Vermilion Soil and Water Conservation District - Education Is Our Future...
The Vermilion Soil and Water Conservation District is a legal subdivision of the State of Louisiana and includes all of Vermilion Parish. A board of five supervisors and two associate supervisors who are landowners within the district governs it. They are charged with the responsibility of conserving Vermilion's soil and water resources. This authority is based on the State Soil and Water Conservation Act No. 370 of 1938. Conservation Districts must shape programs to accomplish objectives as specified in the Act. Monthly board meetings are held the second Wednesday of each month at the district office in Abbeville.
The district obtains its operating funds from state, parish and drainage district appropriations. These funds are used for operating expenses and salaries of employees to assist landowners and operators plan and apply conservation practices on the land.
Through a Memorandum of Understanding with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) provides technical assistance through the district to plan and apply conservation practices. The NRCS and LDAF personnel available for this assistance can be contacted in the Abbeville Field Office.
ACTIVITIES
A Long-Range Program that provides history, soils information, district priorities, and outlines problems and objectives relating to land use is in effect by the district. These programs are available to the public from the district office at 3221 Veterans Memorial Drive, Suite H, Abbeville.
The district works with FFA Chapter Advisors and Soil Judging Teams to encourage the study of soils. The district is proud to be a sponsor of this effort and assists each year in the annual soils judging competition held at the ULL Cade Farm.
Soil and Water Stewardship was promoted by the district throughout the parish during the year by educating the children of Vermilion Parish on multiple topics, participating in an acorn collection and planting drive, the planting of tree seedlings, educating and working with 4-H groups in the parish, participating in Earth Day at ULL and advising the public on the 2008 and 2009 themes, "Dig It! The Secrets of Soil" and "Water Is Life". Ms. Hackett’s T.A.G. students toured the Abbeville Field Office, participated in the Paint with Soil Program, were taught about soil, erosion and the environment, and learned about surveying technology and aerial photography. The district continues to urge the public to practice wise use of our soil and water resources.
The district participated in the 18th Annual Conservation Poster Contest. All Vermilion Parish schools grades K-8th were eligible to participate. Prizes were awarded to all students placing 1st, 2nd or 3rd at each participating school. In addition, all 1st place parish winners, Madison Guidry (K-1) of Dozier, Morgan Alleman (2nd-3rd) of Dozier, Alana Burroughs (4th-6th) of Meaux, and Linh Nguyen (7th-8th) of North Vermilion, received Karaoke Party Machines. A free jump rental from Vermilion Jump Rentals was donated to Dozier Elementary for 97% school participation.
The district recently held an election for the vacant board seat of Mr. J.C. Buster Griffin, who after 32 years of dedicated service retired as a board member. The district would like to thank Mr. Griffin for his commitment and dedication. Three applicants qualified for this vacant position, and by public election and majority vote Mr. Dale Vidrine was elected to fill the vacant position. Mr. Vidrine will begin his term July 1, 2009.
Twenty-nine (29) producers utilized the No-Till Drill for a total of 774 acres no tilled. For more information or rental of the drill call Justin at 337-893-7772 ext. 3 or come by the field office.
ACCOMPLISHMENTS
This fiscal year, the NRCS and District personnel assisted 2,188 individuals. One thousand two hundred forty-nine of them carried out one or more conservation practices. The remainder was given informational assistance. Eight units of government were furnished technical assistance 48 times and 15 installations of drainage structures were completed.
Accomplishment Activity Chart
Vermilion Mermentau Coulee Baton Sewer EQIP EWP
319 System Project
Number of Applications: 74 5 59 1
Money for Implementation
of Conservation Practices: $ 135,615.00 $ 20,862.00 $ 148,292.00 $ 687,511.00
NRCS and District technicians furnished technical assistance to design, install, and certify practices. Practices that are included but not limited through EQIP that were planned for this year were Grade Stabilization Structures with 18, Pasture and Hay Planting encompassing 32 acres, Irrigation Land Leveling encompassing 922 acres, Fence planned footage of 900 feet, and Irrigation Water Conveyance Pipeline of 12,600 feet. The district also performs operation and maintenance on 4 Wildlife Habitat Incentive Program contracts encompassing 1,042 acres, 3 Wetland Reserve Program contracts encompassing 1,282 acres, 57 EQIP contracts encompassing 197 acres of Cropland and 31 acres of Pastureland, and 5 Conservation Security Program contracts encompassing 1,786 acres. In all there were 10,368 acres of plans developed.
Administering of the Vermilion Mermentau 319 Program continues. The Vermilion Mermentau contains both the Vermilion and Mermentau Watersheds, approximately 90% of the cropland in our parish. This cost sharing program was brought into the parish by the Vermilion SWCD and is above and beyond our normal USDA allocations. The goal of this program is to improve water quality and reduce stream loading associated with agricultural activities.
