A Morning on the Conestoga
Any day that begins with being on the water has the potential to be a great day. Add sharing that experience with others for the first time, it’s nearly impossible to not turn into a perfect day. Imagine my excitement when I was asked to lead some of my personal conservation heroines on a morning float! Six of the most dynamic ladies I’ve had the pleasure to meet through my affiliation with the Lancaster Clean Water Partners wanted to go kayaking. I have discovered over the last year that their hard work, leadership and collaboration have made HUGE improvements in our countywide efforts to repair and restore impaired waterways. How could I say no?
Written by Todd Roy, president and founder of the Conestoga River Club
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Sustainable future for Lancaster agriculture
In a first-of-its-kind grant from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, Lancaster Farmland Trust successfully launched a program linking preservation and conservation efforts across the county. This program offered funding to fast-track farmers on the preservation waiting list who opted to install BMPs simultaneously. Leveraging the $490,000 from NFWF, LFT preserved five Lancaster farms and completed BMP implementation on those properties, installed BMP practices on one previously preserved farm, and procured new Conservation and Manure Management plans on six preserved farms in Upper Leacock Township.
Combined, these improvements will lead to the prevention of 13,703 lbs. of nitrogen, 1,176 lbs. of phosphorus and 572,338 lbs. of sediment from flowing into the Chesapeake Bay every year. Most importantly, these conservation practices will remain in place permanently through BMPs implemented across 816 acres of protected Lancaster County farmland.
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Congratulations to Big Spring Run
on 10 years of floodplain restoration and legacy sediment success!
Learn more about the project: www.bsr-project.org
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Manheim Township Overlook Park buffer planting on October 29
Sign up for a fun day of planting and partnership! You’re invited to Manheim Township’s Overlook Park on October 29 for a riparian buffer planting. We’ll be planting approximately 800 trees across 5.5 acres. All you need to bring is a sturdy pair of work gloves, your favorite tools, and your enthusiastic spirit for clean and clear water! Long sleeves and pants are encouraged.
Note: This event is by invitation only to partner organizations, but not open to the general public due to safety precautions.
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Protecting Riparian Buffers from Strong Storms
The increasing severity and longevity of storms is concerning. Not only is it dangerous for our planet and communities, but also for our trees – especially newly planted, streamside trees. These newly planted buffers are vulnerable during strong storms when waters rise high above their tops and strong winds test their roots.
How can we protect riparian buffers from strong storms? Read tips from Bryce Workman, Water Resource Technician at the Lancaster County Conservation District. And sign up to be a Riparian Ranger to spend time in the field helping to maintain those essential riparian areas.
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Stormwater Action Team is ready for action!
Stormwater practices are taking front and center stage in Lancaster County and the Stormwater Action Team has a new direction to embrace the increasing momentum. Please join the team on September 30 at 10 a.m. at Grace Lutheran Church in Lancaster to learn about countywide stormwater activities including new ones with houses of worship, celebrate goals and success, and learn how to increase tracking of stormwater progress.
Reply to this email with questions or for more information.
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Supporting the Chesapeake Resilient Farms Initiative
There’s no questioning Lancaster’s commitment to achieving part of the Chesapeake Bay’s Total Maximum Daily Load reductions by 2025. The closer Lancaster gets to our goals, the more we know that success is possible, especially when it comes to partnering with landowners committed to their land and family legacy, soil health, and economic viability in the agriculture sector. The proposed Chesapeake Resilient Farms Initiative will address the growing gap in available funding that supports farmers in making conservation-conscious choices. We stand ready to get farm-focused practices in the ground through this program in Lancaster County, the Chesapeake Bay watershed’s biggest restoration opportunity.
Learn more about CRFI here.
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EVENTS, RESOURCES & NEWS
Open House at new storefront, Center for Water Quality Excellence
September 30, 2021
Visit the Center for Water Quality Excellence’s storefront for an open house on Thursday, September 30, 2021! The storefront will serve the needs of both Lancaster and York Counties, both in-person and virtually. The Center for Water Quality Excellence is a new, free service to help you make sense of the grant, loan, and public-private partnership programs that support agricultural conservation and urban stormwater practices in Pennsylvania.
Lancaster Farm Tour and Buffer Planting, Choose Clean Water Coalition
October 13, 2021 from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. // Address shared upon registering
The Coalition is sponsoring a farm tour and buffer planting hosted by Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay in Lancaster County on October 13 at 8:30. and we’re looking for volunteers! The day’s agenda includes a discussion with local legislators first thing in the morning followed by the buffer planting at 9am. Coalition members are welcome and other partner orgs can get involved as well.
Equity and Inclusion Projects Specialist, Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay
Application due October 11, 2021
The Equity and Inclusion Projects Specialist is a critical role in advancing the Alliance’s commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice programmatic efforts. The successful candidate will build upon the Alliance’s emerging partnership with Bowie State University and engage other Historically Black Colleges and Universities across the watershed.
Dairy Excellence Grants, Center for Dairy Excellence
Applications due October 15, 2021
The Center for Dairy Excellence is now accepting applications for a grant program that offers up to 50 percent, or a maximum matching level of $5,000, to approved dairy farms. Improvement projects can include anything related to improving dairy farm efficiency, cow comfort, milking facilities, housing facilities or feeding systems. The project should focus on improving milk production per cow and/or enhancing overall farm profitability and efficiency.
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 us for ideas!
Denim & Pearls, Lancaster County Agriculture Council
November 3, 2021 from 5:30-9 p.m.
Denim & Pearls is Lancaster County Agriculture Council’s annual dinner event. Tickets are on sale now!
Legal & Policy Manager, Waterkeepers Chesapeake
Waterkeepers Chesapeake seeks a Legal & Policy Manager, reporting to the Executive Director. The Legal & Policy Manager will contribute to Waterkeepers Chesapeake’s legal and policy presence and effectiveness in the Chesapeake and Coastal Bays watersheds.
Conservation opportunity: A new focus on leased farmland, Bay Journal
Registration Open: Buffer Certificate and Urban Buffer Design Charrette, Chesapeake Bay Landscape Professionals
Chesapeake Bay Landscape Professionals is bringing back its Buffers certificate course in addition to the Urban Buffers Design Charrette “add-on.” These courses will be held on Tuesdays in October and November. The Buffers certificate course is available in Pennsylvania and Virginia. The two-day Urban Buffers course is only available in Virginia. A limited number of partial scholarships is available, provided by generous funding from the James River Association, Penn State University, and RISE.
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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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