Examples of Non-Conservative Agricultural Practices
Livestock Wading in Stream
Animal waste, including manure and urinary waste can enter streams
directly when livestock wade in and around the water. Animals also trample
streambanks and damage fish habitat. Animal wastes deposited in waterbodies
can accelerate eutrophication and contaminate water used for fishing, swimming,
and drinking. Streambank fencing is one way to protect streams from livestock
damage.
Channelized Ditches
Many channelized waters, including roadside ditches, are poorly maintained
and usually absent of vegetative buffers and ground cover. Increased sediment
load, especially resulting from tilled fields, and pollutant runoff from
impervious roads, decrease the quality of the water and negatively impact
the surrounding habitat.
Tilled Cropfields
Fields that are totally denuded of soil cover result in advanced compaction
and increased weathering of the soil. This practice increases runoff dramatically
and also increases the amount of sediment and pollutants from pesticides
and herbicides in nearby water sources. A good alternative is conservation
tillage where ground cover after harvest remains on the fields throughout
the year. This cover protects the soil by keeping it anchored to the vegetation.
Croprows Along Stream Bank
Crops planted on the edge of streams can create many problems with
soil stability. With heavy farm machinery for planting and harvesting and
heavy rainfall, increased soil compaction and bank erosion will result
over time and the soil will be pushed into the stream thereby increasing
sediment load and decreasing the area of the bank. Planting close to a
stream edge should be avoided; area around the stream should be maintained
with adequate trees and vegetation along the bank.