Agriculture Workgroup                                      Back to Organization

 

 

Participants

Open to anyone!

Current membership includes:

Aqua Pennsylvania Berks County Conservation District Berks County Farm Bureau
Chester County Conservation District Countryview Family Farms PA Department of Environmental Protection
Environmental Protection Agency Region III Friends of the Wissahickon Hay Creek Watershed Association
Lebanon County Conservation District Lehigh County Conservation District Montgomery County Conservation District
Natural Resource Conservation Service Pennsylvania Farm Bureau Pennsylvania State Cooperative
Philadelphia Water Department Reading Sewer and Water Authority Western Berks Water Authority

 

Goal

 

Prevent and reduce agricultural impacts on the water quality of the Schuylkill River

 

 

Objectives

 

·          Protect ten miles of streams through buffers or other best management practices by 2010

·          Complete and implement 36 conservation plans by 2010

 

 

 Strategies

 

·          Assess and leverage opportunities for funding from the state, federal, and local programs for BMP implementation 

·          Explore and implement market based strategies, nutrient trading for example, that will support BMP installation and farming in the watershed  

·          Expand the workgroup's capacity to track, monitor, and conduct outreach related to  BMPs

 

 

 Accomplishments

 

·          In 2006 workgroup partners installed 25,528 feet of stream bank fencing and 5,769 feet of streamside plantings on nine farm parcels in Berks and Lebanon  Counties.

·          Workgroup members sought and received $50,000 from Exelon to stabilize two stream banks, reduce erosion and improve habitat for aquatic life.

·          The workgroup helped multiple farm parcels move closer to achieving the Pennsylvania Environmental Agriculture Conservation and Certification of Excellence.

 

 

 

Before BMP Installation After installation of stream bank fencing BMP

 

For more information, contact Lyn O'Hare of the Berks County Conservation District at (610) 372-4657 X222 or cohare@countyofberks.com.

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