Conservation Conversation

Transcription

1 CENTRE COUNTY CONSERVATION DISTRICT Annual Report Edition Volume 24, No. 2 Conservation Conversation 2010 ANNNUAL REPORT Inside this issue: Centre County Growing Greener in 2010 Chesapeake Bay Programs Dirt & Gravel Roads Summary E & S/NPDES Partnerships Awards/ Directors/ Staff Educational Programs/ Scholarships The Centre County Conservation District celebrated 56 years of service to Centre County residents in The Centre County Conservation District was formed at the request of farmers and others in the county were interested in conservation of soil and water resources and land use planning. The County was declared a Conservation District by the Centre County Board of Commissioners in October The district was initially organized to provide for the conservation of soil and water resources, assist in watershed protection and flood prevention, preserve woodland and wildlife, protect public lands, and to protect and promote the health, safety, and general welfare of the people within the community. The District is a subdivision of State government and is administered by a volunteer based Board of Directors. The District Board is currently composed of four farmer directors, two urban-public directors and one county commissioner, along with twelve associate directors. In 2010 there were eight full-time employees. Some of the programs that the district staff administer include: The Erosion and Sediment Pollution Control Program, NPDES (National Pollutant Discharge and Elimination System), Chapter 105 Stream Encroachment, Dirt & Gravel Road, Chesapeake Bay Program, Nutrient Management, Ag Conservation technical assistance, as well as sponsor the County Envirothon, and Ag in the classroom programs. Monthly board meetings are held the second Wednesday of every month at the Bellefonte Willowbank Building, Room 146, at 7:30pm, and are open to the public Conservation Awards Mission Statement Clean Streams Award Steve Yarrison Cooperating Conservation Farmer Oak Spring Farms/Steven & Scott Wolfe Watershed Stewardship Art Beveridge The Centre County Conservation District is a committed, professional agency functioning as the primary local source of assistance to all individuals and organizations who benefit from the county s natural resources that we collectively strive to sustain and improve. Associate Directors A big Thank You to our associate directors whom have devoted numerous volunteer hours, served on district committees, and actively participated in the Centre County Conservation District Programs in Al Stewart Brian Burger Bruce Snyder Allen Ishler Cinda Corl Gerald Brown Jay Houser Stephen Scott Susan Buda Ted Onufrak Ronald Coakley George McWilliams

2 Page 2 CENTRE COUNTY: GROWING GREENER in 2010 In 2010, the District administered 3 of the 4 currently funded Growing Greener grants. A total of $518,000 in Growing Greener funds has been awarded to Centre County through June 30, These grants are to be used for implementation of Best Management Practices (BMP s) on farming operations and along streams to help reduce non-point source nutrient and sediment loads to streams. County Environmental Initiative Grant/Centre County Stream Restoration Project ($55,367.91) Growing Greener Funding of $55, was received in Funds were allocated to numerous locations to install BMP s. A total of 922 of roof gutters, riparian buffers, incorporate several stream crossings for livestock, erected over 3,000 feet of stream bank fencing, stream stabilization along Wallace Run, and Spring Creek just to name a few. The District has also completed work for the Fish & Game Habitat Restoration Project along Penns Creek. Little Fishing Creek Agricultural BMP Implementation Program ($87,957.35) Aided in construction of 2,563 feet of 5 strand high tensile streambank fencing along Little Fishing Creek, relocation of twelve utility lines in preparation for a new barn addition, installation of concrete, trusses, bracing, and roof sheeting for construction of a 3,200sqft heavy use area. Elk Creek Agricultural BMP Implementation Program ($134,747.89) Grant funding of $134, was expended at three individual farms in the Spring Bank Run sub-basin of the Elk Creek Watershed. Funding of BMP s included; manure storage systems, reception pits, silage leachate collection systems, storm water run off controls, and installation of 4,080 feet of stream bank fence. The District continued to partner with various state and federal agencies, local watershed groups, and the private sector to provide cost share funding and technical assistance to a variety of farms in Centre County. In particular the District was fortunate to be able to partner with TeamAg. Inc. Working with the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, Team Ag., secured over $1,000, in American Recovery and Reinvestment ACT (ARRA) funds for implementation of Best Management Practices on numerous Centre County farms. Funding support for Conservation District programs In 2010 was provided by: Centre County Commissioners $254,135 PA State Conservation Commission/DEP, Technical $97,559 Chesapeake Bay Technical $53,451 Watershed Specialist Program Technical $32,000 Dirt & Gravel Roads Municipal Program $33,428 Donations $ 1,024 State Funding & Energy Harvest Grant $51,810 Total of Federally Funded Programs $48,664

