In today's vernacular, Alice and William Johnson are "multi-tasking." By installing native grass Filter Strips and Contour Grass Strips under the Farm Service Agency's Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) on acreage along the western edge of Marion County, the couple has created a wildlife haven and helped protect water quality in the Marion Reservoir Watershed.

The Johnsons are avid outdoor enthusiasts who enjoy hunting and watching wildlife. They also take a lot of pride in establishing wildlife habitat for upland birds, waterfowl, deer, and other game species. In addition to the wildlife benefits provided by the CRP Filter and Contour Grass Strips, the practices reduce sheet and rill soil erosion and remove nutrients and other pollutants from surface and subsurface water flow before it enters the Marion Reservoir Watershed.

Recently, the Johnsons' offer to install a Shallow Water Structure for Wildlife under CRP was approved and construction is underway.

In recognition of their stewardship efforts, the Johnsons received the Marion County Farm Bureau's 2003 Grass Buffer Award.

Filter Strip on William and Alice Johnson's property.

Contour Grass Buffer Strips on the William and Alice Johnson property in Marion County.

Filter Strips along tree line and Contour Grass Buffer Strips in field on William and Alice Johnson's property.