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The Soil Conservation District in Montgomery County, Maryland
18410 Muncaster RoadDerwood, Maryland 20855 301-590-2855
Upcoming Events:
None at this time. Call 301-590-2855 for the latest news on MSCD events.
The Montgomery Soil Conservation District (MSCD) is considered a political subdivision of the state and is staffed by County, State and Federal employees. Programs offered by MSCD include an array of technical advice for conservation and natural resource planning, as well as a variety of educational opportunities.
MSCD staff assist farmers and landowners in the county with Soil Conservation and Water Quality Plans, provide technical assistance for conservation practices, and administer a variety of Federal and State cost-share programs that help fund projects to prevent soil erosion and improve water quality. Many of these programs are designed to help protect local waterways and the Chesapeake Bay. The MSCD provides a number of programs that focus on educating Montgomery County residents about the benefits of agriculture, conservation, and natural resources management. Other services include small pond review, drainage advice for residential landowners, and administering the Cover Crop program in the County.
Montgomery County is home to almost 12,000 horses. Montgomery County is also part of the Chesapeake Bay Watershed. As a horse owner, you can help protect the Bay by adopting “best management practices” that help prevent harmful runoff from entering local streams and, ultimately, the Bay.
Get Your Copy Today Montgomery County Horse Study Final Report (pdf - 973/ kb)
The Montgomery SCD can work with you to design and place alternative water sources in your pastures, to protect nearby streams and ponds. This concrete gravity-fed trough straddles the fence-line to provide ample water to two pastures employs more than 10,000 residents
Your local Soil Conservation District can visit your farm and offer recommendations about which management practices will help improve the quality of your local streams. The Montgomery Soil Conservation District has several staff members available to work with horse owners. J.G. Warfield, District Conservationist for the Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS), provides technical advice to horse owners on pasture, manure and mud management.
Manure management is a growing concern for owners of horse properties. The Montgomery SCD can discuss with you the manure management options that will work best for your farm. This manure storage structure was built for a large boarding operation in eastern Montgomery County.
Our staff can tell you about the “best management practices” that will help keep soil, nutrients and pollutants out of local streams and the Chesapeake Bay and about any programs available to help land owners afford to implement these measures. Equine Resource Conservationist Eddie Franceschi can design a “conservation plan” for your property that will include these recommendations. Technician Paul Meyer is available to design stream crossings, manure storage structures, and runoff diversions.
The Montgomery SCD conducts pasture walks and other educational events geared specifically toward horse owners, to discuss pasture, manure and mud management practices. At this pasture walk, J.G. Warfield explains the benefits of dragging pastures.
All services provided by the District are free. You might be eligible to receive partial reimbursement for the resource-protection measures you install through state and federal incentive programs.
For more information about how the Soil Conservation District can help you, contact David Plummer, District Manager at (301) 590-2855.
Operating Hours: Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
The Montgomery Soil Conservation District office is located in the Agricultural History Farm Park, 18410 Muncaster Road, Derwood, Maryland.
Montgomery County Soil Conservation District18410 Muncaster RoadDerwood, Md 20855301-590-2855