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No-Tillage Practices are the most highly recommended way to protect soil health. Rent a no-till drill NO TILL DRILL RENTAL The Allegan Conservation District provides a Truax No-till Drill for rent to all landowners in Allegan County. The intent of the no till drill is for the planting of native warm season grasses, or a combination of native warm and cool season grasses or a combination of native warm season grasses and wildlife food plot seed mixes. The no-till drill has three seed boxes to accommodate the varying sizes of the native grasses and wildlife food seeds. Size The planting width for this no till drill is 5 feet Cost $145.00 for the first ten acres of planting. $7.00 for each additional acres over the initial ten How To Reserve Call us directly at 269-466-1140 to reserve the drill for your planting needs HOW TO USE THE NO TILL DRILL

Swan Lake Watershed Management Plan SLWMP Figures SLWMP Appendices 1/23/2025 Steering Committee Meeting 10/24/2024 Steering Committee Meeting 7/25/2024 Steering Committee Meeting 4/29/2024 Steering Committee Meeting Notes from Restorative Lake Sciences

Your District Produce Safety Technician will work with you to improve produce safety practices, prepare producers for future inspections, and give one-on-one support for produce management.  Produce Safety Produce Safety Technician Program Michigan is unique in that it is the only State to offer a Produce Safety Technician Program to it's farmers and produce producers. This program offers a variety of services to producers, all with a goal of helping to grow tasty and safe to eat produce. This program is entirely voluntary. The Michigan On Farm Produce Safety Program is non-regulatory, free of cost, and confidential. Your district Produce Safety Technician will work with you to improve produce safety practices, prepare producers for future inspections, and give one-on-one support for produce management. Other services include: Produce Safety Risk Assessments On-Farm Readiness Review so farmers feel prepared to implement the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA). Farm Visits Action Plan Development Water Testing Training Protocols Record Keeping Wash Pack Consultations Microbial Risk Mitigation Visit the Produce Safety Website Button For more information, or to schedule a service, please contact our local Produce Safety Technician. Patrick Gordon Produce Safety Technician Berrien County Conservation District Patrick.Gordon@macd.org (517) 331-0093

MAEAP teaches farmers how to identify and prevent environmental risks and comply with state and federal environmental regulations. Michigan Agriculture Environmental Assurance Program About MAEAP The Michigan Agriculture Environmental Assurance Program (MAEAP) is an innovative, proactive program that helps farms of all sizes and all commodities voluntarily prevent or minimize agricultural pollution risks. When you see signs along the road that read “This Farm is Environmentally Verified” it means that the landowner has voluntarily taken every step required to meet state and federal environmental regulations and Michigan Right to Farm guidelines. MAEAP teaches farmers how to identify and prevent environmental risks and comply with state and federal environmental regulations. Farmers who successfully complete the phases of a MAEAP system are rewarded by becoming verified in that system, gaining regulatory protections, and earning preferred consideration for technical assistance and cost sharing. Depending on land usage and what resources are available on their property, farmers can become verified in the following systems: Farmstead System Continue Livestock System Continue Cropping System Continue Forest Wetlands & Habitat System Continue In 2020 alone, MAEAP Verified Farms in Allegan County had remarkable participation. Farmers were able to reduce nutrient and sediment runoff, increase levels of dissolved oxygen in water bodies, improve crop yields, protect soil health, and receive countless other benefits for their land and surrounding areas. Together, farms in Allegan County were able to reach the following environmental outcomes: 10,528 279 878 2,850 2,945 51 5,494 2 8,011 Acres included in a nutrient plan or CNMP Acres of buffer/filter strips Acres of cover crops Acres of conservation tillage Acres of no-till, zone till, or grass cover Number of gullies stabilized Feet of livestock exclusion Size of silage pad (acres) Acres of Pest Management Plans Each star represents a MAEAP verified farm in Allegan County. Visit the MAEAP website Continue To get enrolled in the MAEAP program, or to learn more about the conservation practices you can implement on your land, contact your local MAEAP Technician. MAEAP was developed by a coalition of agriculture producers, commodity groups, state and federal agencies, and conservation and environmental groups. While MDARD is the verifying agency, MAEAP is not a government or regulatory program but rather a partnership effort.

