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| The Shavano Soil Conservation District,
in keeping with its mission, has a strong desire to conserve resources,
protect water quality, and sustain agriculture, while still maintaining
a high quality way of life in the Uncompahgre Valley. Water is the Uncompahgre
Valley's lifeblood, and preserving its quality is imperative to maintaining
a viable agricultural program and producing such diverse crops as corn,
alfalfa, beans, peppers, onions, broccoli, potatoes, sweet corn, lettuce,
melons, grapes, peaches, apples, pears, cherries, apricots, and pasture
forages. Wildlife diversity and habitat, fisheries, and public health are
likewise dependent upon a high level of water quality, both within the
Valley and downstream.
The Uncompahgre Valley Best Management Practices (BMPs) Decision Committee and workgroups were formed in May of 1995 after several public meetings in which participating citizens voted unanimously for the District to organize such a group. The BMP Decision Committee and workgroups met several times over an eight month period to prepare these guidelines. Publication was made possible by a USDA Water Quality Initiative Grant and funding from the State of Colorado Department of Agriculture. These guidelines were developed in hopes of providing land and water managers in the Uncompahgre Valley with options in preventing both point and nonpoint source pollution to the waters of Colorado. You are encouraged to review these guidelines and incorporate them into your current and future agricultural management practices. It is hoped that these guidelines can help you to improve the efficiency of your business and practices, while concurrently helping to maintain sustainable agriculture within the Uncompahgre Valley. Voluntary adoption of Best Management Practices is desirable to maintain a high quality way of life in the Uncompahgre Valley. The BMP Decision Committee and corresponding workgroups have worked long and hard to develop this set of guidelines that will be effective, feasible, cost effective, and protect and conserve the resources of the Uncompahgre Valley, while still maintaining a sustainable agricultural program. Information contained herein was developed by the Uncompahgre Valley BMP Decision Committee and reflects their exclusive combined wisdom. Please feel free to direct any comments or suggestions directly to the Board of Supervisors of the Shavano Soil Conservation District.
Shavano Soil Conservation District Board of Supervisors
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