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Reducing Animal Waste Impacts on Watersheds
| Name | Morris B. Warner | | Situation | A number of watersheds are listed on the SC DHEC Bureau of Water 303D list for impaired watersheds. The 303D list is the states’ impaired list based on EPA standards related to the Clean Water Act of 1972. A watershed can be impaired for a number of different pollutants. Coneross Creek watershed is on the SC DHEC 303D list because the level of Fecal Coliform, a bacteria associated with the feces of warm-blooded animals, exceeds the standards set forth in the Clean Water Act. Fecal Coliform can occur in a watershed as a result of human, domestic or wild animals. Therefore, activities that would increase the level of fecal coliform in the watershed would include faulty septic systems, water treatment facilities, wildlife and livestock. In the Coneross Creek Watershed, there are a number of confined poultry operations. The waste from these operations is spread as fertilizer on agricultural land such as crop or pastureland. Some of this poultry litter is obviously washed into the watershed creeks and streams by weather events that occur shortly after an application. To reduce this effect on the watershed, farmers need to find other solutions for disposing of poultry litters.
| | Response | As a result of this need within the agricultural community, the agent applied a grant that would offer cost share assistance to landowners that would install Best Management Practices designed to reduce the amount of animal waste that is introduced into the watershed. The grant offers 60% cost share for each practice installed. Additionally, the cost share is offered to homeowners to repair faulty septic systems. Producer, Stacy Foster, contracted with Clemson University through this grant to install a poultry litter composter. By composting the poultry litter coming out of the poultry house, the waste will be exposed to very high temperatures during the 60 day composting period which will kill the organisms that pollute the watershed. Additionally, this composted product can be marketed off the farm and outside the watershed completely removing it from the watershed. Mr. Foster's compost is being marketed in this manner.
| | Impact | As a result of this composting operation, 700-800 tons of litter that was being utilized in the watershed is now being marketed to sources outside the watershed. |
Last update4/7/2008
This website is maintained by D Jason Caudill.
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