ANNUAL REPORT. Creating an environmentally and economically sound Fulton County where people want to live, work, and play.

Transcription

1 ANNUAL REPORT 2015 Creating an environmentally and economically sound Fulton County where people want to live, work, and play.

2 TABLE OF CONTENTS Contents A Message from the Manager 1 Directors 2 Streams 3 Recycling 6 Agriculture 8 Promotion & Marketing 10 Contact Information 11

3 A MESSAGE FROM THE MANAGER A Message from the Manager For over 70 years, the Fulton County Conservation District has been working behind-the-scenes to conserve the soil, water, and related natural resources of Fulton County. The District is the second-oldest in the Commonwealth, formed on December 8, 1945 by the Fulton County Board of Commissioners. OUR VISION Our vision is our destination where we are going. The vision of the Fulton County Conservation District is an environmentally and economically secure Fulton County where people want to live, work, and play. Like many of you, the Directors and Staff of the District live in Fulton County and are interested in preserving the quality of life and culture that we enjoy in this rural setting. OUR MISSION Our mission speaks to the heart of what we do how we get to where we are going. The mission of the Fulton County Conservation District is to conserve, protect, and restore our environmental health. Our mission will turn our vision into practice, and create the future we want for our community. OUR STRATEGIC PRIORITIES The following strategic priorities represent specific, measurable outcomes what we want to achieve. From , the Fulton County Conservation District will: 1. Reduce impaired streams by 30%. 2. Increase the volume of materials recycled by 10%. 3. Assist 50 farmers in achieving baseline compliance with state environmental regulations. 4. Increase the promotion and marketing of the District by 25%. LOOKING AHEAD Ultimately, our strategic plan focuses on reaching our highest potential and securing our position as a valuable asset to our community. We all have a vested interest in the future of Fulton County. The Board of Directors and Staff of the Fulton County Conservation District are excited and energized to move forward in executing our plan to create a better Fulton County for generations to come. Seleen Shives District Manager March 31, 2016 Page 1

4 DIRECTORS Directors The Fulton County Conservation District is governed by a nine-member board of directors. Pennsylvania s Conservation District Law dictates that the board consists of one member of the county governing body, four farmers, and four public members. District directors have a direct say in how people in the county deal with many important natural resource issues such as water quality, forestry, agricultural best management practices, and soil erosion. Serving on the conservation district board is an excellent way to make an impact on the future of our natural resources. District directors are nominated by county-wide nominating organizations. Each year, these organizations nominate individuals to serve as director for each vacancy on the district board and submits the names to the County Commissioners for consideration. The Commissioners then appoint directors from the nominations received to fill the vacant positions. DIRECTORS Mark Knepper, Chairman Neill Miller, Vice-Chairman Carri Younker, Treasurer Irvin Dasher, Commissioner Representative Christian Hann Wayne MacDonald Russell McLucas Marvin Jake Richards Jason Shives Farmer Director Farmer Director Farmer Director County Commissioner Public Director Public Director Farmer Director Public Director Public Director Conservation District Board Meetings are held on the second Thursday of every month at 10:30 AM in the District Conference Room. Page 2

5 STREAMS Streams STRATEGIC PRIORITY #1: REDUCE IMPAIRED STREAMS BY 30%. Several streams in Fulton County have been designated impaired by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection. These streams are primarily impaired by excessive sediment and nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorus). Restoring the quality of these impaired streams is at the core of our mission. Clean water is important for all living things, from the top of the watershed here in Fulton County, to the bottom of the watershed in the Chesapeake Bay. FEATURE PROJECT: BETTER ROADS, CLEANER STREAMS Unpaved roads have the potential to contribute a significant amount of sediment to local waterways. The Fulton County Conservation District provides technical and financial assistance through Pennsylvania s Dirt & Gravel Road Maintenance Program to help townships and boroughs maintain their dirt and gravel roads, and low volume roads, in an environmentally sound way. The Conservation District s Quality Assurance Board met in the early spring to review applications for Dirt & Gravel Road and Low Volume Road Program funds. Eight projects were selected for funding, submitted by four townships and the PA Game Commission. Projects chosen showed the best potential to reduce sediment pollution to local waterways and will demonstrate Environmentally Sensitive Maintenance (ESM) practices. Licking Creek Township $30, Low Volume Road funds for drainage, reclamation, and Driving Surface Aggregate placement on Overly Raker Road. PA Game Commission $17, Dirt & Gravel Road funds for drainage, ditch, and surface improvements to Creek Road Access and Meadow Grounds Road North. Taylor Township $7, Dirt & Gravel Road funds for drainage, fill, and surface improvements to Bratton Road. Page 3

