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A farmer on Snow Creek in Jefferson County’s Discovery Bay Watershed has a thriving herd of 150 beef cattle, but the only drinking water available to the cows used to be the nearby creek.
The landowner was open to ideas for providing an alternative water source for his cattle, but stringing electric wire to the remote site for a water pump was not a good option.
Jefferson County Conservation District staff came up with a new idea,
and the landowner agreed to have the District help him install a
demonstration solar-powered water pump.
Some were doubtful that Western Washington’s skies could provide enough
solar power to make the project successful, but, after a trial of two
summers, the pump proved effective and reliable.
A fence had been in place on the streambank for many years, with one access point for livestock drinking.
Cattle also had access to water in unfenced ditches.
The landowner had entered into a conservation easement that included moving the fence back 150’ from Snow Creek and fencing the ditches.
Being able to provide a reliable source of water for livestock via a solar-powered pump outside the new buffer made this possible.
The next step was to construct a permanent solar water pump.
Both the new fencing and pump system were accomplished with Jefferson County CD’s technical help and grant dollars from the Conservation Commission, SRFB and DOE in 2008.
The newly-protected streamside corridor will be planted in native trees and shrubs in the winter of 2009.
The project has reduced the amount of potential sediment and fecal bacteria entering Snow Creek and Salmon Creek through the ditch system.
In the future, the over-hanging trees will shade the stream, providing habitat and keeping the water temperature cold for fish and other wildlife living in the Snow Creek system.
In addition, the project clearly demonstrates that Western Washington farmers can use solar power to help improve their practices, an exciting new avenue for all to explore!
For more information look on the JCCD website or contact
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