Crook CountyBMP and Septic System Cost Share Program
CCNRD COST-SHARE PROGRAM CHANGES:
CCNRD CLOSES 319 PHASE I GRANT
As of April 30, 2010, the district no longer has one major source of water quality funding, an EPA Section 319 Non-Point Source Pollution Control Program grant. Since 2005, the Phase I grant has provided funding for local watershed planning and implementation, enabling CCNRD to support locally-led, voluntary efforts to address water quality impairments in the Belle Fourche River Watershed. The district still has a 319 Phase II grant and continues to address local water quality issues, although the scope and objective of the district’s efforts has changed somewhat.
The Belle Fourche River Watershed Plan Implementation Phase I project funded by this grant began on October 1, 2005. The major objectives of the project were to continue to coordinate locally led Belle Fourche River Advisory Committee meetings, to maintain and enhance a cost-share program for best management practices, to fill a local Watershed Coordinator position, and to develop and carry out an information and education program. Through matching Wyoming Department of Agriculture (WDA) Water Quality grants, CCNRD also continued water quality monitoring on the Belle Fourche River and Donkey Creek within Crook County. Data analysis and interpretation of the monitoring results from 2005-2009 were completed by an environmental engineering firm and presented to local landowners. Throughout this project, a total of nineteen cost-share projects were implemented and a variety of education and outreach events were carried out including septic system seminars, tours of Best Management Practices and water quality curriculum to the public schools. Overall, the project succeeding in achieving many of the goals outlined in the locally developed Belle Fourche River Watershed Plan.
Implementation of the watershed plan continues, but the scale and scope of CCNRD’s water quality programs will be slightly different. On-going programs include water quality monitoring, information and education activities and the CCNRD Cost-Share Program for septic system remediation projects.
The locally developed Belle Fourche River Watershed Plan calls on Crook County residents to help clean up listed water bodies voluntarily. To help offset the cost of projects, the District offers a program that cost-shares at up to a 50% rate, including in-kind time spent on the project. CCNRD accepts applications anytime. These applications will be reviewed anonymously by an Advisory Committee comprised of Crook County landowners and ranked according to priority (high, medium, or low).
Eligible projects include replacing or upgrading failing or malfunctioning septic systems installed prior to 1986, relocating fencing or corrals, providing off site water, riparian habitat improvements, and other efforts to prevent bacteria from entering the Belle Fourche River (BFR), Donkey Creek (DC) or their tributaries.
With the closing of our 319 Phase I grant, the CCNRD Cost-Share Program is changing. CCNRD currently has NO Cost-Share Program funding until July 1, 2010. In July, CCNRD will have a new grant with funding for septic remediation projects but NOT agricultural BMPs. Applications are still being accepted, but they will not be reviewed by the board until the funding is available. Please contact the district for more information.
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WDA Septic Application For anyone in Crook County with a septic built in 1986 or before. |
We have worked with several Crook County residents in the last several years and succeeded in improving water quality while boosting property values. Consider these testimonials:
“We used the 319 funds to pay for the things that an EQIP contract would not cover. In our case we used it to cover ½ the cost to run electricity to the well. Not only did this project reduce the risk of livestock loss in the creek, but we do not have to chop ice anymore. I would encourage anyone within the Belle Fourche River Watershed to check into this program as a way to not only reduce the risk of water contamination by developing off site water but as a way to eliminate the need for an ax to chop ice!”
“My recent participation in the Belle Fourche River Watershed Plan has been of great benefit to my operation. The cost share program (through CCNRD) has helped to construct fencing for a winter pasture that would otherwise not be affordable. The new pasture is of more acreage and is away from the main creek, which flows through the ranch and into the Belle Fourche River. I feel most benefit will be from greatly reducing the contamination from cattle bedding close to the creek bank. Runoff from this and the feed grounds nearby will be eliminated. Protection of the riparian areas will be of great value also.”
