WHAT'S NEW
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FOREVER GREEN TREE PROGRAM | ||
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Get back to nature and plant trees and shrubs. Over 35 species avaialable including Bluebird nesting boxes and fertilizer tablets. Please see photo section for information on tree species! (order forms under programs/services section! |
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DISTRICT CHARTS A NEW COURSE! | ||
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Over the past several months the District Board of Directors has worked with the staff in determining and developing a long range strategy for the Soil and Water Conservation District. Traditionally, the District has served as a local agency dedicated to meeting the resource needs of the County and its citizens. This will not change, but will become a point of increasing emphasis. The District has had two main areas of focus, the county drainage program and the aquatic weed harvesting program. The Board has determined that both of these programs need to be regenerated and that a comprehensive agricultural program must be added. Recently hired District Manager, Henry Kelsey, stated that, “Farming is a competitive business and we need to assist our farming community in competing favorably for state and federal funding to implement needed conservation practices.” The District is in the process of amending its Agricultural Environmental Management long term strategy and has expanded its goals for 2009. Henry is emphasizing the need to develop strong proposals under the State’s competitive grants program, and to work directly with the federal agencies to coordinate ag program efforts. The Agricultural Group Drainage Program is being re-examined. The program was begun in the late 1980’s and has remained in existence to the present. The Directors have tasked the staff with placing the program on a watershed basis, so that all issues within a stream corridor are evaluated. There are a number of drainage districts within the County and the District will work in cooperation with these special districts. A group of citizens will be brought together to provide the program with policy and direction. The aquatic weed harvesting program will remain with the Soil and Water District. The District Board had agreed to drop this program, however after the 2008 harvesting season the Board re-evaluated its thinking and decided it was in the best interest of the County and its citizens to retain the program. Thanks to Senator Nozzolio and his interest in the various lake-based programs, and to the County in providing additional funding, the District will be ordering a new harvester to replace the oldest of the three units. The Towns of Sodus, Huron, and Wolcott have placed funding in their 2009 proposed budgets to provide additional support to the harvesting efforts. The District’s FL-LOWPA-based water quality programs have been expanded under the year 2009 plan. Most recently, the District’s water quality efforts have been focused on the aquatic program and sampling within the embayments. Under the guidance of interim manager Tom DeRue, the plan has been expanded to include tributary sampling throughout subwatersheds in the County, stormwater assistance to local municipalities, the emergence of a program to address nonpoint source issues related to onsite wastewater (septic) systems, and the enhancement of the District’s graphic information system (GIS) abilities. At the Board’s October monthly meeting, DeRue told the Directors that, “We must continue to work to retain not only the credibility of the District, but also build the ability of the staff to meet needs within each of the program areas.” |
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SOIL AND WATER RETAINS KEYSTONE AQUATICS PROGRAM | ||
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With the 2008 aquatic weed harvesting season closing out for the year, the Wayne County Soil and Water Conservation District is already gearing up for the 2009 season. The District had a successful year harvesting 878 tons of aquatic vegetation from Sodus Bay, Port Bay, East Bay, and Blind Sodus Bay. The Aquatics Division is finishing a detailed maintenance check while storing the harvesters for winter. The technical staff of the District also performed late season monitoring on all the embayments to determine the effectiveness of this seasons harvesting. The District Board had previously indicated that they would not continue to administer the program. A not-for-profit entity was formed and plans were made to transition the program to this private entity by the end of the year 2008 season. As the season came to a close, the Board of Directors re-evaluated its position, and felt that the County and its citizens would be better served if the program remained under District control and direction. The board has also added a third technician committed to work water quality issues and initiatives, with emphasis on providing technical assistance to the harvesting program. Base funding for the program will continue to come from the state-funded Finger Lakes-Lake Ontario Watershed Protection Alliance (FL-LOWPA). The townships of Sodus, Huron and Wolcott have place additional funds in support of harvesting efforts in their 2009 proposed budgets. Existing funding, under grants sponsored by Senator Michael Nozzolio, have provide impetus for the purchase of a new, state-of-the-art harvester. The County recently earmarked additional funding to support the purchase. It is anticipated that the new harvester will be on line by the start of next season. |
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AGRICULTURAL ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT | ||
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The AEM approach uses a structured 5-tier approach to an overall assessment of farming operations. AEM provides farmers with a Nutrient Management Plans as well as beneficial structural practices and provides a foundation for funding. | ||
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LAKE PLAINS NEWSLETTER | ||
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If you would like to receive our free quarterly newsletter, just give us a quick call at (315)946-4136. | ||
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CONTROL POND ALGAE WITH BARLEY STRAW | ||
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Placing barley straw in ponds can significantly reduce the growth of pond algae. For more information & details or if you would like to purchase barley straw and wrap, contact the Wayne County SWCD at (315)946-4136. | ||
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SWCD TOPS TWO MILLION IN LOCAL GRANTS | ||
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The Wayne County SWCD has recently exceeded the two million mark in successful grant proposals. These grants are necessary to conserve Wayne County's rural natural resources. Included are grants to municipalities, landowners and public works projects. | ||
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Septic System Model Ordinance | ||
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adopted by multiple Wayne Co. towns.Available at SWCD office. | ||
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Stormwater Erosion & Sediment Control Ordinance | ||
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A Model Ordinance designed to prevent stormwater damage and sediment deposition into receiving waters including culverts, drainage systems and public lands. | ||
