Local Waterway Assessed for Environmental Improvement

Spring 2016
www.fultoncountyconservationdistrict.org
Serving the community since 1945.
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We Conserve—We Protect—We Restore
Local Waterway Assessed for
Environmental Improvement
Scott Alexander, Watershed Specialist
The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection recently visited the McConnellsburg area to examine environmental improvements in the Spring Run watershed, and to determine how those improvements
may be improving stream health and water quality locally. Biological samples of stream life were collected,
along with water samples which were measured for
temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen, and nutrients. Results of the testing will not be known right
away, but all involved were confident water quality in
Spring Run is improving rapidly.
Eliminating livestock access, creating fish habitat and replanting the
streambanks and parts of the floodplain with native trees and shrubs
have greatly enhanced the health of Spring Run.
Inside this issue:
The Fulton County Conservation District has, for years,
been focused on working with landowners to make improvements to the 10 square mile watershed, currently
deemed impaired by agriculture. Spring Run, the main
stem of which stretches from the Great Cove Golf
Course to Webster’s Mill is a unique waterway, fed by a
large number of limestone springs found along its
course.
This cool water results in unique and abundant aquatic
life that can be the food source for hungry trout, as evidenced by the excellent trout fishery found on Big Cove
Creek, below the mouth of Spring Run.
STREAMS: Local Waterway Assessed for
Environmental Improvement, continued
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EDUCATION: 2016 Envirothon
4-5
EDUCATION: Connecting Kids with Their
Environment
6-7
RECYCLING: What You CAN Recycle in Fulton
County (Tear this out and put it on your fridge!)
8-9
RECYCLING: What to Do with Old Paint
10
NEW FACES AT THE OFFICE!
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AGRICULTURE: Spring Cover Crop Field Days
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AGRICULTURE: The Benefits of No-Till
13-14
EROSION & SEDIMENT CONTROL REGULATIONS 15
Ample cool water and fertile limestone soils were also
Looking ahead...
(Story continued on page 3)
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Creating an environmentally and economically sound Fulton County where people want to live, work, and play.
For nearly 70 years, the Fulton County Conservation District (District) has been working behind-the-scenes to
conserve the soil, water, and related natural resources of Fulton County. The District is the second-oldest in the
Commonwealth, formed on December 8, 1945 by the Fulton County Board of Commissioners.
Our Vision
Our vision is our destination – where we are going. The vision of the Fulton County Conservation District is an
environmentally and economically secure Fulton County where people want to live, work, and play. Like many
of you, the Directors and Staff of the District live in Fulton County and are interested in preserving the quality of
life and culture that we enjoy in this rural setting.
Our Mission
Our mission speaks to the heart of what we do – how we get to where we are going. The mission of the Fulton
County Conservation District is to conserve, protect, and restore our environmental health. Our mission will turn
our vision into practice, and create the future we want for our community.
Our Strategic Priorities
The following strategic priorities represent specific, measurable outcomes – what we want to achieve. Over the
next three years, the Fulton County Conservation District will:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Reduce impaired streams by 30%.
Increase the volume of materials recycled by 10%.
Assist 50 farmers in achieving baseline compliance with state environmental regulations.
Increase the promotion and marketing of the District by 25%.
Board of Directors
2016 District Board Meeting Schedule
Wayne MacDonald, Chairman, Public Director
Neill Miller, Vice-Chairman, Farmer Director
2nd Thursday of the month at 10:30 AM
District Conference Room
Russell McLucas, Treasurer, Farmer Director
Larry “Pete” Lynch, Commissioner Representative
Christian Hann, Public Director
January 14, 2016
February 11, 2016
March 10, 2016
April 14, 2016
May 12, 2016
June 9, 2016
July 14, 2016
August 11, 2016
September 8, 2016
October 13, 2016
November 10, 2016
December 8, 2016
Thomas Glenn, Farmer Director
Mark Knepper, Farmer Director
Marvin “Jake” Richards, Public Director
Jason Shives, Public Director
Staff
Phone: 717-485-3547, extension 4
Fax: 717-485-4423
Seleen Shives, ext. 6093
District Manager
Denise Grissinger, ext. 6088
Administrative Assistant
Scott Alexander, ext. 6090
Watershed Specialist
Greg Reineke, ext. 6092
Environmental Education Specialist
Eric Cromer, ext. 6089
Agricultural Specialist
Mike Felix, ext. 6094
Erosion & Sediment Control Technician
Brian Jaymes, ext. 6094
Dirt & Gravel Road Program Specialist
All Board Committee Meetings are held one half-hour
before the regularly scheduled board meeting.