“We rebuilt our corrals to keep livestock away from the creek and also put a water supply in more corrals. Now the cows, when worked, don’t have to go to the creek. We also fenced the creek out of the calving pasture and put a water source in the pasture, keeping the cows away from the creek and very likely saving a few calves from getting dumped into the creek when born. The committee and staff were very helpful and paid in a timely fashion.”
Rural Wellhead Protection Project, NRCS Septic System Rehabilitation Project, 2006
Septic System Rehabilitation Project, 2006 Winter pasture fencing project, 2006-2007
Septic System Seminars & Workshops
Since failing or malfunctioning septic systems are thought to be one of the sources of fecal coliform contamination in the Belle Fourche River and Donkey Creek, CCNRD hosted a septic system seminar in February to provide information and education to Crook County residents about septic systems. The goal was to provide information on the septic system permitting process in Crook County, CCNRD's cost share program for septic systems, why it is important to maintain septic systems, why soils are important for septic systems and some new and alternative technologies for septics. OVER 100 PEOPLE ATTENDED THIS WORKSHOP! It was a huge success. We are currently funding 3 cost share projects and have received 2 more applications since the workshop.Due to the huge success of the previous seminar, another 2-day workshop was held on June 23rd and 24th in Sundance at the Crook County Basement Meeting Room. We had over 20 people in attendance and some excellent speakers who traveled from as far away as Utah. This workshop was designed to provide more detailed information on how a septic system works, how to properly maintain your system, what works and what doesn't, new and alternative technologies, how to design a septic system and read a soil map and much, much more. We had a demonstration on percolation tests and soil test pits with special guest speakers Nephi Cole and Judy Sims
In October 2006, CCNRD and NRCS hosted a FALL TOUR OF BMP's in the Sundance area. It was a great opportunity for landowners, board members and staff to visit successful projects, ask questions and learn about our program. We visited a septic system rehabilitation project, wellhead protection project, corral fence relocation and water development project, winter pasture fencing relocation project. Many great discussions were generated and we are very grateful for all who participated.
In February 2007, we hosted another Septic System Seminar, in which over 30 people attended. Barb Coy, the Crook County Public Health Nurse, talked about the impact failing septic systems can have on the public health system and in turn tax payers. Dennis Lamb from Wyoming DEQ talked about the permitting process and answered questions about septic system design and how to fill out the paperwork. Fred Duncan, the Crook County Growth and Development Department Planner, discussed the Inspection process in Crook County and Nephi Cole, WACD/NRCS Watershed Coordinator, gave a very informative talk on Septic System Maintenance and Soils. Due to the success of these seminars, and feedback from attendees, another seminar is planned in Hulett near the end of April, 2007.
New Conservation District Signs
Individuals
traveling in or out of Crook County will be able to see a few of the
newly placed signs along the highways throughout the county. The Crook County Natural Resource District,
in cooperation with the Campbell, Carter and Lawrence County
Conservation Districts, now have new signs located along the county line
routes in and out of Crook County.
Highways scheduled to receive new signs include: Hwy 212 at the South Dakota/Wyoming border (Butte County); Hwy 24 at the South Dakota/Wyoming border (Butte County); Hwy 212 at the Montana/Wyoming border (Carter County); Hwy 112 at the Wyoming/Montana border (Carter County); Interstate 90 at the Wyoming/South Dakota border (Lawrence County); Interstate 90 at the Crook County/Campbell County line and Highways 16, 116 and 585 at the Crook County/Weston County lines.
Base Road Living Snow Fence
The District was awarded a Living Snow Fence grant by the Wyoming State Forestry Division on April 30, 2004 to install a living snow fence on the Base Road (County Road 100), approximately 5 miles west of Sundance. The Wyoming State Forestry Honor Camp in Newcastle, Wyoming, was contacted and a crew was requested to build the exclusion fence, plant the trees, and install the weed barrier. The CCNRD, in cooperation with the Crook County Road and Bridge Department in Sundance, began the fall site prep on September 27, 2004. On May 9-10, 2005 the trees and weed barrier were installed at the site, completing the project. The District will be responsible for maintaining the site for five years.