Gun River Watershed Implementation The Allegan Conservation District is accepting applications for a new cost share program in eastern Allegan and western Barry counties. Producers with fields in the Gun River Watershed are eligible for funding to trial or expand use of cover crops, strip till, or no till. Cost share payments range from $18 to $79/acre/year based on how practices are implemented (for example, number of cover crop species planted). As a local program, funding is guaranteed through 2026, and participation in Federal/ USDA recordkeeping is not required. The program is designed to encourage practices that reduce input costs, prevent erosion and runoff, build soil health, and improve productivity. If you're already trying these practices, contact us to find out how you can still qualify for funding. Contact Jason Cass for details at 269-454-1487 / Jason.Cass@macd.org Cost Share Flyer Program Guidance & Application Gun River Watershed Map

Forestry Programs are designed to promote forest resource stewardship by providing support and resources to landowners with forested property. Through the two programs, we aim to reach landowners who are interested in learning to manage their forested areas, or who are interested in receiving benefits for continuing to Forestry Forestry Programs are designed to promote forest resource stewardship by providing support and resources to landowners with forested property. Through the two programs, we aim to reach landowners who are interested in learning to manage their forested areas, or who are interested in receiving benefits for continuing to manage their forests and woodlands. The Forestry Assistance Program can provide guidance on topics concerning: Forestry Assistance Program The Forestry Assistance Program (FAP) is designed to provide an initial professional contact with landowners who are interested in actively managing their forested property. Your FAP District Forester (Ben Savoie) helps citizens understand, plan, manage, protect, and utilize their forest resources through various avenues of information, education, and outreach. All services are at no cost to the landowner, and provide an excellent initial contact between conservation professionals and landowners. We aim to promote forest resource stewardship on private lands in local communities by introducing landowners to forest management and setting them up to achieve their management goals. - General forest management - Timber harvesting - Forest Ecology - Cost share programs - Tree and shrub planting - Forest health/disease - Improving & Creating Wildlife Habitat Qualified Forest Program The Qualified Forest Program (QFP) provides a property tax exemption for private landowners who actively manage their forests and woodlands for commercial harvest, wildlife habitat enhancement, and improvement of other non-forest resources. The goal of the program is to encourage sustainable forest management, and to fuel regional economies through timber harvest and individual tax savings. Eligibility Requirements: Parcels must be 20 acres or larger. Parcels from 20-39 acres must be a least 80 percent stocked with forest capable of producing wood products. Parcels from 40-640 acres must be at least 50 percent stocked with forest capable of producing wood products. A forest management plan is required for the parcels being enrolled. For questions, more information, or to get started with your land management project, contact our District Forester Ben Savoie District Forester Allegan, Barry, and Ottawa Counties Ben.Savoie@macd.org (269) 908-4134 Monthly Forestry Logs 2021 Reports January 2021 March 2021 April 2021 May 2021 June 2021 July 2021 August 2021 September 2021 2020 Reports March 2020 April 2020 May 2020 June 2020 July 2020 August 2020 September 2020 October 2020 November 2020 December 2020