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(Story continued from page 1)
attractive to Native Americans and early European settlers. More
than 250 years of crop production, livestock production, and settlement, have resulted in the degradation of the stream through unintentional inputs of sediment, manure and the nutrients associated
with both.
Improvements implemented by local landowners have included improved manure storage and animal feeding areas, eliminating livestock access to the stream through development of off-stream watering systems, and full stream channel restoration, which includes
eliminating bank erosion, creating fish habitat and replanting the
streambanks and parts of the floodplain with native trees and
shrubs.
Funds to assist landowners in these conservation improvements
have come through private, state and federal grant programs, as
well as the landowner’s dollars.
The State of Pennsylvania is currently reassessing many waterways
of the Commonwealth to determine if those waterways are impaired significantly by human activities. The Federal and state government continue to debate the specific role each should play in
the creation and enforcement of environmental regulations pertaining to water quality, specifically as it relates to agriculture. The specific role Pennsylvania should play in improving the quality of the
Chesapeake Bay by reducing sediment and nutrient inputs to
streams is also a hot topic in Harrisburg and Washington D.C.
The goal of clean water greatly
improves the rural quality of life
for all Fulton County residents.
- Scott Alexander
Locally, the goal of clean water, suitable for fishing and swimming,
greatly improves the rural quality of life for all Fulton County residents. Achieving those goals means keeping top soil, soil nutrients,
manure and fertilizer on the farm rather than in our waterways. Fortunately successfully preventing pollution can improve
soil health and help the farmers’ bottom line. Helping citizens understand their obligations under the law, and finding cost effective
ways to implement beneficial changes is the fun and rewarding
part.
Scott displays a rather large golden stonefly larva
(Family: Perlidae). Each type of aquatic life provides a
clue about the overall health of the ecosystem. This
critter is a good sign of a healthy stream ecosystem.
stay in the loop
“Like” the District on Facebook to receive the
latest conservation news and information!
We have a great website with more information about
who we are and what we do - check it out!
www.fultoncountyconservationdistrict.org
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Southern Fulton “2 B Champs”
Win 2016 Envirothon
Greg Reineke, Environmental Education Specialist
One of the best ways to ensure
the continued, wise use of our
natural resources is to educate
people.
- Greg Reineke
Teams from the three Fulton
County School Districts met at
Cowan’s Gap State Park on a
blustery day to compete in the
2016 Franklin-Fulton County Envirothon competition. The Fulton
County and Franklin County Conservation Districts teamed up to
coordinate the event. Teams
from
McConnellsburg
High
School (MHS), Southern Fulton
High School (SFHS), and Forbes
Road High School (FRHS) represented Fulton County.
Southern Fulton High School led
the pack this year, sweeping the
top three places.
Last year the SFHS Team “2 B
Champs” took second place, but
this year they are the
Champs. This year’s winning
team is comprised of Nathan
Leedy, Logan Beatty, Nick Mason,
Devin Spade and Nathan Mellott.
“2 B Champs” will now represent
Fulton County at the State Envirothon Competition.
Each member of the first place
team received a first place medallion, a certificate of achievement and a Fulton County Envirothon t-shirt. Winning the local
competition allows the team to
represent Fulton County at the
State Envirothon competition.
Second place at the Fulton County Envirothon was taken by the
SFHS “Eco Freaks” made up of
Connor Elbin, Joshua Beale,
Cooper Ritz, Ethan Pelton, and
Casey Spade.
