Serving Allegany County for 80+ Years! The Allegany Soil Conservation District (ASCD) serves one of three mountainous counties in Western Maryland. The narrow mountain ridges, separated by steep valleys, present unique challenges for controlling runoff and erosion. The Allegany SCD addresses two major program areas - agriculture and urban development. Each year ASCD helps farmers secure thousands of dollars in financial assistance from a variety of state and federal programs to install best management practices on their farms. Urban Services
Whenever a bulldozer dislodges a mound of earth, a new highway paves over a forest, or a family farm is lost to development, our waterways are placed at increased risk for sediment and nutrient pollution. Since 1972 the Allegany SCD has been responsible for reviewing and approving sediment and erosion control plans for construction projects in the county. These reviews are performed by urban planners in the soil conservation district who work cooperatively with local planning and zoning officials to ensure that proper safeguards are in place to minimize soil erosion and nutrient runoff. Rental Equipment: Great Plains No-Till Drill: $7 per acre ($30 minimum fee); BBI Lime Spreader (5 Ton Capacity): $3 per ton ($30 minimum fee); Wheatheart High & Heavy Hitter Post Pounder: $100 a day OR $100 the first day followed by $50 each consecutive day (cannot exceed more than 5 consecutive days). Farmer Outreach
Helping farmers balance agriculture production goals with the need to protect natural resources is an important function of ASCD. The district works closely with Maryland Cooperative Extension and other agricultural and natural resource agencies to identify and develop farmer education programs and materials. Field days, farm tours, demonstration projects and workshops are some of the tools the district uses to keep Maryland farmers abreast of the latest research findings and technologies. Education
Each year ASCD sponsors a number of programs aimed at educating tomorrow's leaders on the benefits of clean water, productive soil and a healthy food supply. Soil judging contests, classroom visits, conservation camps and career workshops are some of the tools the district uses to instill a sense of stewardship in our youngsters. A highlight of the education program is the Envirothon, a field-oriented, problem solving natural resources competition for high school students. Designed by soil conservationists, naturalists, foresters, wildlife experts and other natural resource professionals, the Envirothon challenges students to move beyond the classroom in order to solve real-life environmental problems in a natural setting. Teams compete at the local, state and international levels. Soil Conservation & Water Quality Plans
Conservation planning helps clients attain sustainable use and sound management of soil, water, air, plant, animal, energy, and human resources. The purpose is to prevent the degradation of resources and to ensure their sustained use and productivity, while considering the client's economic and social needs. Soil Conservation and Water Quality plans are developed by our field professionals and are dynamic in nature. Plans are updated as operations and objectives change or resource concerns develop. Best Management Practices
On the farm, best management practices (BMPs) are used in a variety of situations to control soil erosion, manage nutrients and protect water quality. A terrace system or grassed waterway may be installed to prevent soil from washing down a hillside. Cover crops and vegetative buffers are often planted to prevent nutrient runoff from entering farm streams. Other more complex BMPs such as livestock crossings, spring developments and animal waste storage structures provide water quality benefits for livestock. ASCD can provide farmers with technical assistance to design and implement BMPs in much the same way that a contractor works with a homeowner to repair a leaking roof or insulate a house to make it more energy-efficient. We also supervise BMP installation or construction and develop maintenance plans to keep the practices in good working order.
