District Updates
This time of year is typically filled with outreach events, and this year has been no different!
The district had a table at the Berlin Fair that took place at the beginning of July, and we want to thank everyone that took the time to stop by and hear about our programs. We enjoy getting out into the community.
We will be at the Macatawa Water Festival on August 12th, and our table will include an activity on groundwater as well as an activity on aquatic invasive species! You can find more information on the festival by clicking here.
On August 17th, we will be holding our 4th annual Cultivating Resilience Farm Field Day in partnership with the ODC Network and the Allegan Conservation District. This event is geared towards farmers and agribusiness professionals and showcases both common and emerging practices that promote soil health, improve water quality, and give producers practical conservation knowledge that they can use to evaluate and enhance their operations. You can find all the details and register for the event by clicking here.
Free Center Pivot Irrigation Uniformity Testing Available
As the summer heat reaches it’s peak, it’s important to ensure agricultural irrigation machinery is working efficiently to keep crops properly watered and reduce water waste. Ottawa Conservation District staff are currently offering free uniformity testing on center pivots to help farmers identify where upgrades to nozzles are needed.
While it’s a bit too late in the season to test center pivots on corn fields, testing can still be completed on soybean fields and other crops that are shorter than waist height. Interested farmers should contact Alex Svoboda at alex.svoboda@macd.org or 616-610-6360 to schedule a test.
School Native Plantings
In June, the Raindrop Rescue program was part of a great event with the 5th graders at Holland Language Academy! On their second to last day of school, we had an event celebrating pollinators and conservation. Students rotated through stations that included learning about the parts of a pollinator, seeing a watershed on the district’s enviroscape model, painting a rain barrel that will be placed at the school, trying local honey sticks, and planting a large native garden!
If you are an education professional that is interested in having native plants and green stormwater infrastructure introduced at your school, please contact our Educational Program Coordinator, Lexie Kasper, at lexie.kasper@macd.org or 616-610-1422.
