Stormwater
Quality Management Committee
Clark County Regional Flood Control District
600 S. Grand Central Pkwy. Las Vegas, NV 89106 |
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Horse
Owners
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Best
Management Practices for:
Boarding
Stables, Equestrian Centers, Small Farms, and Urban
Horse Owners
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Animal
waste contributes to water pollution when it is improperly stored
or left uncovered near small streams and storm drains. During
rainfall, it is washed into storm drains and flows untreated,
directly into the Las Vegas Wash.
Animal waste contains some nutrients--phosphorus and nitrogen--as
well as bacteria. The nutrients fertilize the aquatic plants
causing their proliferation which depletes oxygen in the water,
killing water life. The high bacteria levels in the water can
cause gastro-intestinal disorders and other medical problems.
Sediment is also a common pollutant washed from pastures and
livestock facilities. It creates multiple problems once it enters
the Las Vegas Wash. It harms water life by clogging the gills
of fish, blocking light transmission and increasing the Las
Vegas Wash water temperature.
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Corral
Location and Facilities Design |
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Site
barns, corrals and other high-use areas on the portion
of property that drains away from the nearest street or
storm channel. Install gutters that will divert runoff
away from livestock area.
Design diversion terraces which drain into areas with
sufficient vegetation to filter the flow. Protect manure
storage facilities from rainfall and surface runoff.
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Pasture
Management |
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Confine
animals in properly fenced areas except for exercise and
grazing time. Corrals, stables and barns should be located
on higher ground when possible and surrounded by pasture
to act as a natural filtration system.
Utilize fencing to keep horses away from environmentally
sensitive areas and protect stream banks from contamination.
Use manure and soiled bedding sparingly to fertilize pastures
and croplands.
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Grazing
Management |
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Establish
healthy and vigorous pastures with at least 3 inches of
leafy material present. Subdivide grazing areas into three
or more units of equal size. Clip tall weeds and old grass
to control weeds and stimulate grass regrowth.
Rotate animals to clean pasture when grass is grazed down
to 3-4 inches.
Let pasture regrow to 8-10 inches before allowing regrazing.
Keep animals away from wet fields when possible. During
heavy rainfall, consider indoor feeding, a practice which
keeps more manure under roof and away from runoff.
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Manure
Collection and Storage |
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Collect
soiled bedding and manure on a daily basis from stalls
and paddocks and place in temporary or long-term storage
units. Store in sturdy, insect resistant and seepage free
units such as:
- Plastic
garbage cans with lids.
- Fly-tight
wooden or concrete storage sheds.
- Composters.
- Pits
or trenches lined with an impermeable layer.
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Manure
Use and Disposal |
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Compost
soiled bedding and manure for your own use.
Give away composted material to local greenhouses, nurseries
and botanical parks. Transport manure to topsoil companies
or composting centers. Fertilize pastures, cropland and
lawns with manure and soiled bedding. Do not apply fertilizer
just before or during rainstorms.
Rinse empty pesticide containers and treat the rinse water
as you would the product. Dispose of empty containers
in the trash. Dumping toxics into the street, gutter or
storm drain is illegal! Non-recyclable materials must
be taken to an appropriate landfill or disposed of as
hazardous waste.
For disposal instructions, call the Nevada Small Business
Development Center, Business Environmental Program at
1-800-882-3233.
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Pesticide
Alternatives |
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The
"chemicals only" approach to pest control is
only a temporary fix. Integrated Pest Management is a
more common sense approach for a long-term solution. Plan
your "IPM" strategy in this order:
- Pheromone
Traps
- Tarps
- Bug
Zappers
- Fly-Tight
Storage Sheds
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Chemical
Controls - Your Last Resort |
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Use
these least-toxic products:
- Pyrethrin-based
insecticides
- Dehydrating
dusts (e.g. silica gel)
- Insecticidal
soaps
- Horticultural
oils
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