Active Project to assess non-point source polution in the Green Lake Watershed. This project aims to protect fisheries, aquatic resources, and the public. Green Lake Watershed Assessment Project Description Green Lake in Allegan County currently supports a strong cisco population and is one of a small number of healthy cisco lakes remaining in Michigan. However, nutrient runoff from agricultural land (52% of the watershed) and urban land (42% of the shore land) is a concern. The Michigan Department of Natural Resources has identified Green Lake as a conservation priority because of its high water quality, the presence of cisco, and vulnerability to human disturbances. This project aims to assess the health of the lake and its catchment area, invest community members in water quality monitoring, create nutrient budget for the lake, and create a lake management plan. After this assessment, best management practices (BMPs) can be implemented to maintain a healthy cisco habitat, Green Lake’s aesthetic values, and recreational opportunities. This project is funded by the Fisheries Habitat Grant Program (FHGP) through the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. FHGP supports conservation activities to protect fisheries, aquatic resources, and the public. Inherently, the activities carried through this grant will conserve fish and aquatic species habitat, increase the quality of lake-based recreation, and preserve the health of our local waters. Allegan Conservation District was granted funds to support Green Lake because of our need to protect the cisco population that inhabits the water. While Green Lake is one of the few remaining healthy cisco lakes in Michigan, it is under threat due to urban development near the lakeshore, nutrient runoff from agricultural land, and warming of the surface water temperature due to climate change. Purpose and Background Why is it important to protect Cisco? Cisco are native to the Great Lakes and to inland lakes of Michigan, weaving them into our local economy, recreational activities, and aquatic ecosystems. While cisco are desirable to recreational and commercial fishers, they are also essential to the diet of other native fish species. Since cisco require cold, deep lakes with high water quality and well-oxygenated water, they can serve as an indicator to let scientists know when water quality in a lake is degrading. In other words, if cisco are present, the ecosystem and water quality of the lake is likely healthy, but if cisco populations are dropping, that is an indicator of low water quality. This lower water quality can also impact native species such as northern pike and largemouth bass who may depend on cisco for food. Protecting Cisco means we can protect entire ecosystems. Cisco - Photo courtesy of Michigan Sea Grant. Why are Runoff and Climate Change Threats? Agricultural nutrient runoff poses threats to all watersheds in Allegan county. Commonly used fertilizers, especially ones that contain phosphorus and nitrogen, are needed for plant growth on our farms, but they also support unwanted plant growth when they are carried by runoff into bodies of water. This causes an excess of nutrients in our waters, a process called eutrophication. A primary concern with eutrophication is how it can cause algae blooms in lakes. Algae blooms are a host for several further problems - decreased levels of dissolved oxygen in the water, release of harmful toxins, outcompeting beneficial plants that animals feed on, degraded fish habitat, and decreased quality of recreational activities. Additionally, sediment runoff from farmlands and urban areas increases the turbidity of the water, which again, decreases the water quality needed to sustain aquatic life. The problems caused by runoff affect water at all depths, but depending on the scenario, can affect the health of lake bottoms - thus, forcing fish populations to move closer to the water surface to find better water quality. While runoff is causing problems on the bottom of the lakes, climate change is posing threats from the surface. Some fish species, especially Cisco, prefer to live in cool waters – so as water temperatures rise due to climate change, fish begin to search for the colder water found at deeper lake depths. This movement of fish can cause drastic changes in aquatic ecosystems. In tandem, the threats of runoff and climate change are essentially “sandwiching” aquatic species into smaller habitats in middle lake depths. Read this article by The Detroit Free Press to learn more about how water quality and climate change are affecting fish populations. How We Are Stepping In For now, Green Lake is still sustaining a healthy ecosystem, but the Department of Natural Resources has identified Green Lake as a conservation priority. The Allegan Conservation District is teaming up with local volunteers to assess the severity of current sources of sediment and nutrient pollution. This initial assessment will allow us to develop a nutrient budget that will protect Green Lake’s health. After the assessment is complete, we will work with partners to develop Best Management Practices (BMPs) and a Green Lake Watershed Management Plan. The implementation of our management plan and best practices will serve to protect Green Lake before essential ecosystems are permanently damaged.

