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Young boy stands on manure injection piping at event to demonstrate horse drawn manure injection equipment. Manure injection helps manure infiltrate the soil rather than running off the field into nearby waterways. This practice improves water quality and helps Lancaster meet its CAP goals. Read more below!
Dear partners and supporters,
Summer is flying by! With the warm weather and fresh local produce signaling summertime in Lancaster, I hope you are feeling a great sense of accomplishment halfway through 2021 but also getting some rest and taking memorable adventures.
Here at the Partners, we continue to feel the crescendo in collaboration as we bring the rapid stream delisting strategy to life. Multiple sources of funding are now providing low-to-no-cost conservation practices for landowners. We’re working diligently to solidify the best modes of communication for catchment leads who have authentic and strong relationships with landowners. As updates are available, we will provide them on our website on the Rapid Stream Delisting page.
These conversations about trust and strong relationships sparked work to define the partnership’s values -- as in, how we live out our mission and vision. Thanks to our Action Team co-leads and Executive Committee, we verbalized and put pen to paper describing the way we work together in Lancaster to achieve clean and clear by 2040. Our values create a common understanding of how we can collaborate successfully. We encourage you to dive deeper into our values and put them into action within your own organization by using our new Values guide and new Menu for Success guide. Both describe ways partner organizations can engage in the Partners’ collective effort -- because it takes all of us to restore and conserve our waterways!
Lastly, some great news -- we’re hiring! Our backbone support is growing so we can continue to expand the ability of our partner organizations to restore and sustain healthy Lancaster County waterways. Learn more about that job position further on in this newsletter.
We have a lot of work ahead of us to reach goals in the Countywide Action Plan by 2025 and local goals by 2040. Let’s keep up the momentum, together!
Happy summer!
Allyson
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Exciting opportunity: We’re hiring!
You heard correctly, the Partners is expanding its backbone capacity so it can continue to lift up the ability of its partner organizations to restore and sustain healthy Lancaster County waterways. The new, full-time position will manage the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) and other grants received by the Partners. We’re looking for a talented team-player with experience in grant and project management. If someone you know enjoys working on a small, enthusiastic team and collaborating with countless countywide partners, this position is a great opportunity! View the job posting on our website and apply on Indeed.
There is no deadline to apply, but submit your resume and cover letter soon to be considered for the position!
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Horse drawn manure incorporation equipment for Plain Sect farmers
Just as no-till planting equipment has improved greatly, manure incorporation equipment has made great strides. New equipment today enables injection of manure three or four inches below the surface with very minimal surface disturbance. Now with equipment developed by ELS Manufacturing, horse drawn manure incorporation is possible as well.
This provides several important benefits. First, placing the manure deeper in the soil profile means you don’t get a concentrated layer of phosphorus near the soil surface and the nutrient is immediately available to deeper roots. This also reduces nitrogen losses from ammonia volatilization which saves fertilizer dollars on farms where manure is not enough to meet all crop needs. This means that soil test phosphorus levels may rise more slowly after continual manure application. In certain situations, this savings of nitrogen can be enough to pay the additional cost of injection. A big benefit to farms with neighbors nearby is the reduction of odor. In places where odor is a contentious issue this alone may be worth the cost of injection. Increased organic matter beneath the soil surface may provide water holding capacity and decrease risk of drought stress.
For more information, contact Shelly Dehoff, Agriculture Ombudsman at the Lancaster County Conservation District
Written by Dennis Eby, Plain Sect Outreach at the Lancaster County Conservation District
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New tool: Partners & Resources Inventory
Ever wonder how many organizations are working towards clean and clear water in Lancaster? Looking for a specific service provider for outreach or project implementation? Look no further than the Partners and Resource Inventory created by Penn State Agriculture and Environment Center! You’ll find an inventory and assessment of existing partners and resources available to implement conservation practices in Lancaster County with extra details on the skills and resources necessary to get conservation practices in the ground.
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Grassed waterways, terraces, and manure stacking - oh my!
Pictured: New heavy use area and manure stacking area installed at a farm in Lancaster County. The project was funded by the Conservation Excellence Grant (CEG), one of the newest grants available to farmers through the Lancaster County Conservation District. Three projects have been completed to date, implementing a grassed waterway, four terraces, and one project over $100,000 including a roofed heavy use area and manure stacking area. 19 CEG projects have been approved to date and will be implemented over the next two years.
CEG has proven to be an incredibly successful grant program in Lancaster that is helping farmers improve their farm and local water quality!
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Storytelling opportunity!
To continue to live out our mission of accelerating and expanding the ability of our partners, we’re calling all partner organizations to share their success stories with us! We want to up our storytelling game to elevate our partner organizations' work and spread the clean and clear water message far and wide. Partner organizations interested in sharing their story with our partnership and beyond are invited to submit blogs to be featured on our communications channels.
