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Grass Filter Strips

Grass Filter Strips - CP 23 (Practice Code: 393)

The purpose of a grass filter strip is to provide a buffer between possible contamination sources and water bodies. Permanent grasses and legumes filter runoff water by intercepting or trapping field sediment, organics, nutrients, pesticides and/or other potential pollutants before they are able to reach a body of water.

A few benefits of grass buffer strips include uptake and transformation of soluble contaminants by soil microbes and grass. Filter strips can provide access to crop fields to perform agricultural operations such as spraying or harvesting. In addition, filter strips can eliminate end rows and serve as turn areas. The vegetation can also provide habitat for small birds and animals.

Requirements/Maintenance:  Filter strip width is based on soil type, slope, erosion rates and other site conditions. Guidelines include a minimum width of 20 feet with a maximum width of 120 feet. Prescribed burning or mowing can be used to manage and maintain the strip. Landowners must inspect and repair filter strips after large runoff events. Maintenance may involve filling in gullies and removing sediment to prevent concentrated flow. In addition, landowners must control weeds and brush in grass strips, fertilize as needed based on soil test results and keep vegetation tall in spring to slow runoff.

To enhance grass filter strip effectiveness, fertilizers, pesticides or animal wastes should not be applied to the filter strip area.

To learn more about grass filter strips, read "The Economics of Vegetative Filter Strips" by the Ohio State University Extension.

The following grass filter strip images were photographed on land in the Lake Erie Buffer region.

Grass filter strip Located in Seneca County, a well-established filter strip seeded to native warm season grasses.  (Click photo for larger image)

 

Grass filter stripA great image of a grass filter strip located in Allen County.  (Click photo for larger image)

 

Grass filter strip Lyle Shaffer's grass filter strip in Wood County proudly displays the Lake Erie Buffer sign.  (Click photo for larger image)

 

Aerial view of Grass filter strips Grass filter stripLandowner Dwight Wise's beautiful grass filter strips, located in Sandusky County.   (Click photo for larger image)

 

Aerial view of filter strip Aerial view of filter stripAerial shot of the Barto brothers' well-established practice in Seneca County.  (Click photo for larger image)

 

 

For further information on conservation buffers, visit the following pages:

Ohio Lake Erie Buffer Office ~ 3900 Campus Drive Suite A ~ Lima, OH 45804

Information on this site is believed to be accurate but is not guaranteed. The Ohio Lake Erie Buffer Program disclaims any liability for any errors or omissions. The Ohio Lake Erie Buffer Team prohibits discrimination in its programs on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, and marital or family status.

Modified by Benjamin Marckel, January 2003