Volunteer opportunities! Contact your Allegan Conservation District at Allegan.Admin@macd.org or (269) 941-6165. Community Science Community Science is a research approach that involves community members in scientific research, data collection, and analysis, often to address issues relevant to their communities. Volunteers needed! Contact your Allegan Conservation District to get involved: Allegan.Admin@macd.org / (269) 466.1140 Vernal Pool Patrol Vernal pools are seasonal wetlands that fill with water from snowmelt and rain in the spring and dry up in the summer heat. They are crucial for amphibian breeding, provide habitat for a variety of species, and currently fall between the cracks of wetlands protection in Michigan. The Vernal Pool Patrol is a program through Michigan Natural Features Inventory (MNFI) and the Michigan Vernal Pools Partnership that hopes to enhance our knowledge and conservation of vernal pools in the state. The Vernal Pool Patrol is built on volunteer data collection. Volunteers visit a pool 2-3 times throughout the year, collect data, and submit the data to their local program coordinator or MNFI. VPP Website The 2026 Michigan Vernal Pool Patrol Virtual Training Series registration is open! If you want to get involved, check the VPP website for registering for the webinars and steps to get involved. Vernal Pool Patrol volunteers Cooperative Lakes Monitoring Program The Michigan Clean Water Corps (MiCorps) was founded in 2003 to provide an opportunity for Michigan residents to contribute to water quality monitoring. The Cooperative Lakes Monitoring Program (CLMP) allows residents to collect water quality data on the lake that they live on. Data collected through CLMP includes Chlorophyll content, phosphorus, clarity, temperature, and more. That data can be used to monitor water quality and inform conservation decision making. For more information, check the MiCorps website and reach out to the Allegan County Program Coordinator: Nathan.Hilbrands@macd.org MiCorps Enrollment Winter Salt Watch Register for MI Salt Week Here As a state, Michigan is notorious for its use of road salts during the winter months. While road salt is an important tool for keeping our roads clear of snow and ice, it can have detrimental effects to our freshwater ecosystems, roadside vegetation, road infrastructure, and human health. The study of how road salt is affecting freshwater ecosystems and overall water quality appears to be a new subject of interest. Many areas in the U.S. have not been monitoring the concentrations of road salts in local waterways. Due to this lack of data, and a general misunderstanding of how road salts are affecting waterways, many municipalities do not have regulations and guidance for how to sustainably use road salts. To combat this, and to gain a better understanding of road salt usage in Allegan County, the Allegan Conservation District has partnered with the Isaak Walton League of America (IWLA). Since 2017, the IWLA has been providing volunteers with sample kits to monitor freshwater rivers and streams across the country. Through this community-science based project, the IWLA has collected and managed a nationwide database for road salt concentrations. This year, the Allegan Conservation District is recruiting volunteers to collect water samples and monitor road salt concentrations in the Kalamazoo and Rabbit Rivers. The Isaak Walton League provides free test kits to volunteers. Using a test kit, this volunteer has recorded chloride levels of 49 ppm(mg/L). Chloride can start harming freshwater ecosystems at 100 ppm(mg/L). Road Salt Volunteers collect water sample near Bridge Road in Allegan. Photo courtesy of Raecale Stull. The Allegan Conservation District wants to gain a better understanding of how the larger towns in Allegan County are using road salts, what areas of the rivers have the highest chloride concentrations, and if natural areas (like the Allegan State Game Area), are being effected by road salt. To test this, volunteers are collecting water samples upstream and downstream of large towns and the Allegan State Game Area in Allegan County. Check out the map below to see all 14 sampling locations. Volunteers are choosing which sample site(s) they would like to monitor, and are being asked to collect monthly samples. Volunteers may collect the samples on their own schedule. Sampling Locations Don't be Salty, be a Volunteer! Sign up to volunteer at one or more of our sampling sites! We are asking that volunteers commit to collecting water samples once a month, for at least three months. Volunteers may choose if they would like to collect samples from December-February, March-May, June-August, or September-November. Contact Nathan.Hilbrand@macd.org to sign up as a volunteer. Winter Salt Watch Articles "Winter Salt Watch" - Isaak Walton League of America "For healthier lakes, rivers, and drinking water, hold the salt" - C&EN "Winter is Coming! And with it, tons of salt on our roads" - U.S. EPA "Road salt threatens Michigan lakes and rivers. Can an alternative take hold?" - Great Lakes Now