6 STREAMS Thompson Township $28, Dirt & Gravel Road funds for drainage, fill, and surface improvements to Frank and Wolf Hollow Roads. $10, Low Volume Road funds to address ditch and drainage issues on Landers Road. Union Township $20, Dirt & Gravel Road funds for drainage and ditch improvements, and Driving Surface Aggregate placement on South Hixon Road. Environmentally Sensitive Maintenance Practices are designed to reduce sediment pollution to nearby streams, as well as reduce the long-term maintenance costs on the road. FEATURE PROJECT: GRANT FUNDS HELP LOCAL FARMS AND STREAMS The Fulton County Conservation District began working with local farmers to implement $730,318 in funding in the form of a Growing Greener Watershed Protection Grant. These funds will be combined with federal funds, available through USDA Farm Bill Programs, and the local Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) office. The Big Cove Creek Ag Conservation Implementation Project will greatly reduce the environmental impact of six farm operations influencing impaired reaches of Big Cove Creek, a priority watershed for the Fulton County Conservation District and the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). One of the Conservation District s main goals is to help local landowners and municipalities plan and implement environmental improvements. Matching good projects and local resources with able partners and available funding from state, federal, or private sources, is often the key to implementing projects and improving water quality. All of the partnering farms propose work located along, or directly upstream of, agriculturally impaired stream reaches in the Big Cove Creek watershed. Several miles of Big Cove Creek south of McConnellsburg was officially deemed impaired more than 10 years ago, as a result of biological analysis conducted by representatives of DEP. Big Cove Creek is just one of approximately 7,000 Pennsylvania streams the PA Department of Environmental Protection has determined to be officially impaired. While having portions of Big Cove Creek listed as Page 4

7 STREAMS impaired is not good news, the designation does mean that landowners along those reaches may have a better chance to receive funding for projects that reduce sediment and nutrient pollution. The funded projects will implement a variety of agricultural best management practices, including roofed heavy use areas, storm water diversions, grass-lined swales, manure stacking areas, animal walkways, roof water management, stream crossings, and vegetated filter areas, to reduce sediment and nutrient inputs to the stream. Projects will be implemented over the next 3 years. The proposed projects have been laid out and designed with the direct involvement of Conservation District Staff, farm owners and managers. Designs and cost estimates are to be completed by design and engineering professionals with private consultants or the Natural Resource Conservation Service. Landowners are on board to proceed with construction and will provide matching funds, or in-kind labor and materials, for projects implemented on their operations. These projects will save farmers time and money as well as providing environmental benefits. Over the past decade, great strides have been made within the Big Cove Creek watershed, particularly within the Spring Run sub-watershed, where agricultural conservation and stream restoration projects have made delisting that sub-watershed as an impaired waterway a real possibility. When current projects are completed, the Fulton County Conservation District and its partners will have implemented more than $1.5 million in agricultural conservation and stream restoration activities, over nearly 4 miles of stream, in the last decade. Projects have included, riparian buffers planted through the CREP program, barnyard improvements, cattle walkways, streambank fencing, and full-blown stream restoration and realignment. In addition, the Fulton County Wastewater Treatment plant, located less than 0.5 miles from the project site, has undergone significant upgrades to their treatment system in the last five years. The work will help improve the efficiency and profitability of family farms in the Big Cove Creek watershed, while taking significant steps to improve water quality, stream health, and local fishing. ADDITIONAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS Completed 50 farm site visits, outlining current environmental regulations including manure management and agricultural E&S plans. Discussed potential stream projects in the Little Aughwick watershed. Conducted seasonal macroinvertebrate sampling at four sites on Big Cove Creek. Discussed possible stream and wetland restoration projects with McCormick Taylor and the PA Turnpike Commission, as a result of proposed turnpike improvement construction. The District s Erosion & Sediment Control Technician provided technical assistance to 35 individuals, conducted 18 initial and 8 follow-up Erosion & Sediment Control Plan Reviews, issued 3 General NPDES permits, conducted 24 inspections on 19 different sites, and responded to 4 complaints received by the District. Page 5

