King County Council approves WaterWorks grant award to King County Conservation District to evaluate dry manure storage options for water quality protection

November 2, 2021

Summary

The King County Council approved funding for a County-wide WaterWorks grants Tuesday. Included in these grants is $165,000 for King Conservation District and Washington Discovery Farms for evaluating dry manure storage options to protect water quality across King County.

Story

The King County Council approved funding for a County-wide WaterWorks grants Tuesday. Included in these grants is $165,000 for King Conservation District and Washington Discovery Farms for evaluating dry manure storage options to protect water quality across King County.

“Ensuring that we as a County are doing everything we can to promote safe farming, especially when it comes to protecting our community’s water quality, is of the upmost importance,” said Dunn. “This grant will do just that by helping the King Conservation District find and promote best practices for storing manure on the many farms across King County.”

This grant will be given to a regional group that includes King Conservation District (KCD), Washington Discovery Farms, and Whatcom Conservation District, to assess and promote the best management practice (BMP) of on-farm dry manure storage that enhance water quality. Following a successful pilot project, this project will evaluate four different dry manure storage practices, including on-slab storage bunkers with and without roofs, and permeable surfaces, on at least two farms in King County. On-the-ground water quality data associated with installed practices will be monitored. Additionally, this project aims to increase the adoption of manure management conservation practices through sharing of data and education to stakeholders in the region.

“By improving our understanding of which best management practices are most effective,” said KCD Executive Director Rosa Méndez-Perez, “KCD can better assist our rural cooperators to efficiently manage their operations and their conservation goals.
 
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