Park Conservation District Upper Yellowstone Watershed Basin
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PAGECurrent Projects No-Till Alfalfa MACD - LEP Grant Funded Demonstration Project Purpose of Project: The use of no-till farming techniques instead of conventional tillage practices has several conservation-related benefits, listed below are a few:
Project conservation benefits: 1. Fuel reduction is the major advantage. Typically, approximately 20 gallons of fuel is used per acre. Using the no till drill, fuel use is reduced to 3 gallons per acre. A savings of 17 gallons per acre.
2. Reduction in loss of topsoil due to wind erosion during stand replacement is another advantage. Many tons of top soil, which is scarce in the valley, was being lost to wind erosion. With no-till drilling, this is reduced.Click here for images Sheep Grazing Project MACD - LEP Grant Funded Demonstration Project Purpose of Project: There are several hundred small acreage parcels (<20 acres) in the Paradise Valley. A high percentage of these small parcels are owned as second homes with absentee landowners.
Thousands of acres in the UYWB are infested with noxious weeds. Wildlife habitat and agricultural ground is lost every year to spotted knapweed. Herbicides and biological controls have been used as major management tools. In some areas, herbicides are not a viable option due to personal preference, terrain, or acreage involved. This means that in some areas of the UYWB, weed management is minimal.
Project conservation benefits: This project was designed to demonstrate to small and/or absentee landowners, that sheep can be used effectively to manage spotted knapweed in areas where other methods are not feasible.
Technical Assistance Provided By: Montana Sheep Institute
Sheep Provided By:
Click here for images
Seal-It Project MACD - LEP Grant Funded Demonstration Project Purpose of Project: Designed to reduce water leakage and seepage by applying a liquid polymer mixture, such as Seal-It, to canals, ponds, ditches. It works by creating a negative charge that attracts to the suspended sediment in the water.Which then forces the heavier sediments to drop to the bottom of the canal and seal existing cracks.
Project conservation benefits: Reduces water losses, seals leaks and saves money.
Irrigation Efficiency Project DNRC - HB223 Grant Funded Project Purpose of Project: The purpose of this project is to assist in purchasing the AM400 Soil Moisture Data Logger with Graphic Display and installing the unit for landowners within the Upper Yellowstone Watershed Basin. The goal of the project is to improve irrigation field practices in the Upper Yellowstone Watershed Basin by employing techniques that keep water in the field through the use of Soil Moisture Data Loggers. These data loggers will help the grower's improve their irrigation management strategies including monitoring of soil and water conditions, data collection that aids in scheduling decision-making, and improving the overall efficiency of the irrigation system.
Project conservation benefits: Water conservation through improved irrigation scheduling. Soil Moisture Data Loggers allow the grower to make a more precise choice of irrigation application rates and timing to help maintain or improve yields while using less water.
Technical Assistance Provided By: DNRC (http://dnrc.mt.gov/default.asp) and National Center for Appropriate Technology (http://www.ncat.org/)
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