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Prince William at Bay Spring 2000 Volume 26,Issue 2
Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program Approved
By John Chambers The Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) is a new federal-state conservation program that provides farmers financial incentives to install and maintain streamside buffers to enhance wildlife habitat and to improve water quality. CREP offers farmers up to 100% cost-share for installing certain conservation practices plus annual rental payments of $75 per acre for a ten- or fifteen-year period, plus additional incentive payments. In addition, an “open-space” easement option with a flat rate payment is being developed. Eligible land must be either cropland that has been cropped two out of the past five years, or pasture land – adjacent to streams, springs, ponds, lakes, or wetlands. Restorable, prior-converted wetlands are also eligible. Buffer requirements are a minimum width of the greater of 35 feet from the top of the stream bank, or 30% of floodplain width, to a maximum width of 300 feet, as long as the buffer strip is within the floodplain. If the buffer strip is pasture, the buffer must be planted to mixed hardwood trees. Cropland buffers may be planted to mixed hardwood trees for a minimum width of 35 feet, with an optional filter strip of native warm season grasses up to 100 feet wide regardless of floodplain shape, but never less than 35 feet wide. CREP buffers must be protected from livestock grazing. Buffers may be mowed once annually, but not hayed. The cost of fencing to exclude livestock and the cost of installing alternative livestock watering facilities, as well as tree planting and grass establishment costs are eligible for cost-share. Participants will receive 75% cost-share for eligible costs, with an additional 25% provided by the Chesapeake Bay Foundation and Ducks Unlimited for installing forested buffers at least 100 feet wide, for wetland restoration, and for any CREP buffer held in a permanent conservation easement. Landowners can sign up for CREP at their local USDA Farm Service Agency office, or contact the Prince William Soil and Water Conservation District for further information and assistance. Volume 26,Issue 2
Special Points of Interest: à More incentives for wildlife habitat in Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program. Page 1 à Values of trees celebrated at many Arbor Day ceremonies. Page 2 à Manure Exchange benefits horse owners, gardeners, and the environment. Page 3 à Web site organizes information of interest to farmers and landowners. Page 4
Arbor Month in Prince William CountyBy Nancy Finucan The Prince William Soil and Water Conservation District hosted the 16th Annual Prince William County Arbor Day Celebration at the McCoart Administration Center on Tuesday, April 4. More than 175 people attended the Arbor Day Poster Contest awards ceremony and tree planting celebration. Joining in the celebration was the Virginia Department of Forestry, Prince William County Board of County Supervisors, and artists, teachers, and principals from Prince William County Schools. Arbor Day readings and songs were contributed by Prince William Academy. White Oak Nursery-American Home Landscape supports Arbor Day each year by donating and planting beautiful trees. This year at least 13 trees were added to public lands around the county. At the Prince William Soil and Water Conservation District’s (PWSWCD) celebration, four trees were planted at Leesylvania State Park to improve the shore line along the Potomac River. An October Glory Maple was planted at the McCoart Complex as part of the county-wide ceremony. PWSWCD Director Jeff Guide planted a Dogwood at McAuliffe Elementary to enhance the landscape along the front of the school. County supervisors also plant trees in their respective magisterial districts. Chairman Connaughton chose Quantico National Cemetery as the site of his tree dedication. Supervisor Barg planted a tree at Kilby Elementary as part of a school assembly/celebration. Supervisor Thompson designated Brentsville District High School as the site of his tree planting. Neabsco Elementary kindergarten classes joined Supervisor Jenkins and planted a Dogwood tree. The student council of Mountain View Elementary planned the ceremony where Supervisor Wilbourn planted a tree. Arbor Day celebrations scheduled in May include Supervisor Caddigan’s tree planting at Montclair Elementary, Supervisor Hill’s planting at the grand opening of the BMX Track, and Supervisor’s Grigg’s planting on a median on Horner Road
