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Show Page 18 THE OGDEN VALLEY NEWS Volume II, Issue XX October 15, 2000 CONSERVATION cont. on page 14 based on the resulting ranking. The EBI is composed of six environmental factors plus a cost factor. The six environmental factors are: Wildlife; Water Quality; Erosion Enduring Benefits Air Quality Benefits from Reduced Wind Erosion; State or National Conservation Priority Areas (CPSs). As of October 1, 1998, a total of 29,787,857 acres had been enrolled in the CRP. Of the total acreage, 1.9 million acres are planted to trees and 1.8 million are planted to mixtures of grasses, legumes, forbs, and shrubs specially selected to provide permanent habitat for wildlife. Also enrolled are about 1.3 million acres of wetland and adjacent critical upland habitat. The program now has roughly 289,346 acres of filter strips and 73,813 acres of riparian buffers. Annual CRP rental payments amount to approximately $1.3 billion, an average of approximately $44.73 per enrolled acre. Continuous Sign-up For certain high-priority conservation practices yielding highly desirable environmental benefits, farmers and ranchers may sign up at any time, without waiting for an announced sign-up period. Continuous sign-up allows management flexibility in implementing certain special conservation practices on cropland. These are designed to achieve significant environmental benefits, giving participants a chance to help protect and enhance wildlife habitat, improve air quality, and improve the conditions of America’s waterways. Unlike the general CRP program, sign-up for these special practices is open continuously. Provided certain eligibility requirements are met, acreage is automatically accepted into the program at a per-acre rental rate. These special practices include: Filter Strips—areas of grass, legumes, and other non-woody vegetation that filter runoff and waste water by trapping sediment, pesticides, organic matter, and other pollutants. Filter strips are planted on cropland at the lower edge of a field, or adjacent to bodies of water. Filter strips significantly reduce the amount of sediment and nutrients entering a stream or river from adjoining land. The width and type of vegetation established in the filter area are determined by site conditions. Riparian Buffers—areas of trees and/or shrubs next to ponds, lakes, and streams that filter out pollutants from runoff as well as providing shade for fish and other wildlife. The vegetation’s natural litter also provides food and shelter for valuable wildlife. Riparian buffers are planted so that surface and subsurface runoff must filter through them before it reaches a pond, lake, stream or reservoir. They can also be placed next to wetlands, such as marshy or swampy areas. Shelterbelts, Field Windbreaks, and Living Snow Fences—belts of trees or shrubs planted in single or multiple rows. Such tree rows and hedges reduce wind erosion, improve air quality, protect growing plants, and provide food, shelter, and breeding territory for wildlife. They can also shelter structures and livestock. Field windbreaks prevent wind erosion. Living snow fences provide similar benefits, but are specifically located to manage snow. They can significantly reduce the cost of clearing snow from public highways and improve public safety. Grass Waterways—channels, either natural or constructed, that are planted with suitable vegetation to protect soil from erosion. Grass waterways can help heal gullies and washouts, and greatly reduce loss of topsoil and the sedimentation of streams, ponds, and lakes. Shallow Water Areas for Wildlife—small areas whose purpose is providing cover and a water source for wildlife. Water is impounded using embankments, berms, or other methods, and is surrounded by a small area planted with permanent cover. Salt-tolerant Vegetation— Vegetation is planted to reclaim areas in which saline water is seeping to the surface. Planted areas upstream reduce the amount of water recharging the seep, and salt-tolerant plants reclaim the contaminated seepage area. Certain Approved Public Wellhead Protection Areas—Wellhead Protection Areas help assure the safety of municipal water supplies drawn from wells. Vegetation planted in an area surrounding the wellhead protects the water supply from contamination. For further information on Conservation Reserve Programs, contact your local Farm Service Agency, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, or your local NRCS office at 629-0580 ext. 27. Note: This information was taken from a publication by the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture entitled “The Conservation Reserve Program.” PHYSICIAN PROFILE RENEE R. WEST, MD FAMILY PRACTICE Mt. Ogden Family Medical Center 1890 South 1350 West (801) 627-1394 Renee R. West is a Family Practice Physician. Dr. West, prior to joining the University of Utah Health Network, served in the United States Airforce at Macdill Airforce base from 1995 to midyear 1999. Dr. West’s professional interests are preventive medicine, women’s health care, allergy, asthma, pediatrics and minor surgery. Dr. West received her Medical Degree from the Univeristy of Nebraska in 1992 and completed her Family Practice Residency at the University of Nebraska / USAF from 1992 to 1995. Dr. West belongs to the Amercian Association of Family Practitioners. In time away from work Dr. West enjoys reading, music, outdoor sports, computers and art. www.uuhn.med.utah.edu |