FY2023 Adopted Operating and Capital Budget

FY2023 Adopted Budget Organizational Budgets

Independent Agencies

Soil Conservation Mission Statement

Our mission is to oversee soil & water conservation in agricultural sectors & urban areas in Frederick County, Maryland by developing soil conservation and water quality plans and providing assistance to landowners to install best management practices.

The Catoctin / Frederick Soil Conservation Districts (SCDs) provide conservation planning and engineering assistance to landowners and farmers to address existing resource concerns on farms through the implementation of Best Management Practices (BMPs). We also facilitate Federal and State programs that provide financial assistance to support the installation of these BMPs. Federal programs include the United States Department of Agriculture Natural Resource Conservation Service (USDA-NRCS) Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP), Environmental Quality Incentive Program (EQIP), and Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP). State

Programs include the Maryland Agricultural Water Quality Cost-Share Program (MACS), the Maryland Cover Crop program, a three-year pilot project incentivizing stream buffers, and an RCPP grant focusing on addressing manure storage on dairy farms. The Maryland Cover Crop program helps to offset the seed, labor and equipment costs associate with planting fall crops to control erosion, recycle unused plant nutrients, build soil health and protect water quality. This is the largest program utilized by Frederick County farmers who regularly enroll upwards of 30,000 acres annually. Additionally, the SCD develops conservation plans that are utilized as part of State and County assessments of applications for land preservation programs including the Maryland Agricultural Land Preservation Foundation, the Frederick County Land Preservation Program and the Rural Legacy Program.

The SCD reviews erosion and sediment control plans for all construction projects in Frederick County. The SCD is also responsible for the review and approval of small ponds which include sediment control and stormwater ponds. The review of stormwater ponds supports the counties efforts toward meeting its National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS-4) permit goals. The SCD strives to host outreach events and bring new technology to Frederick County farmers. Recent activities include hosting a Soil Smart Farm Day in cooperation with the Frederick County Farm Bureau and Farm Credit to show local and state legislators the methods farmers are implementing to improve soil health, hosting a cover crop informational meeting, and partnering with University of Maryland Extension, Sustainable Chesapeake and the Department of

Natural Resources to purchase a manure injector for use by farmers in Frederick County. Manure injection reduces ammonia emissions during manure application allowing more nitrogen to be utilized by the crop. The adoption of manure injection by Frederick County Farmers has increased as a result of this project. The Catoctin and Frederick Soil Conservation Districts work diligently to protect water quality by ensuring adequate protections in erosion and sediment control plans and by working with landowners and farmers to address resource concerns on farms. Our efforts help to insure the sustainability of farms in Frederick County and also help the State and County meet their Watershed Implementation Plan and MS-4 goals for reducing nitrogen, phosphorus and sediment entering the Chesapeake Bay.

488