The third place team, SFHS
“Fresh Men” included Liam Flaherty, Mitchell Potter, Dylan Ensor, and Zach Scott.
Teacher Joe Hollenshead is the
academic advisor for the SFHS
teams, along with Junior High
teacher Van Duncan.
Pictured left to right: Advisor Joe Hollenshead, Nathan Leedy, Devin Spade, Nathan Mellott,
Logan Beatty and Nick Mason
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This year the 33nd Annual Pennsylvania State Envirothon will be
held May 24-25 at Susquehanna
University.
The SFHS “2 B
Champs” team will compete
against other Envirothon teams
from almost all Counties in the
State. Environmental Education
Funds, raised by the Fulton County Conservation
District through their annual tree sale, help pay
the team’s way to the PA State Envirothon competition.
Second Place Team:
“EcoFreaks”
Southern Fulton High School
The Envirothon is designed to raise student awareness and interest in nature, natural resource management and the Environmental Sciences. Each
team consists of up to five high school students
who prepare for the event through the course of
the school year, studying in five areas; Aquatics,
Forestry, Soils and Land Use, Wildlife, and a current issue that changes annually. This year the current issue is “Invasive Species”. Months of indoor
and outdoor preparation culminate on the day of
the County Envirothon, when students visit five
testing stations, hoping to earn up to 100 points at
each station. The top winner in each county advances to the PA State Envirothon.
The Envirothon, now an international competition
featuring 45 states and 8 Canadian provinces, had
its beginnings in Fulton County when local citizens
began the Enviro-Olympics more than 30 years
ago. This year, over 100 Franklin and Fulton County students participated in the two- county cooperative event.
The Conservation District extends its thanks to the
state and federal agencies that administer the Envirothon stations. Those agencies include the
Pennsylvania Game Commission, PA Fish and Boat
Commission, PA DCNR Bureau of Forestry, Penn
State Extension and the USDA Natural Resources
Conservation Service. The District would also like
to thank Cowan’s Gap State Park for use of their
facility.
Third Place Team:
“Fresh Men”
Southern Fulton High School
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Connecting Kids with Their Environment
Seleen Shives, District Manager
Sunny days and warmer temperatures have a tendency to bring on
a touch of “Spring Fever,” as kids (and big kids) of all ages are antsy
and tired of being cooped up inside!
Environmental Education Specialist, Greg Reineke, led McConnellsburg Elementary School (MES) 1st Graders on an expedition of
Secrist Springs to explore the wonders of life found on the land and
in the water. What kid doesn’t like to dig around in the soil and
splash around in the stream?
Watershed Specialist, Scott Alexander, demonstrated the watershed
concept to MES 4th Graders using the District’s EnviroScape®. The
EnviroScape® provides a hands-on, interactive demonstration of the
sources and effects of water pollution -- and allows you to demonstrate ways to prevent it.
See what we’re up to
in the community by
following the Fulton
County Conservation
District on Facebook!
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McConnellsburg Recycling Center - 610 East North Street, McConnellsburg
Forbes Road High School - 143 Red Bird Drive, Waterfall
Bethel Township Building - 289 Long Hollow Road, Warfordsburg
Old Thompson Township Building - 4256 Timber Ridge Road, Big Cove Tannery
Licking Creek Township Building - 966 Forrestdale Road, Harrisonville
Hustontown Country Market - 8933 Waterfall Road, Hustontown
Several places in and around Fulton County are
happy to take your used oil, if it is free of water and
debris. Take your used oil to the following local
establishments during regular business hours. We
also recommend that you call them ahead to verify:
Detwiler Auto Repair: 717-987-3147
2435 South Madden Road, near Hustontown
Bard’s Automotive: 717-573-4244
6583 Great Cove Road, just south of Needmore
McConnellsburg Motor & Implement: 717-485-3181
875 Lincoln Way East, in McConnellsburg
Breezewood Transfer Station: 814-735-3035
820 South Breezewood Road, just south of Breezewood
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PLASTIC BAGS
Recycling in Fulton County is so easy! You do not have to sort your
household recyclable items! Just toss them all into the bin! All materials
should be loose - not bagged, bundled, or boxed. Please empty and rinse
all containers and flatten and break down all cardboard boxes. Contact
the Conservation District for a more detailed brochure of what can and
cannot be placed in the single-stream bin.