8 RECYCLING Recycling STRATEGIC PRIORITY #2: INCREASE THE VOLUME OF MATERIALS RECYCLED BY 10%. Conservation District Staff have been instrumental in developing and expanding the County s Recycling Program. The program is a win-win for consumers, the local community, and the environment. Recycling conserves natural resources, while reducing pollution and energy consumption. The District hopes to increase program participation and offer additional recycling opportunities to our residents. FEATURE PROJECT: NEW EDUCATIONAL SIGNAGE INSTALLED AT SINGLE-STREAM RECYCLING LOCATIONS Fulton County Recycling Coordinator, Greg Reineke, developed large, easy-to-read signage to be installed at the single-stream recycling locations in the county (see below). To date, signs have been installed at the Thompson Township and Bethel Township sites. A sign is also scheduled to be installed at the McConnellsburg site. As the program budget allows, signage will be added to the other single-stream recycling locations. Along with new signage, some new bins were installed. The County entered into an agreement with a local recycling company that is interested in repurposing and recycling more material. To that end, recycling dropoff bins for clothing (clothes, shoes, bed and bath items, accessories, etc.) are now located at a few sites. Just a reminder that plastic bags still cannot be placed in single-stream recycling bins (take them to Giant instead), all cardboard must be flattened, and we do not accept any form of Styrofoam. Electronics must be placed in the electronics collection sheds. Please do not mix electronics with other recyclables. ADDITIONAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS: tons of tires were collected for recycling through the annual tire collection event held in May tons of Household Hazardous Waste were collected for proper disposal through the annual Household Hazardous Waste Collection Event held in the fall. Page 6

9 RECYCLING ADDITIONAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS Four tractor trailer loads of electronics were collected and sent for recycling through the County s ongoing Electronics Recycling Program. 265 tons of recyclable materials were collected in the County s Single-Stream Recycling Program. 126 tons of recyclable materials were collected by contracted Single-Stream Recycling Program (small businesses and schools). Page 7

10 AGRICULTURE Agriculture STRATEGIC PRIORITY #3: ASSIST 50 FARMERS IN ACHIEVING BASELINE COMPLIANCE WITH STATE ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATIONS According to state regulations, all farms, regardless of size, are required to have a written Erosion & Sediment Control (E&S) Plan and Manure Management Plan. These plans help farmers conserve and improve soils and best utilize manure, to increase profitability and minimize sediment and nutrient pollution in our local streams and groundwater. Over the past three years, District Staff have conducted 300 farm site visits in Fulton County in an effort to increase awareness of these requirements within the agricultural community. Assisting farmers in developing these plans will help them meet the baseline compliance requirements and ultimately, will result in cleaner water for all. In 2015, the District s Ag Specialist assisted 17 farmers in achieving baseline compliance with state regulations by developing Manure Management Plans. The Specialist also ensured that each farmer had an up-to-date Conservation Plan that meets the current regulatory requirements. FEATURE PROJECT: FALL COVER CROP FIELD DAYS Promoting good conservation practices and soil health to our farming community is a major area of focus for the Fulton County Conservation District (District). In 2015, the District was awarded a Chesapeake Bay Program - Special Project Grant to fund several field days to educate farmers and the general public on the benefits of no-till farming and multi-species cover crops. The District and the local USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS), worked together to provide information on the fundamental concepts and benefits of no-till and multi-species cover crops. Farmers got a first-hand look at the practice of multi-species cover crops in late October. On October 27 th and 29 th, the District and NRCS conducted two field days with nearly a dozen interested individuals participating. The goal of the special project grant was to identify two county farmers who were willing to try multispecies cover crop mixes on their farms. The two farmer participants were Knepper s Red Hill Jersey and Hendershot Farms. Through the grant, the District was able to purchase the seed and provide the drill for planting. Ideally, the test plots would have been planted in late July or early August, but as farmers are well aware, sometimes the weather does not always cooperate! Hendershot Farms was able Page 8

