Upper Tippecanoe River HUA
Initiated
in 1990
In
northeastern Indiana, 209,000 acres in Noble, Whitley and
Kosciusko
counties.
- Potential
surface and groundwater contamination because:
- unconfined outwash aquifer
- shallow water table
- permeable soils
- intensive agricultural land use, especially livestock
217
natural lakes and impoundments over 1 acre in size
- Major
crops:
- corn
- soybean
- wheat
- potatoes
- alfalfa
- Livestock
- ducks
- chickens
- swine
- dairy cattle
- beef cattle
1990 through 1996
- Erosion and sediment control
- Erosion and sediment
control practices on over 36,000 acres of cropland
crop residue management, grass waterways, water and sediment
control basins, and grass filter strips. - Reduction in average
annual soil loss from 10.3 to 1.8 tons/acre/year
- Annual increases in
conservation tillage to present level of 40% of corn
and 80% of soybean acres: no-till on 17% of corn and 46% of soybean acres.
- Nutrient management
- Nutrient management
plans on 18,704 acres
- regular soil testing, realistic yield goals, appropriate fertilizer rates, and
nutrient credits for manure and previous crop residues. - 22 manure storage
facilities - 64,000 tons of manure managed
- Manure and soil
testing - 163 tests
- Drinking water protection
- Indiana Farmstead
Assessment - 8 assessments
- Abandoned wells -9
wells plugged
- Community outreach
- Field Days and
tours - 3,795 people
- Workshops and
meetings - 575 people
- Impacts
- Commercial
fertilizer on corn decreased by an average of 20 lb. nitrogen
and 30 lb. phosphorus. - Pest scouting
acreage increased.
- Decreased use of
atrazine and alachlor observed by crop consultants.
- Partnerships
promoted among cooperators, lake associations, and various
community groups.
