SEDIMENT CONFERENCE REPORT 



By Robert M. Anderson 



Recently I had the pleasure of attend- 

 ing the National Conference on Sediment 

 Control which was held in Washington , 

 D. C, September 14th through 16th. This 

 conference was sponsored by NACD, the Nat- 

 ional Association of Counties, and the 

 Soil Conservation Society of America. 

 Approximately 150 people from all states of 

 the union attended. 



The main purpose of the conference was 

 to review and edit the draft of a guide- 

 book on sedlaent control soon to be re- 

 leased. This guidebook explains in detail 

 the legislation, planning, and financing, 

 both local and outside, necessary in sedi- 

 ment control programs. It should be a 

 great help to those who are dealing with 

 sediment and pollution control in the 

 future . 



We were taken on a tour of Montgomery 

 County, Md. for a view of a Sediment Con- 

 trol Program in action. This county is rural 

 but is being rapidly urbanized. It has 

 been toned throughout to provide proper 

 land use according to soil structure and 

 desirable business, recreation, and home 

 site balance. Sediment production in 

 this county is compounded by massive 

 scalping and grading operations followed by 

 paving of large areas. High rainfall In 

 this situation produces increased run- 

 off and serious problems unless properly 

 dealt with. A series of settling ponds 

 coupled with minimum exposure during the 

 rainy season and detailed storm sewer 

 planning seems to have solved the problems 

 in this case. 



We here in Montana are hearing more 

 and more about urban sediment pollution 

 and problems associated with urban ex- 

 pansion. Urban people will be heard and 

 will also listen to talk regarding pollu- 

 tion. Districts need to expand their pub- 

 lic information efforts, properly associat- 



ing sedimentation and pollution, and ^ 

 erasing the confusion existing between 

 "Conservationists" and "Preservationists". 

 Multiple use must be our goal. District 

 supervisors working unselfishly with 

 city-county planning boards and other 

 agencies, have a big job ahead in making 

 this a better and more prosperous 

 Montana. 



Robert M. Anderson Vice Pres. MASWCD 

 ********** 



SOLUTION OF POLLUTION by DISTRICTS 



It was reported in a previous newsletter of the Division 

 that the Illinois State Water Pollution and Water Com- i 

 mission has recommended that the state provide finan- " 

 cial and technical assistance to districts Tor the 

 installation of soil and water conservation practices in 

 order to reduce pollution. 



In light of these facts, we urge Soil and Water Conser- 

 vation Districts to take credit for their efforts in this 

 field, and emphasize it in their publicity and educational 

 endeavors as well as in their annual plan of work and 

 long-range programs. We ask this because districts 

 are and have been performing a meaningful service in 

 this field. When through the application of land treat- 

 ment practices we reduce run -off of mine acids, oil, 

 and salt from oil wells, herbicides, insecticides, 

 mitrates, phosphates, manure, silt, and other pollu- 

 tants, we are definitely engaged in pollution abatement. 

 When we establish conservation tillage, windbreaks and 

 cover crops on fall -plowed land, we are reducing both 

 wind, and land, and water pollution. 



Yes, the very important job of developing and protecting 

 our renewable natural resources is providing an 

 invaluable bonus pollution abatement. Districts must 

 reflect this fact throughout their whole program in 

 order to receive the kind of financial and technical 

 assistance needed to effectively cope with the problem. 



Illinois SWCD News 



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