NRCS is a federal agency and a partner of the Allegan Conservation District. We are co-located in the same office in the USDA Allegan Service Center. Together, NRCS and ACD provide technical assistance to landowners and address conservation concerns. Natural Resources Conservation Service History The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is a federal agency and a partner of the Allegan Conservation District. We are co-located in the same office in the USDA Allegan Service Center. This collaborative office set-up, and similarity in our agencies’ missions allows us to support one another in local conservation efforts and assist clients in finding which conservation program(s) are best suited to their needs. Since 1935, the Natural Resources Conservation Service (originally called the Soil Conservation Service) has provided leadership in a partnership effort to help America’s private land owners and managers conserve their soil, water, and other natural resources. While our agency name has changed, we are still dedicated to managing natural resource conservation programs and providing technical assistance to landowners and farmers who are interested in gaining environmental, societal, and financial benefits. What We Do NRCS employees provide technical assistance based on sound science, and it is customized to meet a customer’s specific needs. We provide financial assistance for many conservation activities. Participation in our programs is voluntary, and we work to meet you where your needs are. Contact us for more information on how we can help you meet your conservation goals. Our team has a breadth of experience tending to all natural resource concerns, but our focuses are soil health and regenerative agriculture. Farm Bills & Programs The NRCS has many programs available for implementing conservation activities and supporting landowners and managers. Our office focuses on the following projects. EQIP - Environmental Quality Incentives Program EQIP provides access to technical and financial assistance to agricultural producers who are interested in implementing conservation practices on their land. This is a great opportunity for producers who are learning about and engaging with conservation practices for the first time. All of the conservation practices this program sponsors can lead to improved agricultural operations, and assist in creating healthier soil, clean air and water, and improved wildlife habitat. CSP - Conservation Stewardship Program CSP is a program for agricultural producers to improve upon existing conservation practices. By providing technical support and financial assistance, NRCS will work with you to identify and address resource concerns within your farming systems. CRP - Conservation Reserve Program CRP is made available through the Farm Service Agency. This program offers financial incentives to landowners and farmers to protect fragile parcels of land that are prone to erosion. Depending on the land, the NRCS consultant will provide landowners with options on how to best cover this sensitive land with vegetative cover. These programs are made available and accessible to all interested parties. We work to reach out to all segments of the agricultural community, including underserved and socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers. Allegan County District Conservationist Gabe Garbarino began serving as the District Conservationist for Allegan County in September of 2020. He has worked for NRCS for 15 years, serving in both northern California and Iowa. This has given him the opportunity to gain conservation planning experience in a wide variety of agricultural landscapes, as well as work with a diverse group of farmers and stakeholders. Gabe is a big believer in the important partnership between the NRCS and Conservation Districts, because it allows the local community to have a voice in how Farm Bill programs can best be used on the local landscape. The District board members and workgroup provide critical input in determining what the local resource concerns are and how Federal Conservation programs can be used to address those issues. Gabe is excited to cooperate with the conservation district and other partners, especially in exploring the areas of soil health and regenerative agriculture. He can be reached directly at 269-941-6130, so please reach out to say hi! Contact Our Team Office Phone : 269-673-6940 x3

Contact our office. Find a link to our staff page. CONTACT US 2412 Taft Road Allegan, MI 49010 Allegan.Admin@macd.org Thanks for reaching out! We will get back with you shortly. Submit Visit our Staff Page for individual email addresses and phone numbers.

Upcoming volunteer events, community outreach, educational opportunities, and board meetings. EVENTS *If viewing on a mobile device, scroll to the right side of the calendar & click "Agenda" to see in list view. The Allegan Conservation District Board Meetings occur on the third Monday of every month at 4:00pm. Meetings are open to the public, & are held at the Allegan Conservation District office: 2412 Taft Road, Allegan, MI 49010

Whether you're a farmer, landowner, or someone who is interested in learning or getting involved in conservation, we have resources for you.  RESOURCES We are dedicated to helping all land users wisely manage the natural resources of Allegan County. Part of this work is providing linkages between land managers and a host of conservation service providers that include state, federal and local governments, conservation organizations, and Internet resources. Whether you're a farmer, landowner, or someone who is interested in learning or getting involved in conservation, we have resources for you. FARMER Interested in implementing conservation practices, but not sure where to start? We're here to help. See some of the services we offer to get you started. LEARN MORE LANDOWNER Whether residential or on acreage, urban or rural, we are a resource for you. The Conservation District offers both technical and some cost sharing assistance for property owners in Allegan County. LEARN MORE LEARN Browse our Conservation Dictionary to find information on conservation practices, water quality, native and invasive species, and more. LEARN MORE GET INVOLVED Check out upcoming Board meetings, volunteer opportunities, and learning events. LEARN MORE