MONROE — There will be a demonstration of the rainfall simulator on the evening of Tuesday, July 8. Why should someone see a rainfall simulator in action? Who goes out in the rain just to see how the water interacts with the soil? Does it run off or soak into the soil? Best case is it all soaks into the soil, but unfortunately that’s not the case in all management scenarios. Very few people get to see different land managements side by side to evaluate their potential to run off or infiltrate water.

This rainfall simulator has five trays of different land managements, ranging from mowed grass to several kinds of tillage in crop fields to native prairie. All are subject to heavy “rainfall” allowing spectators to see how the water interacts with the soil — does it infiltrate or run off? Spectators remain dry and see firsthand how important it is for soil users to manage the land properly.  

Interested individuals should gather on the north side of Monroe’s Square by 6:15 p.m. on Tuesday, July 8. Tonya Gratz, Soil Conservationist, from the Green County Land and Water Conservation Department will lead the presentation. Water and soil should matter to everyone. The effects of poor soil health and excessive runoff have lasting economic burdens to communities and the county. The presentation will be wrapped up before 7 p.m. to allow county board members to attend their monthly meeting.