We can brainstorm ideas and assist with the writing process. Contact Emily with your story ideas!
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Additional capacity to support the collective vision for Lancaster
It takes all of us to restore and conserve our waterways, and Lancaster is building the capacity to do just that! Our partner organizations, such as Chesapeake Conservancy, Lancaster Farmland Trust, Interfaith Partners of the Chesapeake, Red Barn, and TeamAg, Inc., have hired or are currently hiring to add to the collective capacity to reach clean and clear by 2040. If you know a dedicated, team-player that would make an excellent addition to this work, share these opportunities (also listed below).
If your organization has a job opening, let us know so we can share with all partner organizations and supporters. Contact Emily to share.
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JOB OPPORTUNITIES
Outreach Coordinator at Interfaith Partners of the Chesapeake
Interfaith Partners of the Chesapeake is currently looking for an Outreach Coordinator to serve in the Lancaster County, PA and Harford County, MD region. The Outreach Coordinator will advance IPC’s mission by engaging congregations in its programs and supporting them on their journey to being good stewards of the Earth. This involves outreach through in-person engagement, social media, email communications, outreach at the denominational level, and having a presence at community and religious events. More information and application here.
Communications Coordinator at Lancaster Farmland Trust
Lancaster Farmland Trust seeks a motivated, experienced candidate to join its team as a Communications Coordinator. Lancaster Farmland Trust (LFT) is a private, non-profit organization with a mission to preserve and steward Lancaster County’s beautiful, productive farmland. LFT has preserved more than 32,000 acres of farmland, and has become one of the most successful land trusts in the nation. More information and application here.
Pennsylvania Field Representative at Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership
The Pennsylvania Field Representative will work with TRCP’s Chief Conservation Officer to organize and advance the voice of hunters and anglers in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania around initiatives to improve the health and vitality of the Delaware River and Chesapeake Bay watersheds. The position is responsible for the strategic and tactical leadership and issue-based advocacy in the Commonwealth to influence public policy. More information and application here.
Project and Grants Coordinator at Lancaster Clean Water Partners
The Lancaster Clean Water Partners is seeking an experienced project and grants manager to manage a multi-million dollar RCPP grant. This includes coordinating conservation practice implementation as well as reporting for the Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) land management plans and contracts. In addition to the RCPP grant, this position will coordinate reporting and tracking for other grants that support the Partners such the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, Chesapeake Bay Trust, and private donors. More information and application here.
Welcome to two new hires at Chesapeake Conservancy!
Chesapeake Conservancy welcomes two new members to their staff whose work will be focused on Pennsylvania restoration. Restoration Project Advisor Frank Rohrer and Project Coordinator/Geospatial Analyst Ryan Hill are both based at Susquehanna University and will work with partners and landowners to implement agricultural restoration projects.
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RESOURCES & EVENTS
2021 Free Tree Application, Penn State & Trout Unlimited
Applications due July 30, 2021 at 5 p.m.
The Penn State Agriculture & Environment Center and the Donegal Chapter of Trout Unlimited are pleased to open their yearly FREE TREE GIVEAWAY to local landowners! If you are interested in contributing to healthier land and water systems, complete the application by 5 p.m. July 30, 2021.
Annual Ice Cream Social, Cocalico Creek Watershed Association
Monday, August 2 at 6 p.m. / Blue Lake Road, Denver PA
Join the Cocalico Creek Watershed Association for some ice cream and engagement on how we can 'Collaborate as a Community for Clean Water'. The guest speaker for the evening is Allyson Gibson. This event is free and open to the public. Bring your family and friends!
Registration open for Level 1 Certification Training, Chesapeake Bay Landscape Professional
August 10 & 17 / Online
It is not too late to register for the Chesapeake Bay Landscape Professional level 1 certification training. Register for the online classes and field practicum date using the link above.
Bulls Head Beer Garden at Kissel Valley Farm, Lancaster Farmland Trust
Saturday, August 28 from 3-8 p.m. / Kissel Valley Farm
Join Lancaster Farmland Trust for food, tunes, brews, and views -- all while helping preserve Lancaster County’s beautiful and productive farmland! $5 per person for admission and all proceeds go to farmland preservation and conservation.
Extraordinary Give Applications Open, Lancaster County Community Foundation
Applications due on October 18, 2021
The Extraordinary Give is a special day to connect your organization to generous donors. Apply now to be part of the celebration and start planning the best way to create an extraordinary experience for your organization! Looking to include clean water in your ask? Contact Emily at the Partners for ideas!
Mayflyer July/August 2021 Newsletter, Donegal Trout Unlimited
Read about conservation products, updates, and upcoming events in Donegal Trout Unlimited’s July/August newsletter.
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The Lancaster Clean Water Partners is a countywide, collaborative partnership of diverse partner organizations that come together with a shared vision of clean and clear Lancaster waterways by 2040.
Learn more at www.lancastercleanwaterpartners.com.
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