3 CHESAPEAKE BAY PROGRAM UPDATE Page 3 A total of $42, of Chesapeake Bay funding was expended in 2010 through the District with $16, of funds assisting in three professionally engineered agriculture designs through Team Ag, Inc., for manure storage and transfer units in the Spring Bank Run Watershed, Centre County. In addition, $26, of the Chesapeake Bay monies assisted in erecting over 4,000sqft of stream bank fencing, several cattle crossings, incorporated livestock watering systems, and assisted in the development of 3 Nutrient Management Plans. The overall development of such projects will stabilize local streams, improve water quality, reduce nutrient and sediment laden runoff, and/or improve the overall health of our waterways reaching the Chesapeake Bay. Area farmers and landowners are encouraged to contact the Conservation District for assistance with such projects. District employees work with federal and state agencies to pull together grant resources that will ultimately minimize the overall cost to the landowner. DIRT and GRAVEL ROADS PROGRAM SUMMARY FOR 2010 The Centre County Conservation District received proposals and applications from townships trained in Environmental Sensitive Maintenance for Dirt & Gravel roads this year. Three of the projects were selected to receive funding by Centre County s Quality Assurance Board (QAB), consisting of representation from the PA Fish & Boat Commission, Natural Resources Conservation Service, and the Conservation District. The townships with approved projects included the following. Penn Township: Repairing and stabilizing approximately 16,000sqft of roadway adding 432 cubic yards of road base, and added 5 additional cross pipes on T-415 Lingle Valley Road in Zerby Gap. Total project cost was $13, with Centre County Conservation District funding $12, Potter Township:. Centre County Conservation District through the State Conservation Commission, funded $14,000 towards the total project cost of $28, Project included adding 1217 cubic yards of road base, stabilizing 32,000sqft of roadway, 100sqft road bank stabilization, and 100 sq ft of drainage outlets stabilized along T536 /Egg Hill Road. Unionville Borough/Hill Street Project: Stabilized 6,000sqft of eroded ditch, 150sqft of road bank stabilization, added 23 tons of 2RC to road base while stabilizing over 20,000 sq ft of Dirt & Gravel Road. Total project cost was $6, of which the District funded $4, along with the borough s in-kind contribution of $1, The Dirt & Gravel Roads Program strives to reduce erosion, sediment and dust pollution relating to dirt and gravel roads. Many Conservation Districts participate in this grant program to fund projects with the goal of minimizing sediment transport from public roads with a special focus on roads in special protection watersheds. Funding is limited to roads open to public use and municipalities that wish to participate must have personnel that have been recently (within 5 years) trained in Environmental Sensitive Maintenance for Dirt and Gravel Roads. Contact the Centre County Conservation District at (814) for more information regarding the Dirt & Gravel Roads Program or check out the Centre for Dirt and Gravel Road Studies website at

4 Page E & S Highlights: Chapter 102/NPDES/Chapter 105 In November 2010 the PA Department of Environmental Protection revised Chapter 102 Rules and Regulations pertaining to Erosion and Sediment Pollution Control. A Conservation plan is now required for Animal Heavy Use areas (barnyards) that discharge to surface waters. The District participates in Level III of the Erosion and Sediment Pollution Control program through a delegation agreement with the Department of Environmental Protection. In 2010, Mike Philippe, Jim Coslo, Resource Conservationists, along with Administrative Staff, Joy Teeter, received and processed 124 initial plan reviews, General Permits, totaling 1439 acres, and participated in 4 E & S and NPDES Training Events Total NPDES & E & S Permit Fees Collected From January December 31, 2010 NPDES Permit Fees Collected $21, E & S Permit Fees Collected $63, Partnering Toward A Sustainable Future The Centre County Conservation District, Wildlife for Everyone Endowment Foundation, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the Partners for USFWS, completed Phase I of a $150,000 grant from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation. Throughout Centre County $96,315 was spent on restoring streams, installing fish habitat structures, establishing agricultural Best Management Practices (BMPs) on farms and planting buffers in riparian areas. Additional partners included the Bald Eagle Watershed Association, Clearwater Conservancy, PA Fish and Boat Commission, Penns Valley Conservation Association, NRCS, Quehanna Boot Camp and individual landowners. Two workshops were held in 2010, one covering stream restoration techniques and one exploring sustainability issues and the role that conservation plays in those issues. Phase II and Phase III will be completed in the spring of GET THE DIRT FROM THE CLASSROOM Centre County Conservation District sponsored the 2010 annual conservation poster contest for students. The 2010 theme was Conservation Habits = Healthy Habitats. Winners were awarded a Certificate of Appreciation and a cash prize, for their efforts in promoting conservation. First Place Winners/$25.00 Second Place Winners/$15.00 Jackie Li (K-1) Corl Street Elementary Georgia Cingle (K-1) Mountain Top Elementary Jakob Ream (2-3 grade) Wingate Elementary Kaleigh Cunningham ( 2-3 grade) Wingate Elementary Michelle LaForge (4-6 grade) Wingate Elementary Cheyenne Hall (4-6 grade) Wingate Elementary Third Place Winners/$10.00 Rachel Stauffer (K-1) Hunter Brooks (3-4 grade) Aliyah Fetterolf (4-6 grade) Corl Street Elementary Wingate Elementary Centre Hall-Potter Elementary

