Reliable estimates are that 545,736 pounds of phosphorus and 43,168 tons of sediment were saved. Another number to note is that 525 farmers cooperated in the project. Given that conservation tillage equipment lasts many years and is now installed on over 500 farm demonstration sites, residue management will continue to be practiced in the watershed for years to come. Lessons learned for future projects relate to scheduling times and economic realities. First, consider timing.
Farmers make most of their equipment and land-management decisions immediately after fall harvest.
Consequently, the greatest impacts are likely to come from projects driven by the cropping season, not agency or corporate budget cycles. Then, consider economic incentives. Farmers derive little income from filter strips, though they must also continue to pay real- estate tax or rent on land put to that use. At a minimum, then, the incentive payment should be equal to the farmers' cost. Eight years of cooperative activity between many federal, state, county, and local agencies and citizens is yielding results in the Indian Lake watershed.