GROUNDWATER 
GROUNDWATER 1998 Year End Report
Highlights
1.0 INTRODUCTION/BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES
The success of the Michigan Groundwater Stewardship program in Van Buren and Allegan
has been demonstrated by the commitment of our local Groundwater Stewardship Team to
reducing risks to groundwater. Since 98% of the area's residents rely on groundwater,
protecting the quality of this resource is an important concern.
This is highlighted by the implementation of best management practices, educational
workshops and farmstead evaluations (Farm*A*Syst) designed to reduce risks to groundwater
and increase public awareness about groundwater. The table below summarizes the best
management practices implemented in Van Buren and Allegan Counties. The final amount of
cost-share allocated for fiscal year 1998 was $35,125.
Number of Best Management Practices Implemented
Using Cost-Share
PRACTICE |
NUMBER IMPLEMENTED |
Farm*A*Syst Evaluations Well Decommissioning Nurse Tank Permanent Mix/Load Pad Cover Crop Digital Monitor Calc-an-acre Portable Mix/Load Pad Permanent pesticide containment IPM Fruit IPM Row Spill Kits Temporary Pesticide containment Irrigation Scheduling |
54 34 11 1 683.5 1 1 1 2 672 1042 14 2 2 |
2.0 FARM*A*SYST EVALUATIONS
The Farmstead Evaluation is the gateway to Groundwater Stewardship and provides an
opportunity for one-on-one education. It is also an opportunity for the technician to
disseminate information about Conservation Districts, Natural Resources Conservation
Service, Michigan State University Extension, and Farm Service Agency. It has been the
goal of the Groundwater Stewardship Program in Van Buren and Allegan County to provide a
resource person (groundwater technician), who can at a minimum direct producers to
appropriate contacts within each agency and answer general questions.
Eighty (54) farmstead evaluations were conducted: the number of evaluations in each
county: Allegan (24) and Van Buren (30), how many producers requested restricted use
pesticide (RUP) certification credits (20), well closures (34), applied for cost-share
(35) (other than well closures) and received cost-share (29) (other than well closures).
3.0 MICHIGAN GROUNDWATER STEWARDSHIP TEAM IN VAN BUREN AND ALLEGAN COUNTIES
The Groundwater Stewardship Team met 11/97, 3/98, 6/98 and 9/98 to direct the
activities of the local Michigan Groundwater Stewardship Program. Currently the team is
structured as an informal working group, providing support to the technician, directing
the disbursement of cost-share, and selecting groundwater priorities for future grants.
The team consists of 43 members who receive Groundwater Stewardship Program Reports. The
team is considering ways of expediting communication such as using the internet/e-mail.
4.0 CONCLUSION
