Many Best Management Practices can be done by yourself on your farm.  What are the benefits of improving water quality on small farms?

Stream Fencing
- Prohibits livestock access to streams, ditches, and ponds.

• Maintains stream bank vegetation which prevents erosion and sedimentation.
• Allows animal waste to filter before entering the waterway.
• Reduces injury to livestock.
• Enhances fisheries and other wildlife uses.
• Enhances recreational uses of the stream.
• Increases beauty and natural character of the water course.

Gutters, Downspouts, and Drains
- Directs roof runoff away from livestock use areas.

• Prevents contamination of water by barnyard waste.
• Reduces ponding of water and muddiness around barnyard.
• Reduces water-borne diseases.

Pasture Management / Pasture Rotation
- Management of livestock grazing to meet pasture carrying capacity.

• Increases pasture productivity and forage value.
• Favors plant species of good forage value while reducing or preventing spread of weed species.
• Reduces compaction of soil and favors percolation of water through the soil profile.
• Prevents soil erosion, sedimentation, and water pollution.

Sacrifice Area / Confinement Area
- Established area to contain livestock during winter months.

• Allows pastures to regenerate during winter months.
• Keeps livestock off of wet soils.
• Compliments benefits of proper pasture management.

Manure Pile Covers
- Keeps rain off of manure piles

• Reduces contamination of nearby water courses.
• Prevents leaching of precious nutrients.

10332 Central Valley Road, Poulsbo, WA 

Mailing address: P.O. Box 2472, Silverdale, WA 98383

 360-337-7171 FAX 360-337-7172