To fight bacterial pollution in Moores Creek that’s caused by livestock, septic systems and pet waste, local soil and water conservation officials are offering to help pay for improvements that limit the waste washed into the watershed.
The Thomas Jefferson Soil and Water Conservation District is offering to share costs with farmers and homeowners within the watershed, including paying portions of farm conservation practices and repairs to leaky septic system repairs.
The watershed includes about 35 square miles of Albemarle County and Charlottesville. The creek forms much of Charlottesville’s southern boundary.
The creek’s bacterial pollution is from fecal coliform, which is found in the intestines of warm-blooded animals from dogs and humans to horses and sheep.
The Rivanna River Basin Commission in January received a grant of about $267,000 over 30 months to help reduce contamination. Organizations that will receive funds are the soil and water district, the Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission and StreamWatch.
The money comes from the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation. Most of the funding is from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, with some state funds, officials said.
The soil and water district is using its funding to encourage property owners to erect exclusion fences for livestock and repair and pump out septic systems. Funding will also help homeowners to connect to existing public sewer lines.
Home composters specially designed for pet waste will be available for residents to reduce run-off pollution to area streams.
Projects will be supported with 50 percent to 85 percent of the costs covered by the district’s grant money and will be prioritized by how much a project will improve water quality.
Email
Facebook
Google
Twitter
Favorites
More
Advertisement