5 Education Programs, Sponsorships, and Scholarships Page Team Members Include: Kyle Johnson, Tim Gleason, Sheri McCloskey, Donald Cox, Maggie Mehalk. Advisor; Jade Thompason Fifteen teams including high school students from Penns Valley, Bald Eagle, Bellefonte, Philipsburg- Osceola, Central PA Institute of Science and Technology, and State College Area schools participated in the 26th annual Centre County Envirothon at Bald Eagle State Park. State Agency representatives from DEP, PA Game Commission, NRCS, DCNR along with District staff joined forces in preparation of testing stations in Aquatic Ecology, Forestry, Soils and Land Use, Wildlife, and Protection of Groundwater through Urban, Agriculture and Environmental Planning. Team Roadkill from Bald Eagle Area High School captured the first place title making this the eleventh consecutive win for Bald Eagle Area. In addition, the District assisted with the Pennsylvania State Envirothon held at PPL Montour Preserve as well the 2010 Canon Envirothon in California. The District s Annual Seedling Sale generated a profit of $1, which assisted in youth sponsorships of scholarships for Ag in the Classroom($700.00), McKeever s Adventure Camp ($175.00), District poster contest ($150.00), and the Penn State Conservation Leadership School ($520.00). Additional proceeds were used to purchase County Envirothon t-shirts, awards, and registrations for State and Canon Envirothon. The Centre County Conservation District received notice of funding from the PA Association of Conservation Districts to support students in two Centre County School Districts. The meaningful Watershed Education Experience grants were awarded to the Penns Valley Conservation Association and the State College Area School District. The Penns Valley funds will help support PVCA s Environmental Education Field Days. For the last eight years PVCA has successfully secured funds to position an Environmental Educator in the Penns Valley Area School District. The MWEE funds awarded to State College Area School District will cover the costs of sending students to the Millbrook March Nature Center. Ann Donovan, Watershed Specialist, provided Environmental and Watershed Educational Workshops to over 600 elementary school aged children involving 9 elementary schools within Centre County. In addition, Ann organized and hosted a sustainability Workshop: Connecting the Built and Natural Environments: A Pathway to Sustainability : in collaboration with Spring Creek Watershed Commission and ClearWater Conservancy to over 50 people at the Nature Inn (Bald Eagle State Park). This workshop was made possible through National Fish and Wildlife Foundation grant funding. Speakers and topics included: Erick Foely, Director, Campus Sustainability, Penn State University: Green Town, Green Gown, Julie Kollar, Program Director, WREN, Water Resources Education Network, a project of the league of Women Voters, PA: Source Water Protection-a Necessity for Sustainable Communities; Mark Ralston, Converse Consultant hydrogeologist: Low Impact Development-A Tool for Watershed Protection; and John Sepp, President PennTerra Engineering, Inc.: How to Build Sustainable Communities.

6 CENTRE COUNTY CONSERVATION DISTRICT 414 Holmes Avenue, Suite #4 Bellefonte, PA Phone: Fax: Website: DISTRICT STAFF Robert E. Sweitzer, District Manager Sue Kauffman, Dept. Clerk III John Wataha, Agriculture Conservation/ Nutrient Management Technician Ann Donovan, Watershed Specialist/ Education Coordinator Daina Beckstrand, CBP/NM Technician E&S STAFF Jim Coslo Jr., Resource Conservation Supervisor Mike Philippe, Resource Conservation Coordinator II Joy Teeter, Department Clerk I Board of Directors Donn Fetterolf, Chair Dr. Robert Shannon, Vice-Chair Steven G. Dershem, Commissioner Tom Boldin Martin Melville James Walizer Kaleb Wolfe USDA-Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) (570) or (814) Scott D. Heckman, Supervisory District Conservationist Bryan Conklin, Engineering Technician Amanda Coleman, Program Assistant Michael McDevitt, Soil Scientist Centre County Conservation District 414 Holmes Avenue Suite #4 Bellefonte, PA Non-Profit Organization U.S. Postage PAID State College, PA Permit No. 41 Printed on Recycled Paper