer with less phosphorous could reduce the amount of nutrients that run off into receiving streams.
Please click on the any of the buttons below for more information about specific Conservation Practice Standards from the United States Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service.
Residential BMPs
In urban areas, stormwater control (bioswales, rain gardens, rainwater harvesting, water retention systems) for specific sites near the lake shoreline or major tributaries could reduce the amount of nutrients and sediment in the runoff.
Working with students from the Oklahoma Water Survey at the University of Oklahoma, GRDA developed a series of pamphlets to provide information on a variety of topics to help area residents and businesses better understand how to protect their watershed. Topics include:
Boat Maintenance | Hazardous Waste | Rain Gardens
Compost | Landscaping | Septic Systems
Dock Maintenance | Pollution Prevention | Shoreline Erosion
Grand River Watershed | Rain Barrels | Wetlands