ELECTRONICS
USED MOTOR OIL
PAPER, PLASTIC CONTAINERS,
METAL CANS & GLASS JARS
AND BOTTLES
WHAT YOU CAN RECYCLE IN
Drop-off sheds for household electronics ar
located at several of the same sites where
single-stream recycling bins are located:
Beside the Bethel Township Building
Beside the old Thompson Township Building
Behind the old Forbes Road High School
At the McConnellsburg Recycling Center
for household electronics are
everal of the same sites where
m recycling bins are located:
Bethel Township Building
old Thompson Township Building
Forbes Road High School
onnellsburg Recycling Center
HOUSEHOLD
HAZARDOUS WASTE
All types of plastic bags can be
recycled at the Giant Food Store in
McConnellsburg, including plastic
shopping bags from any store,
bread bags, storage bags, etc.).
There is a collection box located
just inside the doors where the
shopping carts are located. Please
ensure that all plastic bags are
empty, clean and dry.
USED CLOTHING
ECYCLE IN FULTON COUNTY
There are clothing bins located at a few sites in the
county where you can take clean clothing, shoes,
accessories (belts, handbags, etc.), bedding, towels,
and other household textile. You can find these red
bins at the following recycling sites:
McConnellsburg Recycling Center
Bethel Township Building
Old Thompson Township Building
These items are collected for
re-use. Even if the item is
stained, torn, or overly worn,
it has a use. Please place
clean materials in a bag
before placing them in the
bin.
Bring your hazardous
materials to our annual
Household Hazardous &
Pesticide Waste Collection
Event and we'll get rid of
them for you. This event is
usually held on a Saturday
in September. Stay tuned
to the Fulton County News
or check out the District’s
website or Facebook page
later in the summer for
more details.
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OTHER ITEMS
R&D Recycling, located at 27438
Great Cove Road, 7 miles north of
McConnellsburg, accepts a number
of items including:
Aluminum
Batteries
Steel
A/C Parts
Transformers
Copper
Brass
Lead
Electric Motors
Stainless Steel
Carbide
For more information, contact
R&D Recycling at
717-987-3884.
What to Do With Old Paint
Greg Reineke, County Recycling Coordinator
Recycling in Fulton County is so
easy! You do not have to sort your
recyclable items! Just toss them all
into the bin! Even so, it’s very
important to recycle properly.
- Greg Reineke
Perhaps you are finally cleaning
out the garage, the basement,
or an out building and you find
cans of old paint. How do you
properly and safely dispose of
these cans? It all depends!
First, if the paint is still good,
try to give it away to friends,
neighbors, or local charities for
use on their projects. If you
cannot give it away and need to
dispose of it, you must first determine if it is a latex or an oil
based paint.
If the paint is latex (water
based), you can safely dispose
of the paint in the garbage
once it is dry. If the can does
not say “latex”, look for the
words “soap and water cleanup”. To facilitate the drying of
the paint, open the cans and
mix the paint with some claybased kitty litter or a similar
material that will absorb the
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paint. Leave the open cans in a
covered area away from children and pets and allow the
paint to dry. Once the paint
has dried completely, it can be
safely disposed of in your normal household garbage. Please
do not burn it!
If the paint is oil based, it must
be disposed of at a Household
Hazardous Waste Collection. If
the can does not say “oil”, look
for the word “alkyd”. Bring
your oil based (alkyd) paints to
the annual Household Hazardous & Pesticide Waste Collection, normally held on a Saturday in September. Stay tuned
to the News, our website,
www.fultoncountyconservation
district.org, or our Facebook
page for more information on
the date and what can be collected.