Don’t Be Lame. . . Join Us for Our Second Horse Seminar in Late Summer By Kate Norris A second seminar for horse owners is planned for late summer. The organization and content of this seminar will be determined largely by the interests and needs expressed by those who participated in the April 7th “Environmentally Sensitive Horsekeeping” seminar. This approach illustrates the District’s commitment to listen and respond to the needs of the community. Based on initial feedback, many horse owners would like more information about nutrient management. Possible topics include soil and manure nutrient analysis, manure as a fertilizer, manure storage structures, composting methods, and poisonous plant identification in horse pastures. If you would like to suggest additional topics or express an interest in a topic already suggested, please call Kate Norris at (703) 361-1710. Watch your mail for additional details about the date and location of the seminar. Manure Exchange The District’s Manure Exchange Program is aimed at helping both small-acreage horse farms dispose of excess manure and suburban landowners, who can use manure in their gardens and flowerbeds. By contacting the District, landowners can be matched to a farm in their area that would like to give away manure. Those wanting to give away or receive manure through this program can call the District New Conservation Opportunities for Landowners
By John Bell It’s springtime and the right time to be thinking about conservation. Whether you’re a full- or part-time farmer, a horse owner or wildlife enthusiast, there are many ways you can incorporate conservation practices into your land management system. Assistance with installation of these practices is available through a variety of programs, some well known to landowners and some very new. Two new programs include the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) and the Best Management Practices (BMP) Loan Program. Through CREP (see article on page 1), landowners can receive up to 100% cost-share plus annual rental payments on crop and pasture land set aside as a stream buffer to improve water quality. The BMP Loan Program, administered by the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality, offers landowners 3% loans to install BMPs. The total cost of practice installation can be borrowed through this program. The Prince William Soil & Water Conservation District continues to provide technical and financial assistance to landowners wishing to conserve natural resources on their property. Traditional forms of assistance, including cost-sharing and state tax credits, are still available. Seventy-five percent cost sharing is awarded on a competitive basis for the installation of approved conservation practices. A 25% state tax credit is available on a non-competitive basis for approved practices. In order to participate in any of the above programs, your operation must have a Soil & Water Quality Conservation Plan developed and approved by the District. These plans include sections on soil erosion control, soil nutrient management, and pest management, and a variety of maps useful in making land management decisions.
It’s the perfect time to consider how you can improve water quality and other
natural resources through your land management practices.
Call us at 361-1710 for more information.
Church Groups, and Scouts Pick up litter and debris. Earn an Adopt-A-Stream sign for your organization. For more information call 361-1710 .
Adopt-A-Stream
Horsekeeping in the New Millennium
By Kate Norris On April 7th more than 80 local horse owners gathered to learn how environmental concerns such as water quality and erosion can be addressed on horse farms. The “Environmentally Sensitive Horsekeeping” seminar was organized by the District, and featured Alayne Blickle as the keynote speaker. Ms. Blickle’s successful Washington state-based organization, Horses for Clean Water (http://members.aol.com/arblickle), promotes integrating natural resource protection into horse farm management. Her techniques for managing mud, manure, and maintaining ground cover in pastures create a cleaner, healthier environment for horses, their care givers, and the community. Environmental and agricultural education will continue to be a priority in the District’s equine outreach initiative, which is needed in the area (Figure 1). In addition, the District offers technical and financial assistance for the implementation of Best Management Practices (BMPs). District staff is available to meet with the landowner and discuss concerns and objectives. Staff will then combine farm specific data including acreage, number of animals, soil types, soil and manure nutrient levels, Resource Protection Areas (protected streams and ponds), types of forage in the pastures, and the objectives of the operator to create a comprehensive Soil & Water Quality Conservation Plan.
As development in our area continues, many
horse farms are being surrounded by new horseless neighbors. Suburban horse farms
have to address issues that tend to arise in these situations, such as maintaining ground cover in pastures and
applying appropriate manure management for odor and fly control. The District is available
to assist horse farms with these challenges.
