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West Virginia Success Story

Fence Benefits Land and Landowner

Program or Category: Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP)

Overview: Two areas of Leading Creek in Gilmer County have been fenced so livestock no longer have access to the riparian area. Since Leading Creek was the only water source for livestock, water developments were planned. The landowner enrolled in CREP to receive cost share dollars for this project.

Accomplishments: Two high tensile electric fences totaling 4,820 feet were built along Leading Creek to exclude livestock from the stream creating 23.6 acres of riparian buffer. One water well has been drilled that supplies water to two troughs to supply livestock with water in separate fields. An additional well will be drilled, supplying water to two additional troughs in different fields. A spring development supplying one trough will also provide additional water for livestock to facilitate more intensive grazing management.

Program Benefits to Landowner:

• The landowner now has a high quality high tensile fence built to NRCS specifications. This fence excludes livestock from Leading Creek, which was their only source of water.
• The problem of livestock drowning in this creek has now been solved by the fence.
• The livestock now have safe, clean water to drink from the water developments that have been installed, and soon more fields will have water supplies added.
• The landowner can now more intensively manage grazing with more fields containing water. Grazing can also be extended which will lessen the amount of hay that will need to be fed in the winter.

The landowner will make more profits since he will not suffer livestock loss due to drowning; cattle will gain more weight quicker with clean water supplies closer to fields that are grazed; and less money will be spent for hay.

Program Benefits to Community:With the cattle excluded from this part of Leading Creek, water quality will improve, streambank erosion will be reduced, wildlife habitat will improve and riparian areas will be restored.

Contact:
Scott Hoover, District Conservationist
Glenville Field Office
(304) 462-7171 ext. 3
Scott.Hoover@wv.usda.gov

Glenville Service Center−Serving Calhoun and Gilmer Counties
Federal Building
201 East Main Street
Glenville, WV 26351
Phone (304) 462-7171 Fax (304) 462-7439
http://www.wv.nrcs.usda.gov/contact/glenville.html

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