Ditches ~ What are agricultural buffer strips?
A buffer strip is an area of land maintained in permanent vegetation that helps to control air, soil, and water quality, along with other environmental problems, dealing primarily on land that is used in agriculture. Buffer strips trap sediment, and enhance filtration of nutrients and pesticides by slowing down runoff that could enter the local surface waters. The root systems of the planted vegetation in these buffers hold soil particles together which alleviate the soil of wind erosion and stabilize stream banks providing protection against substantial erosion and landslides. Farmers can also use buffer strips to square up existing crop fields to provide safety for equipment while also farming more efficiently.

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1. Bridges ~ How many bridges are in Black Hawk County?
2. Building Permits ~ How do I get a building permit in the County?
3. Ditches ~ Who owns the ditch?
4. Ditches ~ Who maintains the ditches?
5. Ditches ~ Can I burn leaves, branches and garbage in the ditch right of way?
6. Ditches ~ What are agricultural buffer strips?
7. Ditches ~ How can I help to keep the ditches from silting in?
8. Driveway ~ Who pays for the driveway entrance?
9. Driveway ~ What is the policy for widening an existing driveway entrance or installing a new field drive?
10. Driveway Permit ~ How do I obtain a new residential driveway entrance application?
11. Dust Control ~ How do I get dust control for my road?
12. Dust Control ~ Who pays for these applications?
13. Roads Maintenance ~ How often are the shoulders mowed by the County?
14. Road Maintenance ~ Why can't rock be placed on the roadbed first thing in the spring?
15. Roads ~ How many miles of roads and ditches are in Black Hawk County?
16. Septic ~ Septic System and Well Water Questions?
17. Signs ~ Who do I contact for a 911 sign?
18. Snow Removal ~ I live on a private road (or drive). Will the County plow my road?
19. Snow Removal ~ Is it illegal to push snow from yards or driveways leaving snow in the roadway?
20. Snow Removal ~ When are the snowplows out?
21. Snow Removal ~ When will my road be plowed?