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News & Notes October 2007
Making the Connection Between
Grazing Practices and Water Quality
"The health of the riparian system, and thus the quality of
water, is dependent on the use, management, and condition of the related
uplands. Therefore, the proper management of riparian and wetland ecosystems
will involve the correct management of livestock grazing and other land
uses in the total watershed." www.epa.gov
While every PACD mini-grant project focuses on Nonpoint Source Pollution
(NPS) education, each highlights any number of Best Management Practices
that can be implemented by everyday citizens to work toward the goal
of reducing/preventing NPs pollution and improving water quality. This
year, four NPs Section 319 grants cover the connection between pasture
management and watershed health. These grants are being carried out
in Fayette, McKean, Warren, and Washington counties. Washington Conservation
District's grant overview provides this comprehensive perspective:
"The loss of stream bank stability, riparian vegetation, stream
habitat and modification of the hydrologic regime due to poor grazing
practices can have a devastating effect on stream life; proper grazing
reduces the physical disturbance to sensitive areas and the discharge
of sediment, animal waste, nutrients, pathogens and chemicals to surface
waters. Best Management Practices include rotational grazing, pasture
and hay planting, forage harvest management, prescribed grazing, use
exclusion, grazing management plans, spring developments, warm season
grasses, shade areas, streambank fencing and riparian buffer plantings."
Cattle grazing at Meldick Farms in Russell, PA,
one stop on the Warren County Conservation Tour, where the farm's
rotational grazing system is fortified by streambank fencing and other
practices that prevent animal access to sensitive areas.
Each of these grants provides a unique approach to Nonpoint Source
Pollution education: Fayette Conservation District's grant (Chris Rerko)
provides its target audience of agricultural producers with Grazing
Educational Resources materials; McKean's (Sandy Thompson) is a workshop
for landowners entitled "Managing your Pasture" and is to
be held early in 2008; Warren's (Heather Wilcox) was covered in a Conservation
Tour on September 15 (see photo) that covered NPs Best Management Practices
throughout Warren County; and, Washington's (John Hewitt) covers the
costs associated with several speakers at the October 24-25 Project
Grass Statewide Grazing Conference where the connection between grazing
practices and water quality will be highlighted by those speakers.
Do you have an idea for an educational project that works to clarify
the connection between homeowner, landowner, or municipal practices
and water quality? Consider applying for a PACD mini-grant (next deadline
May 15, 2008). Information is available at www.pacd.org/resources/grants.htm.
Workgroup Plans December 2007
All Bay Meeting
The 2007 All Bay Workgroup is making plans for this year's event. The
15-member workgroup is comprised of conservation district Chesapeake
Bay technicians along with staff from PACD, the PA Department of Environmental
Protection, and the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). The
meeting will be held December 11, 2007 at the Holiday Inn Harrisburg-Hershey
in Grantville, PA.
The group is working hard to ensure that this training opportunity presents
timely and relevant information to conservation district Chesapeake
Bay technicians while incorporating suggestions from last year's evaluations.
For instance, a representative from the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency has been invited to return and give an update on the state of
the Bay including what seems to be working and future trends. Tentative
general session topics will address Resource Enhancement and Protection
Program criteria, understanding agricultural compliance, and NRCS's
Basic Conservation System Initiative. Innovative conservation district
projects will be highlighted. New for this year are breakout sessions
that will be held concurrently in the afternoon. The breakouts will
cover Ag and Energy, Conducting Successful Workshops and Field Days,
DEP Water Quality including TMDL's, and Connecting with the Equine Industry.
In addition, a special program that targets the needs of new technicians
will be held during the breakout sessions.
More information and registration forms will be emailed directly to
conservation district managers and technicians. Questions should be
directed to Kathleen Banski at 717-238-7223 x 15 or email kathleen-banski@pacd.org.
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