Protecting Water and Natural ResourcesPlan of Work

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Oldham County CES

Title:
Protecting Water and Natural Resources
MAP:
Protecting Natural Resources
Agents Involved:
Kelly Woods, Traci Missun
MAJOR PROGRAM 1:
Natural Resources 4-H Core Curriculum
MAJOR PROGRAM 2:
Ag Water Quality Program
MAJOR PROGRAM 3:
Urban Environments (water issues)
MAJOR PROGRAM 4:
Backyard Streams
Situation:

People, animals and plants are dependent on our Earth’s natural resources. Everything from the air we breathe, to the water we drink, to the soil we use for food production –these resources are vital to our existence. Therefore, it’s important that we care for and respect these resources. Understanding how our daily choices affect our environment, we can conserve natural resources and protect our environment for present and future generations.


Oldham County includes watersheds that are on the impaired list, most often due to sedimentation with some bacterial issues. The Oldham County Ag Development Council has targeted soil and water conservation education as being an important initiative in programming. 4-H school programs for 4th graders include water science and conservation topics that correspond to required school curriculum and learning.


Additionally, Oldham County Fiscal Court has a Watershed Coordinator on staff to educate the public. Oldham County Extension began partnering with the Watershed Coordinator in 2013 to educate residents in practices to protect water and watersheds.

Long-Term Outcomes:

An increased number of farms will use updated ag water quality plans; an increased number of residents will use practices like soil testing. Youth will have a keen environmental awareness, realizing the long term impact and are willing to make changes in their lives to address this concern.


Youth will engage in community projects related to natural resource conservation.

Intermediate Outcomes:

Oldham County homeowners will use best management practices such as soil testing, buffer areas and integrated pest management practices. Oldham County youth will share water conservation practices with families and will adopt changes to conserve water. Oldham County farms will update and/or create ag water quality plans and use these on their farms.


Youth will adopt practices to conserve and protect the environment in their home and community.

Initial Outcomes:

Homeowners and farmers learn best management practices to protect water sources. Youth discover the properties of water and the water cycle and how this relates to the environment.


Youth will identify the natural resources that are used within their home and community.

Evaluation:

Long-term Outcome: An increased number of farms will use updated ag water quality plans; an increased number of residents will use practices like soil testing. Youth will have a keen environmental awareness, realizing the long term impact and are willing to make changes in their lives to address this concern.

Indicator: Number of soil tests and other conservation practices reported

Method: Data from Watershed Coordinator; Written/verbal evaluation

Timeline: Spring 2019


Intermediate Outcome: Oldham County homeowners will use best management practices such as soil testing, buffer areas and integrated pest management practices. Oldham County youth will share water conservation practices with families and will adopt changes to conserve water. Oldham County farms will update and/or create ag water quality plans and use these on their farms.

Indicator: Number of first-time soil testing clients; number of people reporting use of buffer areas in residential sites; number of farms with ag water quality plans

Method: Post-program written evaluation; reports from SoilData program

Timeline: Spring 2019


Initial Outcome: Homeowners and farmers learn best management practices to protect water sources. Youth discover the properties of water and the water cycle and how this relates to the environment.

Indicator: Number of participants increasing change in knowledge

Method: Observation; Post-program verbal/written evaluation

Timeline: Evaluate after each event described below.

Learning Opportunities:

Audience: 4-H Members 4th graders

Project or Activity: Animal Adaptions

Content or Curriculum: Project Wet and Project Food Land and People

Inputs: CES Staff, CES Funding, Oldham County Public Schools, Classroom Teachers

Date: Fall 2018


Audience: 4-H Members 4th graders

Project or Activity: Mudballs (Soil and Erosion)

Content or Curriculum: 4-H Natural Resources Curriculum

Inputs: CES Staff, CES Funding, Oldham County Public Schools, Classroom Teachers

Date: Spring 2019


Activity: Sum of the Parts

Audience: 4th grade students

Content or Curriculum: What is a watershed? How do my actions affect a watershed?

Inputs: Project Wet Curriculum

Date: January 2019


Activity: Entomology

Audience: 5th grade students

Content or Curriculum: Hissing Cock Roaches

Inputs: University of Kentucky Entomology Department

Date: Spring 2019


Activity: Trees and Me

Audiences: 5th grade 4-H Members

Content or Curriculum:  Importance of Trees in our Environment

Inputs:  Project Food, Land and People

Date:  Spring 2019


Audience: Youth

Project or Activity: Earth Day

Content or Curriculum: UK Extension Youth Curriculum

Inputs: Conservation District Staff/Volunteers, Agriculture Agent, Horticulture Assistant

Date: Spring 2018


Audience:  Community Education Program Participants

Project or Activity:  Soils, Gardening Activities 

Content or Curriculum:  UK Extension Materials

Inputs:  Agriculture Agent

Date:  February 2019


Audience: Farmers

Project or Activity: Ag Water Quality Planning Workshop and individual planning with farmers

Content or Curriculum: UK Extension materials

Inputs: Agriculture Agent

Date: 2018-2019


Audience: High School Students

Project or Activity: Envirothon Club

Content or Curriculum: UK/KSU Extension materials; Division of Conservation resources; Fish & Wildlife Resources

Inputs: Agriculture Agent, Conservation District Staff

Date: Fall 2018 - Spring 2019 (tentative - funding and participant recruitment pending)





Success Stories

Partnerships Protect Water and Help Livestock Producers Reduce Expenses

Author: Traci Johnson

Major Program: Ag Water Quality Program

Extension programs that protect natural resources are a continued priority identified by the Oldham County Extension and Agriculture Councils.  One way that livestock producers can protect water is proper disposal of deceased farm animals.  Proper disposal can be a challenge, especially for producers of large animals like horses and cattle.  Proper disposal of large carcasses requires large equipment to bury the carcass in a way that does not negatively impact ground water or surf

Full Story
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