UTAH SMALL FARMS WATER QUALITY GRANT PROGRAM
Natural Resources/Aquaculture
Elizabeth Cohen
Agriculture and Small Farms Agent
Utah State University Extension
Coalville
Abstract
As Utah’s population continues to grow, water becomes a limiting resource. Properly managing animal waste is crucial for safeguarding water quality. Utah State University (USU) Extension launched the Small Farm Water Quality Improvement Project in 2020 to address this challenge. Over the past four years, the project has provided funding to small-scale agriculture producers, enabling them to enhance water quality on their farms and ranches. While larger farms and ranches already benefit from available resources, smaller operations often lack the means to improve water quality. This grant program bridges this gap, ensuring that all farmers have the opportunity to contribute to cleaner waterways by providing funding to improve water quality on their farms. Producers can apply for up to $10,000 for their projects and must provide a 20% in-kind match. Priority is given to projects that have the most impact. Water quality projects are variable in nature; thus, it is hard to quantify the exact improvements and load reductions resulting from projects. However, many water quality improvements have been recorded due to projects funded through this grant program. One project relocated livestock pens and infrastructure out of a waterway. In another project, fencing was installed to exclude livestock from a riparian corridor. Pre- and post-measurements showed that total coliform, E. coli, turbidity, and alkalinity decreased in the waterway after project completion. As a result of the Small Farm Water Quality Improvement Project, 19 water quality improvement projects have been completed for a total reimbursement of $169,360. Another 12 projects have been accepted and are in progress to be completed by the fall of 2024. These 12 projects represent another $116,497.80 of funding to be reimbursed this year. As a result of our outreach and education on nonpoint source pollution, we’ve expanded the grant’s reach from four counties to statewide. In 2023, we targeted 4-H and FFA youth in these efforts, and two of the 12 projects currently underway are youth-directed. In this presentation, attendees will learn how to adapt this project to other regions, improving water quality nationwide one farm at a time.
Authors: Elizabeth Cohen, Jacob Hadfield , Cody Zeisiger, Kalen Taylor, Reganne Briggs, Jessie Hadfield, Josh Dallin
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Elizabeth Cohen Assistant Professor for Extension Agriculture & Natural Resources, Utah State University, Utah, 84017
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Jacob Hadfield Assistant Professor for Extension Agriculture & Natural Resources, Utah State University, Utah, 84648
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Cody Zeisiger Assistant Professor for Extension Horticulture, Utah State University, Utah, 84037
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Kalen Taylor Assistant Professor for Extension Agriculture & Natural Resources, Utah State University, Utah, 84624
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Reganne Briggs Assistant Professor for Extension Agriculture & Natural Resources, Utah State University, Utah, 84064
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Jessie Hadfield 4-H Agriculture & Animal Science Specialist, Utah State University, Utah, 84322
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Josh Dallin USU Bastian Agricultural Center Director, Utah State University, Utah, 84095