11 AGRICULTURE to get their plot in on August 15 and Knepper s Red Hill Jersey Farm got their plot planted on September 15. Even so, the plots gave us an opportunity to evaluate the differences, advantages, and disadvantages of planting dates. The field days were very beneficial to all who attended and good discussion was had on what worked and what did not work. These Fall Cover Crop Field Days were just the initial planned field days. The District and NRCS are planning at least a couple more in the Spring of 2016 to revisit the plots to see the final product before kill down. ADDITIONAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS: Held two Manure Management Planning Workshops to assist landowners/operators in developing plans. Specialist conducted 84 informal, face-to-face farm visits with 67 different farmers in the county. Held an annual Ag Winter Meeting in February with approximately 65 in attendance. Partnered with the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service and Penn State Extension to hold a Cropland Field Day with nearly 120 farmers in attendance. Reviewed five Nutrient Management Plans and conducted 10 annual status reviews on operations with Nutrient Management Plans. Held two Cover Crop Field Days. Secured a grant through the Chesapeake Bay Program Special Project funds for a Nutrient Management Plan Initiative and Soil Health Education & Outreach Initiative to provide educational opportunities for our agricultural community. No-Till Drill Rental Program established 1,030 acres of crops including oats, wheat, barley, rye, timothy, orchard grass, alfalfa and sorghum sudan grass. Page 9

12 PROMOTION & MARKETING Promotion & Marketing STRATEGIC PRIORITY #4: INCREASE THE PROMOTION & MARKETING OF THE DISTRICT BY 25%. Too often, the good work that Conservation District Staff is doing in our community is unknown to the general public. Increased promotion of our activities will inform residents about what we are doing and more importantly, why it is valuable. This will enable us to educate the public and gain support for our mission: to conserve, protect and restore the environmental health of our community. FEATURE PROJECT: INCREASING PUBLIC AWARENESS OF THE DISTRICT In 2014, the District developed a strategy for increasing the General Public s awareness of the Conservation District. The objectives of this strategy included increased exposure in the Fulton County News (2-3 times/month), increased activity on the District s Facebook page (2-3 times/week), and attending the meetings of other community organizations that share a common interest in the District. The District continued to implement this strategy in FEATURE PROJECT: ACTION AD CAMPAIGN In an effort to increase general public awareness about environmental issues and increase the District s exposure in our community, the District launched an action ad campaign in The rotating ads covered a variety of topics and provided tips on WHAT YOU CAN DO to help the District in its mission to conserve, protect, and restore our environmental health. The District plans to continue this ad campaign in Page 10

13 CONTACT INFORMATION Contact Information SELEEN SHIVES DISTRICT MANAGER DENISE GRISSINGER ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT SCOTT ALEXANDER WATERSHED SPECIALIST Tel , Ext. 121 ndistrict.org Tel , Ext. 116 ndistrict.org Tel , Ext. 118 ndistrict.org GREG REINEKE ENV. EDUCATION SPECIALIST ERIC CROMER AGRICULTURAL SPECIALIST ANDREW STOTTLEMYER EROSION CONTROL SPECIALIST Tel , Ext. 120 istrict.org Tel , Ext. 117 rict.org Tel , Ext. 122 m 216 North Second Street, Suite 15, McConnellsburg, PA Tel , Extension 4 Fax Page 11