District welcomes part-time program
specialist and summer intern
Meet Jesse Swope, Intern
The District hired intern Jesse Swope, a college student and graduate of McConnellsburg High School, to assist District Staff
with a variety of projects over the summer.
Jesse will be assisting with biological sampling of local streams, as well as conduct
stream surveys on ag-impaired waterways
in the county. Other projects will include
soil sampling and chlorophyll meter testing
on local farms.
Jesse is currently enrolled at Muskingham
University in Ohio, majoring in Biology.
Meet Brian Jaymes, Program Specialist
The District recently welcomed technician Brian Jaymes, in a parttime specialist position, to provide additional support through the
expanded Dirt & Gravel Road program.
Brian is a graduate of James Madison University and holds a professional certification through the Nation Institute for Certification in
Engineering Technologies. Brian is a resident of the Hill Valley in
Huntingdon County and worked for Cumberland County Conservation District for 25 years, prior to his recent retirement. Brian has
experience with both the Dirt & Gravel Road Program and the Erosion & Sediment Control Program. We are pleased to be putting
him to work closer to home. Brian has fit right in with the District
staff and is already meeting with township officials.
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Spring Cover Crop
Field Days:
Return to the Hendershot Test Plot
Prior year tillage radish remnants and void left behind
to increase infiltration of nutrients and water.
Rhizobium nodules convert nitrogen gas from the atmosphere into a form of nitrogen
that plants can use for growth.
NRCS District Conservationist, Tyson Myers, and landowner Andrew Hendershot examine the roots of hairy
vetch for the presence of rhizobium nodules.
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The Benefits of No-Till
Eric Cromer, Ag Specialist
The benefits of no-till are as varied as the many aspects of
farming itself. Conservation-wise, there is less soil erosion.
Agriculturally, water infiltration and soil holding capacity increase so plants are less affected by dry spells. Ecologically,
soil quality and soil life improve. Economically, fewer trips
over the field save fuel and time. So what do those benefits
really mean? And how does it affect your farming operation?
Studies show that a no-till system is more profitable than other kinds of tillage systems if done right. The major difference
is, with a no-till system, you do a burn down spray to prepare
for planting; with a tillage system, you do your tillage to prepare for planting. All other costs are similar. So, the cost
differences are fuel, additional equipment, maintenance of
that equipment and the time spent to do the tillage operations versus one extra spray, the fuel and the time it takes.
So, you can save some money. How else can no-till help you?
After a no-till system has been established, your fields will
have increased water infiltration and a higher water-holding
capacity than with tillage systems. This is due to better soil
health and improved soil quality. Soil health is a gauge of the
stability of the organisms in the soil ecosystem. Soil quality
includes soil health but also takes into account the chemical
aspects of the soil, such as pH. This takes time to improve
which begins with plant residues that can take three to five
years to build on the surface of the ground. The soils ecosystem has to rebuild itself, which is done by earthworms, fungi
and bacteria populations increasing. Annual tillage destroys
the habitat of these organisms, reducing their numbers.
Long term no-till reduces soil erosion. Crop residue protects
the soil surface from the impact of raindrops. When a
raindrop hits crop residue, the energy is dispersed by the residue. Without the residue, the raindrop hits bare soil and
causes soil particles to become suspended in the drop. In addition, higher infiltration rates result in less runoff during
storms. When runoff does occur, it carries less soil because
the soil organisms bind particles together so soil is not easily
picked up by moving water.
(Story continued on page 14)
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Providing technical and
educational assistance to the
farming community is a very
important part of what we do
here in the County.
- Eric Cromer
(Story continued from page 13)
Cover crops also reduce erosion, increase residue and
help no-till systems to develop faster. Cover crops
should be used in low residue situations such as after
corn silage. When the roots of cover crops decay channels are formed, increasing infiltration. The extra organic matter provides a steady supply of food for the soil
organisms in the early years of no-till.
Another added benefit of no-till is more flexibility regarding access to fields. As soil structure forms, you will
find you can access fields sooner after a rain. Fields will
be firm but not hard, and they will not rut as easily.