The district, with participating partners, continued to administer 6,200 acres of the Coulee Baton Microwatershed. A field day was held in November to discuss and demonstrate three home septic systems which work best in the soils of the Coulee Baton Microwatershed. The replacement grant, which has been awarded to residents in the Coulee Baton Microwatershed, are able to participate in the repair or replacement of failing septic systems at a 60/40 cost share opportunity. For more information on this grant opportunity in this microwatershed, please contact Mitzi Dohrman at 337-893-7772 ext 3.
Also in this fiscal year, the district continued to work on a Public Law 566 Small Watershed Proposal. This proposal is in the Erath area called the Bayou Tigre Proposal. Another project which the District is trying to find funding to implement is located near Esther called the Hebert Canal Project. Both of these projects will call for the use of water control structures, levee work, and in the case of the Bayou Tigre Proposal, a pump. The goal of these two projects is to reduce flooding, saltwater intrusion and protect cropland, pastureland, businesses, homes and infrastructure such as roads and highways.
The district is also involved in the Coastal Wetland, Planning and Protection and Restoration Act (CWPPRA) through the Vermilion Coastal Advisory Committee. Management planning with marshland managers continues to increase. Input from agencies such as NRCS, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National Marine Fisheries, DNR, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Environmental Protection Agency and the Vermilion Parish Coastal Advisory Committee, is being utilized to carefully plan the use and protection of our coastal marsh resources.
The annual district sponsored vegetative planting project, which consisted of 5,000 plugs of California bulrush and 2,000 plugs of cutgrass, was completed in June 2009. 21,000 linear feet were planted along the backside of rock terraces on southern White Lake. The main objective was to provide a seed source for natural regeneration, food source for wildlife and to create marsh behind the terraces to reinforce the wave breaks. If anyone is interested in volunteering their time and energy to protecting natural resources they may contact Mitzi Dohrman at the district office in Abbeville at 337-893-7772 ext. 3.
The district was honored with the National Collaborative Conservation Award at the National Association of Conservation Districts Annual Convention in February 2009. This national award recognizes a conservation district that exemplifies innovative, collaborative conservation efforts by drawing upon traditional and non-traditional partnerships, utilizing diverse funding sources, and conducting a wide range of projects to address local conservation resource needs.
Because of our legislators assistance, the cooperation of all agencies mentioned above, and land owners/operators, conservation work in Vermilion Parish is actively being applied to conserve all of our natural resources – soil, water, air, plants, people and animals.
The district obtains its operating funds from state, parish and drainage district appropriations. These funds are used for operating expenses and salaries of employees to assist landowners and operators plan and apply conservation practices on the land.
Through a Memorandum of Understanding with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) provides technical assistance through the district to plan and apply conservation practices. The NRCS and LDAF personnel available for this assistance can be contacted in the Abbeville Field Office.
ACTIVITIES
A Long-Range Program that provides history, soils information, district priorities, and outlines problems and objectives relating to land use is in effect by the district. These programs are available to the public from the district office at 3221 Veterans Memorial Drive, Suite H, Abbeville.
The district works with FFA Chapter Advisors and Soil Judging Teams to encourage the study of soils. The district is proud to be a sponsor of this effort and assists each year in the annual soils judging competition held at the ULL Cade Farm.
Soil and Water Stewardship was promoted by the district throughout the parish during the year by educating the children of Vermilion Parish on multiple topics, participating in an acorn collection and planting drive, the planting of tree seedlings, educating and working with 4-H groups in the parish, participating in Earth Day at ULL and advising the public on the 2008 and 2009 themes, "Dig It! The Secrets of Soil" and "Water Is Life". Ms. Hackett’s T.A.G. students toured the Abbeville Field Office, participated in the Paint with Soil Program, were taught about soil, erosion and the environment, and learned about surveying technology and aerial photography. The district continues to urge the public to practice wise use of our soil and water resources.
The district participated in the 18th Annual Conservation Poster Contest. All Vermilion Parish schools grades K-8th were eligible to participate. Prizes were awarded to all students placing 1st, 2nd or 3rd at each participating school. In addition, all 1st place parish winners, Madison Guidry (K-1) of Dozier, Morgan Alleman (2nd-3rd) of Dozier, Alana Burroughs (4th-6th) of Meaux, and Linh Nguyen (7th-8th) of North Vermilion, received Karaoke Party Machines. A free jump rental from Vermilion Jump Rentals was donated to Dozier Elementary for 97% school participation.
