Newsletter

Archives

Well, winter is almost over and spring is almost here, we’re at that in between time of the seasons. In Vermont it’s called Mud season. I’ve been President of the OWA for almost two years now, and my term is almost over.

Over the last two years, or eight changes of season, I’ve been very lucky to work with some very dedicated and knowledgeable people within our Watershed. Along with the many accomplishments noted later in the newsletter, our Board has worked tirelessly to write grants to increase the funding needed to continue the work the Association is committed to. Raising money is a hard job, and the downturn in the economy has dealt all nonprofits a hard blow. In the months to come, more regulations will be coming from the EPA and DEP to improve water quality in the Chesapeake Bay.

Our mission statement reads: “To restore and protect the natural resources of the scenic Octoraro creek and to preserve and protect its farmlands, forest, and rural heritage through education, outreach, restoration, and community stewardship.” The last two words say it best, “community stewardship.” We all need to chip in from time to time and lend a hand to get goals met. Whether it be a monetary donation or volunteering time, the OWA needs the community’s help to reach these goals.

The Octoraro Watershed Association is one of the oldest and most respected in this part of the country. It can and will remain that way with the community’s help and involvement.

Sincerely

Ed Thayer (mteden@epix.net)

President’s Message

Newsletter

Spring 2010

Celebrating 43 years of preserving and protecting the natural and historic resources of the Octoraro

You are cordially invited to attend the Octoraro Watershed Association’s Annual Dinner Meeting

Thursday April 22nd, 2010 at Black Rock Retreat, Route 472, Quarryville, PA

Activities begin at 5:30 pm. Dinner is at 6:30 pm

Guest Speakers: Rupert Rossetti, OWA, and Bryan Seipp, Center for Watershed Protection, will update us on the Stone Run Watershed Assessment.

· Our members & volunteers

· Our Amish supporters

· The Chester Water Authority for providing our office space and much additional support

· Alcoa

· The Brandywine Conservancy

· The Claneil Foundation

· The Steinman Foundation

· The William Penn Foundation

· Herr Foods Inc.

· The Octoraro Nursery, for donating native trees for riparian buffer plantings

There is definitely an increased focus by the regulatory agencies to improve agricultural practices in the watershed. The goals for reduction of nitrates, phosphates and sediment loading to the Chesapeake Bay have not been reached. Consequently EPA and DEP have targeted the Agricultural community to improve farming practices.

One of the tributaries in the Lancaster County portion of our watershed has already been targeted for higher regulation, and we expect this trend to continue in the coming years.

OWA will continue to work with the Conservation district and our other partners to provide information and assistance to farmers that will help them meet the new standards.

Although 2009 was challenging for funding and operations, OWA continued to expand our outreach especially to the agricultural community in the watershed.

Through the generosity of the Claneil Foundation, we had additional assistance for operational costs this year.

We have also received anonymous gifts and small donations from farmers that we have assisted in preserving their farms. This has been a new and successful funding stream. Still the challenges of funding are in the forefront.

The Stone Run Watershed Assessment, led by Rupert Rossetti, has been one of our highlights. Including the Cecil County portion of our watershed has always been a challenge, and this grant has brought new awareness to us and to the County.

· Visited 180 Amish farms with Henry Beiler and David Fisher

· Assisted in the preservation of 6 Amish farms

· Assisted Lancaster & Chester Soil Conservation Districts in conservation plan writing and implementation of Best Management Practices

· Assisted 3 Amish farms to cost-share on stream bank fencing projects

· Received private donations from anonymous donors and a number of Amish farmers whose farms we helped to preserve.

· Prepared and distributed more than 480 Amish handout materials

· Submitted 6 matching grants to continue these programs

Newsletter Spring 2010

Our Mission: To restore and protect the natural resources of the scenic Octoraro Creek and to preserve and protect its farmlands, forest, and rural heritage through education, outreach, restoration, and community stewardship.

The Gardens of the Octorara

7th Annual Garden Tour

Tour private gardens in the northern tier of the watershed and support their three public libraries.

Saturday, June 5, 2010

10:00am to 4:00pm

www.gardensofoctorara.com

Stream Bank Fencing on the Octoraro

This is one of many practices used to improve water quality throughout the Bay watershed.

Over the years, OWA has assisted in fencing more than 19 miles of streams.

As I sit at the computer preparing to add my contribution to our association’s newsletter, spring edition, I glanced out the window to observe our third major snow storm of the winter. Are we really going to experience that “monster” storm in March everyone is talking about?

With all of this past winter’s snow, what happens during the big “meltdown”? How will that affect a stream, especially the stream corridor? Stream corridor management is most closely associated with preventing erosion caused when livestock over-graze or walk on stream banks or when a crop field is worked too closely to a stream bank’s edge. However, with all of the snow we have experienced and the excess water going into our streams because of melt, stream bank management can be a weather and not a livestock or farming problem. For those of us who are not livestock or crop farmers and have a stream running through our property, stream corridor management is just as important to us as it is on our neighboring farms.

As the snowpack melts, one cannot control the volume going into the stream, but one can take preventive measures to help preserve our stream bank from damage caused by the volume and

velocity of the flow. Two easy management practices the homeowner can incorporate would be the development of a buffer zone or stream bank stabilization projects.

One management practice would be the establishment of a buffer zone between the stream and open lot area. Normally a buffer is 10 feet wide on either side of the stream, but with a small lot, this distance could be reduced to 6 feet. Although buffers are normally associated in areas of open farmland or pastures, they could work very well on smaller areas to slow the runoff. Use of native plants species will provide a healthier in-stream habitat.

The other practice a homeowner could use would be stream bank stabilization by placing field stone or logs along the bank. These are designed to manipulate water flow, making the area more attractive to aquatic life while stabilizing the bank.

Whatever practice you use, the efforts of your careful stewardship will not stop at your property line. Your downstream neighbors will appreciate your efforts. Bring on spring!

Newsletter Spring 2010

The Good Side of Snow Cont’d

Spring is here and the thoughts of snow are fast melting away! Here are some practical observations to help protect your groundwater and local streams from contamination:

1. Avoid bare soil. Leave crop residues, cover crops, mulch, anything to protect and keep the valuable nutrients on your own property, not downstream.

2. Read the hands-on book "Weedless Gardening" by Lee Reich

3. Install a water recharge or “rain” garden http://www.lancasterwatersheds.org/Rain%20gardens.pdf

4. Soil test fields and lawns before applying fertilizers

5. Install and maintain grass waterways

6. Fence out animals from streams

7. Check septic systems

8. Test your own well water, for more info see Penn State's Master Well Owner Network's website. http://mwon.cas.psu.edu/

9. Recycle, recycle, recycle!

10. Compost, compost, compost!