Conserving for Steuben County's future

Whether you live in the city or country, on a lake or on a farm, watersheds connect us all together!!!

Visit Steuben County

Steuben County Water Treasures

Kayaking on the Fawn River

(Source: Steuben County Soil &Water Conservation District)

Healthy wetland in Steuben County working to filter pollutants and help prevent flooding

(Source:Steuben County Soil & Water Conservation District)

Beautiful Pigeon Creek

(Source: Steuben County Soil & Water Conservation District)

How Healthy Watersheds Affect Our Community…

You will benefit from healthy watersheds in numerous ways, generally unseen and unrecognized by the average person.

Healthy watersheds are necessary for virtually any high-quality outdoor recreation sites involving the use of lakes, rivers, or streams. Great fishing opportunities are usually due to healthy watersheds that surround the waters that people love to fish.
Your drinking water, if it comes from a surface water source, might be substantially less expensive to treat, if a healthy watershed around the water source filters pollution for free.
Your property values may be higher, if you are fortunate enough to reside near healthy rather than impaired waters.

You and your community’s quality of life will be better in these and other ways due to healthy watersheds; now, imagine how unhealthy watersheds might affect you.

What Can You Do to Protect Steuben County’s Water Quality?

And, YES, You Can Make a Difference!!!!! Here’s How…

Cover Crops are seasonal vegetative cover

No Till Cropping Systems leave crop residue on the soil surface

These conversations practices help reduce soil erosion and nutrient runoff

Use the Soil Health Principles to manage agricultural and urban soils to sustain plants, animals and humans, and for the future generations

Reduce Polluted Runoff

Take your car to the carwash or wash it on the grass to prevent soapy water and any automotive fluids from washing directly into storm drains.

Maintain your vehicles and equipment to prevent oil, grease, and chemical leaks from entering storm drains.

Don’t blow or sweep grass clippings or leaves into the street. Use them as natural fertilizer or utilize pickup services.

Pick up your pet’s waste. It can add excess nutrients into local waters

Keep livestock out of creeks and streams

Don’t allow garbage into local waterways

Reduce residential erosion

Eliminate construction site runoff

Apply fertilizer according to manufacturer’s directions and follow the 4Rs of nutrient management

Protect Our Sources of Drinking Water

Water testing should be conducted every 2-3 years on residential water wells

Protect your well from accidental damage

If your Septic Tank has a filter, it should be cleaned every 6 months.

Septic Tanks should be pumped and cleaned every 3-5 years, depending on usage.

Be aware of products that can have a negative impact on your septic system, such as feminine hygiene products, flushable wipes, bath bombs, and cigarette butts.

Don’t let surface water accumulate around your well to prevent potential contamination

If you notice a change in the ability to flush toilets or sinks are backing up, call a licensed septic pumper or inspector.

Control Stormwater Flow

Rain barrels capture and conserve water

A filter strip on aditch to help remove contaminants fromoverland flow

Rain Garden with native wildflowers and grasses to reducerunoffand flooding

Sediment runoff from a construction site entering city storm drain

A native species planting in a landscape to reducerunoff and attract pollinator species

Excess winter salt in a parking lot that will enter city storm drain at first rain or snow melt

ALL PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES OF THE STEUBEN COUNTY SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT AND ITS PARTNERSHIP AGENCIES ARE OFFERED ON A NON-DISCRIMINATORY BASIS, WITHOUT REGARD TO RACE, COLOR, NATIONAL ORIGIN, AGE, DISABILITY, AND WHERE APPLICABLE, SEX, MARITAL STATUS, FAMILIAL STATUS, PARENTAL STATUS, RELIGION, SEXUAL ORIENTATION, GENETIC INFORMATION, POLITICAL BELIEFS, REPRISAL, OR BECAUSE ALL OR PART OF AN INDIVIDUAL’S INCOME IS DERIVED FROM ANY PUBLIC ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.