2014 larry innovative ag
DESCRIPTION
Lawrence E. Lloyd ( Senior Ecologist ), at the Berks ConservancyTRANSCRIPT
www.berks-conservancy.org
Innovative Agriculture Workshop
The Berks Conservancy is a Private 501(c)(3) conservation organization that has been serving the Berks County community since 1974. Our headquarters are located in the city’s historic Waterworks Building on 11th Street in Reading.
The Berks Conservancy is vital to the wellbeing of our community:
• Land trust • Protection of our Water • Urban Gardens • Connecting People to Nature &
Education
Land Protection
•Conservation Easements
•Conservancy Preserves
•Trail Easements
Protecting the Quality of our Drinking Water
Protecting the Quality of our Drinking Water
Connecting People to Nature!
AIR ENERGY LAND
WASTE WATER
Best Management Practices (BMPs): Implementation Strategies and Funding
Opportunities
Model for Selection of Focus Areas – MIDDLE SCHUYLKILL Cluster
Sourcewater Protection Plans & Implementations
with insights from Ag BMP, priority landscapes and
land conservation sections of the plans.
Impaired Stream Segments (303d
list)
Availability of match funding
Past efforts; completed projects
Kinds of Places: Existing Ag
Production, Ag zoning, Preserved
Farms
Current Projects (pipeline)
Synergy (where people are working)
Landowner Willingness
FOCUS AREAS
• Implement Ag BMPs within the Focus area (Maiden Creek watershed) to enhance and restore ecological integrity to selected watersheds.
• Develop pilot areas on 2 selected watersheds to test and demonstrate value and efficacy of BMP installation.
• Stage incubator areas in select watersheds to prepare pipeline for on the ground ag BMP outreach and installation.
Restoration Strategies
1. Raise awareness of work and importance of the restoration and demonstration projects.
2. Work with select local educational institutions to develop demonstration projects to encourage understanding of local watersheds. 3. Work with select local municipalities to develop demonstration projects and encourage understanding of local watersheds 4. Work with drinking water providers and sewer authorities to insure source water protection plan creation and implementation.
Engagement Strategies
Monitoring Strategies 1. Develop a comprehensive database for storing and
sharing local WC data to include DEP319, SAN, MS, source water protection plans etc.
2. In stream monitoring of agricultural BMPs to: a. improve water chemistry by reducing nutrient and sediment in puts b. reduce stream temperatures c. observe changes in macro invertebrate communities d. observe changes in fishery and wild trout recovery e. demonstrate stream health improvements as observed by the PADEP Improving
Waters program f. generate data at a level to being impaired waters discussion
Sustainable Food and Water Supplies
Nutrient Capture and Soil Health
Whole Farm Approach
Funding Programs
If you are interested in gaining compliance with your Conservation Plan and Nutrient Management Plan requirements and installing the necessary Best Management Practices (BMPs), then we will try assist you with procuring the investments to make your farm a Conservation Model.
www.berks-conservancy.org
Thank You!