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Best Management Practices
Proven Methods to Improve Habitat Health
Best Management Practices (BMPs) help reduce erosion, protect water quality, and support healthier soils and habitats. Through programs like the Agricultural Cost Share Program and the Community Conservation Assistance Program, landowners in within the county can access cost-share and technical support to put them into action.
Controlling Erosion and Building Healthier Soils
Cover Crops / Conservation Cover
- Description & Purpose: Cover crops protect soil from erosion, improve soil structure, and capture leftover nutrients between cash crops.
- Site Suitability: Cropland or disturbed fields at risk of erosion or nutrient loss.
- Design Guidelines: Select species adapted to local conditions. Plant during the correct season and terminate at the right stage so they do not compete with the main crop.
- Maintenance: Watch for weed pressure, reseed bare areas, and make sure the field is well covered before heavy rainfall.
- Cost-Share: Support available through ACSP in Pitt County.
Grassed Waterways / Vegetated Channels
- Description & Purpose: Vegetated channels carry runoff safely while reducing gully erosion.
- Site Suitability: Best in low areas where water naturally concentrates and flows.
- Design Guidelines: Shape channels to keep water flow at non-erosive speeds and line them with sod or perennial grasses.
- Maintenance: Inspect after major storms, reseed worn spots, and repair washouts quickly.
- Cost-Share: Supported under ACSP.
Terraces / Contour Farming
- Description & Purpose: Terraces and contour farming reduce runoff by breaking long slopes into shorter sections.
- Site Suitability: Most effective on fields with moderate to steep slopes.
- Design Guidelines: Establish terraces or buffer strips along contour lines and size them according to slope and field conditions.
- Maintenance: Inspect terrace crests, clear debris, and repair any eroded areas promptly.
- Cost-Share: Eligible through ACSP assistance in Pitt County.
Improving Soil Fertility and Protecting Water Quality
Precision Nutrient Management
- Description & Purpose: Matches fertilizer use to crop needs to prevent excess application and protect water quality.
- Site Suitability: All cropland, especially high-input fields.
- Design Guidelines: Base fertilizer rates on soil test data; consider variable-rate equipment when available.
- Maintenance: Update soil tests annually, recalibrate equipment, and adjust management as conditions change.
- Cost-Share: Available through ACSP.
Animal Waste Management
- Description & Purpose: Stores, composts, or reuses livestock manure safely to prevent nutrient runoff and protect groundwater.
- Site Suitability: Farms with active livestock operations.
- Design Guidelines: Use properly designed lagoons, composting systems, or storage structures with buffer zones and vegetative cover.
- Maintenance: Inspect facilities regularly, manage leachate, and monitor runoff risks.
- Cost-Share: Eligible through ACSP in Pitt County.
Protecting Waterways and Restoring Streambanks
Riparian Buffers
- Description & Purpose: Strips of native grasses, shrubs, and trees along streams filter runoff, stabilize banks, and provide wildlife habitat.
- Site Suitability: Stream edges, drainage ditches, or waterways near cropland or developed areas.
- Design Guidelines: Buffer width should match slope and land use; plant a mix of native species for best results.
- Maintenance: Control invasive plants, replant damaged sections, and keep vegetation healthy and dense.
- Cost-Share: Available through ACSP and CCAP in Pitt County.
Learn More About Riparian Buffer Protection Now
Streambank Stabilization
- Description & Purpose: Protects eroding streambanks using natural or structural methods to restore stability and improve water quality.
- Site Suitability: Areas with eroding streambanks, ditches, or waterways.
- Design Guidelines: Use bioengineering approaches such as live stakes, coir logs, rootwads, or rock toe protection.
- Maintenance: Monitor for scour, replace failed plantings, and manage upstream flow issues.
- Cost-Share: Supported through CCAP.
Sustainable Practices for Neighborhoods & Built Communities
Rain Gardens / Bioretention
- Description & Purpose: Captures stormwater from rooftops and pavement to reduce flooding and improve water quality.
- Site Suitability: Residential yards, parking lots, and community landscapes.
- Design Guidelines: Size to match drainage area; include engineered soils, underdrains, and overflow outlets.
- Maintenance: Remove sediment, replant as needed, and inspect inlets and outlets regularly.
- Cost-Share: Eligible through CCAP.
Permeable Pavement
- Description & Purpose: Allows stormwater to soak through paved surfaces, reducing runoff and recharging groundwater.
- Site Suitability: Driveways, sidewalks, and low-traffic parking areas.
- Design Guidelines: Install with the correct base materials and subgrade preparation to allow infiltration.
- Maintenance: Vacuum sweep or pressure wash to prevent clogging; avoid sealing surfaces.
- Cost-Share: Supported under CCAP.