Goals and Benefits of the Virginia CREP 1. To help agricultural producers meet nutrient reduction goals in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed in addition to promoting voluntary nutrient reductions in non-Bay watersheds. 2. To achieve the following collective reductions in overall nonpoint source contributions due to agriculture in the affected basins: * Nitrogen –over 600,000 pound per year; * Phosphorus – over 90,000 pounds per year; * Sediment – over 50,000 tons per year; 3. To provide substantial wildlife habitat enhancement for the preservation of natural diversity of the biological resources of the Commonwealth, including threatened and endangered species such as the peregrine falcon and the big-eared bat, which are associated with riparian and wetland habitats.
Virginia Cooperative Extension Offers Comprehensive Web Site for Farmers and Landowners “Farm Financial Issues and Options,” is a web-only publication developed by Gordon Grover and Mike Roberts found at http://www.ext.vt.edu/pubs/agecon/446-500/446-500.html. Virginia farmers can find information on commodity programs, loan programs, conservation programs, risk management programs (crop insurance), and Virginia Cooperative Extension education programs in management. Included in this site are types of funds available, who qualifies, how to apply, and advantages to your business. Links to other internet sites for additional information and access to state and federal agencies are also provided. · Farm Service Agency Loan Programs · Farm Service Agency Commodity Programs · Conservation and Cost-Share Assistance · Crop Insurance Making Good Business Sense · Putting it Together: Risk and Farm Business Management Planning.
Our Mission The mission of the Prince William Soil and Water Conservation District is to provide leadership in the conservation of soil, water and related resources to all Prince William County citizens, through technical assistance, information, and education. Upcoming Events May 20 Prince William County Watersheds and Water Resources: an Open Citizen Forum, 8:30-noon at Osbourn Park Sr. High School, Euclid Avenue, Manassas. Sponsored by the Friends of Prince William Watersheds. Dr. Carl Hershner, Virginia Institute of Marine Science, Dr. Don Kelso, George Mason University, and Fernando Pascal, CH2M Hill are guest speakers. To find out more, or to register, call 703-497-0506 or email watershed@knight-hub.com. Free. May 21 Welcome Back to Leesylvania State Park. Guided hikes, canoe tours, fishing demonstration, Jr. Ranger activities, music, and more available to all. Parking fee of $5 covers all activities. Reservations required for canoe trips. Call 703-670-0372 for information. June 3 Citizens Water Quality Workshop, Audubon Naturalist Society at Manassas National Battlefield Park. Through a slide show and field exploration learn about watersheds, stream ecology, biological monitoring and human impacts. Call Cliff at 703-803-8400. Free June 11 Explore PrinceWilliams’s Streams – Take a closer look at nature in your own backyard. 1:00 – 3:30 p.m. Meet at James S. Long Park on Route 15 in Haymarket for a hike along Catharpin Run. Investigate the stream and surrounding habitats. Free Contact khosen@pecva.org The public is welcome at District meetings, which are held monthly on the 2nd Thursday of the month at 1:30 p.m. in the Prince William Soil and Water Conservation District Conference Room. Please call (703) 361-1710 to confirm that a meeting has not been cancelled or postponed.
Prince William At Bay A newsletter published four times a year by the Prince William Soil and Water Conservation District 9263 Corporate Circle Manassas, Virginia 20110 (703) 361-1710 pwswcd@pwswcd.org Nancy Finucan, Editor Board of Directors Chairman, Melvin D. Bellinger Vice-Chairman, William F. Lawry, III Treasurer, Jeffrey Guide Secretary, Marc T. Aveni Director, Pete Shiner District Staff District Manager, John Bell Conservation Specialists: Jim Bonar Kate Norris John Chambers Education Specialist, Nancy Finucan Administrative Assistant Linda Fay Authorized by the Friends of Jeff Guide |