The district recently held an election for the vacant board seat of Mr. J.C. Buster Griffin, who after 32 years of dedicated service retired as a board member. The district would like to thank Mr. Griffin for his commitment and dedication. Three applicants qualified for this vacant position, and by public election and majority vote Mr. Dale Vidrine was elected to fill the vacant position. Mr. Vidrine will begin his term July 1, 2009.
Twenty-nine (29) producers utilized the No-Till Drill for a total of 774 acres no tilled. For more information or rental of the drill call Justin at 337-893-7772 ext. 3 or come by the field office.
ACCOMPLISHMENTS
This fiscal year, the NRCS and District personnel assisted 2,188 individuals. One thousand two hundred forty-nine of them carried out one or more conservation practices. The remainder was given informational assistance. Eight units of government were furnished technical assistance 48 times and 15 installations of drainage structures were completed.
Accomplishment Activity Chart
Vermilion Mermentau Coulee Baton Sewer EQIP EWP
319 System Project
Number of Applications: 74 5 59 1
Money for Implementation
of Conservation Practices: $ 135,615.00 $ 20,862.00 $ 148,292.00 $ 687,511.00
NRCS and District technicians furnished technical assistance to design, install, and certify practices. Practices that are included but not limited through EQIP that were planned for this year were Grade Stabilization Structures with 18, Pasture and Hay Planting encompassing 32 acres, Irrigation Land Leveling encompassing 922 acres, Fence planned footage of 900 feet, and Irrigation Water Conveyance Pipeline of 12,600 feet. The district also performs operation and maintenance on 4 Wildlife Habitat Incentive Program contracts encompassing 1,042 acres, 3 Wetland Reserve Program contracts encompassing 1,282 acres, 57 EQIP contracts encompassing 197 acres of Cropland and 31 acres of Pastureland, and 5 Conservation Security Program contracts encompassing 1,786 acres. In all there were 10,368 acres of plans developed.
Administering of the Vermilion Mermentau 319 Program continues. The Vermilion Mermentau contains both the Vermilion and Mermentau Watersheds, approximately 90% of the cropland in our parish. This cost sharing program was brought into the parish by the Vermilion SWCD and is above and beyond our normal USDA allocations. The goal of this program is to improve water quality and reduce stream loading associated with agricultural activities.
The district, with participating partners, continued to administer 6,200 acres of the Coulee Baton Microwatershed. A field day was held in November to discuss and demonstrate three home septic systems which work best in the soils of the Coulee Baton Microwatershed. The replacement grant, which has been awarded to residents in the Coulee Baton Microwatershed, are able to participate in the repair or replacement of failing septic systems at a 60/40 cost share opportunity. For more information on this grant opportunity in this microwatershed, please contact Mitzi Dohrman at 337-893-7772 ext 3.
Also in this fiscal year, the district continued to work on a Public Law 566 Small Watershed Proposal. This proposal is in the Erath area called the Bayou Tigre Proposal. Another project which the District is trying to find funding to implement is located near Esther called the Hebert Canal Project. Both of these projects will call for the use of water control structures, levee work, and in the case of the Bayou Tigre Proposal, a pump. The goal of these two projects is to reduce flooding, saltwater intrusion and protect cropland, pastureland, businesses, homes and infrastructure such as roads and highways.
The district is also involved in the Coastal Wetland, Planning and Protection and Restoration Act (CWPPRA) through the Vermilion Coastal Advisory Committee. Management planning with marshland managers continues to increase. Input from agencies such as NRCS, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National Marine Fisheries, DNR, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Environmental Protection Agency and the Vermilion Parish Coastal Advisory Committee, is being utilized to carefully plan the use and protection of our coastal marsh resources.
The annual district sponsored vegetative planting project, which consisted of 5,000 plugs of California bulrush and 2,000 plugs of cutgrass, was completed in June 2009. 21,000 linear feet were planted along the backside of rock terraces on southern White Lake. The main objective was to provide a seed source for natural regeneration, food source for wildlife and to create marsh behind the terraces to reinforce the wave breaks. If anyone is interested in volunteering their time and energy to protecting natural resources they may contact Mitzi Dohrman at the district office in Abbeville at 337-893-7772 ext. 3.
The district was honored with the National Collaborative Conservation Award at the National Association of Conservation Districts Annual Convention in February 2009. This national award recognizes a conservation district that exemplifies innovative, collaborative conservation efforts by drawing upon traditional and non-traditional partnerships, utilizing diverse funding sources, and conducting a wide range of projects to address local conservation resource needs.
Because of our legislators assistance, the cooperation of all agencies mentioned above, and land owners/operators, conservation work in Vermilion Parish is actively being applied to conserve all of our natural resources – soil, water, air, plants, people and animals.