Who makes a difference?
- Feedlots
- Dairies
- Stables
- Kennels
- Small farms
Causes of groundwater contamination
- High animal density
- Shallow depth to groundwater
- Poor drainage
- Failure to regularly clean lot
- Improper manure management practices
What can you do?
Individual action
- Cover manure piles during wet weather
- Keep animal areas vegetated
- Move animals off non-vegetated ground to avoid compaction and erosion
- Apply manure during growing season only
- Site waste piles away from wells and low areas
- Provide adequate acreage to prevent compaction and drainage problems
- Manage on-site stormwater runoff
Community action
-
Arrange a visit by your county Extension agent or Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD)
- discuss manure management
- learn techniques to improve drainage
To learn more
Confined Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs) http://www.oregon.gov/ODA/NRD/cafo_front.shtml
Small farm operations Managing Small-acreage Horse Farms for Green Pastures, Clean Water and Healthy Horses (OSU Extension Service)
Manure Management (OSU Extension Service)