As you can see there are many benefits of no-till. Soil
erosion decreases. Water infiltration and soil holding
capacity increase so plants are less affected by dry
spells. Soil quality and soil life are improved. Fewer
trips over the field save fuel and time. No-till may also
help you get your crops planted on time in unusual
weather.
The mission of the Fulton County Conservation District is
to conserve, protect and restore our environmental
health. Improve the environmental health of your operation by planting no-till. If you have any questions about
trying a no-till system, contact Eric Cromer, Ag Specialist,
at 717-325-6089.
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District to Conduct
Farm Inspections
Seleen Shives, District Manager
Conservation Districts across the state are being required by the PA Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to conduct inspections on farms located within the Chesapeake Bay Watershed. All of Fulton County is located within the Bay Watershed and
as such, the District must complete 75 inspections
each year. Initially, we will be making sure that ag
operations have the written plans that are required
by state law: Manure Management Plans and Ag
Erosion & Sediment Control Plans (or up-to-date
Conservation Plans). Stay tuned for more info.
Are you in
compliance?
short & sweet
EROSION & SEDIMENT CONTROL REGULATIONS
the what & why
What is regulated? State regulations require anyone doing earth moving activities to install and maintain
Best Management Practices to reduce erosion and the chance for waters to become polluted with sediment.
What is an earth moving activity? A construction or other human activity that disturbs the surface of the
land. This includes land clearing and grubbing, grading, excavations, embankments, land development, agricultural plowing or tilling, operation of animal heavy use areas, timber harvesting activities, road maintenance
activities, oil and gas activities, well drilling, mineral extraction and the moving, depositing, stockpiling, or storing of soil, rock or earth materials.
What are Best Management Practices? Best Management Practices (BMPs) are controls that are installed to
reduce erosion and the chance for waters to become polluted with sediment.
Why are earth moving activities regulated?
To keep our streams clean!
the requirements
Minimum requirements: Erosion and sediment control BMPs must be installed and maintained for all earth
moving activities, even activities disturbing less than 5,000 square feet. BMPs must be installed before earth
moving starts.
If the earth moving activity will disturb 5,000 square feet or more: Erosion and sediment control BMPs must
be installed and maintained AND a written Erosion & Sediment Control (E&S) Plan must be prepared. The
written plan does not have to be reviewed and approved by the Conservation District, unless the township requires it. If approval is required by the township, the plan must be approved before earth moving starts.
If the earth moving activity is located in a High Quality (HQ) or Exceptional Value (EV) watershed: Erosion
and sediment control BMPs must be installed and maintained AND a written Erosion and Sediment Control
(E&S) Plan must be prepared for the earth moving activity.
If the earth moving activity will disturb 1 acre or more: Erosion and sediment control BMPs must be installed and maintained, a written Erosion and Sediment Control (E&S) Plan must be prepared AND the project
will require a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Permit. The NPDES permit application
package must be submitted to the Conservation District for review and approval before earth moving starts.
Please contact the Conservation District if the earth moving activity will disturb 1 acre or more.
QUESTIONS??? Please contact our Erosion & Sediment Control Technician,
Mike Felix, at 717-485-3547, extension 6094 or 814-623-7900, extension 4.
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Presorted Standard
US Postage
PAID
McConnellsburg, PA
Permit No. 2
Return Service Requested
216 N. 2nd Street, Suite 15
McConnellsburg, PA 17233
The
Mailing
Address
Goes
Here
Looking ahead...

2016 Household Hazard Waste & Pesticide Collection Event This annual event is usually held on a Saturday in September. Stay
tuned to the Fulton County News later in the summer for more info.

2016 Youth Ag Expo - Every fall, the District holds this event for all county sixth graders at a local farm within the county to teach kids
about a variety of topics related to agriculture.

2017 Ag Winter Meeting - Normally held in February at the Johnston Farm on Back Run Road just south of McConnellsburg

2017 Tree Sale Orders - Stay tuned to the Fall edition of Conservation Corner for next year’s order form and product descriptions.
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