Improving the water quality of local streams is an objective the SCCD and NRCS consider in nearly every program or project that is implemented within Sheridan County.  In a survey conducted by the SCCD in 2001, over 60% of the respondents ranked water resource concerns in the top vie.  As a result, water resources have become a primary focus of the SCCD and NRCS. 

Local water resource related projects include water quality assessments, watershed planning efforts, and watershed improvement programs that include improvements to Animal Feeding Operations (AFOs) and septic systems, stock water development projects, riparian buffer projects, stream channel restoration projects, and others. 

In the assessment and planning processes for the Tongue River and Goose Creek Watersheds, high levels of bacteria were identified.  This is a potential human health issue related to the recreational use of these waterways.  Sources of fecal coliform bacteria include wildlife, domestic animals (including livestock), and humans (via septic systems).   To address concerns with bacteria, the SCCD-NRCS partnership offers voluntary technical and financial assistance for improvements to animal feeding operations and septic systems.  In addition to bacteria concerns, residents identified other concerns, including turbidity/sediment, temperature, and nutrients.  Some research suggests relationships among these parameters and bacteria levels.  As a result, the SCCD-NRCS also offers assistance for some streambank/channel restoration work and other water resource improvement projects.

SCCD-NRCS evaluates all potential projects on the potential benefit to water quality.  Project location relative to known bacterial impairments will be one of several factors in prioritizing applications for assistance.  Guidelines and criteria established by the WDEQ are also used.  Other factors include the visibility of the project and the ability of an individual project to encourage more widespread improvement efforts on the watersheds.