The Upper Susquehanna Coalition is a network of 16 Soil and Water Conservation Districts in New York and 3 Conservation Districts in Pennsylvania. Our mission is to protect and improve water quality and natural resources in the Upper Susquehanna River Basin with the involvement of citizens and agencies through education, partnerships, planning, implementation and advocating for our water resources.
WHAT'S NEW
NEW PROJECT: NYS CFA Wetland Construction and Floodplain Enhancement
The Upper Susquehanna Coalition (USC) of Soil and Water Conservation Districts, through Tioga County SWCD, received a NYS CFA grant for the Southern Tier to construct 120 acres of wetlands and remove 48,000 feet of streamside berms to reconnect the streams to their floodplains... visit our Projects page for more information.
Click Here to view the Madison County district Grazing Newsletter for 2012 and read some great grazing articles!
NEW RESOURCE:
Check out the USC Wetland Program's Online Vernal Pool Field Guide for information on vernal pools and photos of vernal pool residents including frogs, salamanders, and macroinvertebrates, and much more!
Congratulations to our "Grass Whisperer" Troy Bishopp on his recent 2012 Journalism Award from the New York State Agricultural Society!
View a powerpoint (.ppt file 3.4 Mb) of a new Farm Service Agency (FSA) conservation program - CP 39 below, or click here for a brochure on completed projects.
The next USC Meeting
will be held 24 May 2013 at 10:00 a.m. at the Public Safety Bldg, 103 Corporate Drive, Owego, NY 13827
Executive Session from 9 - 10 am.
COVER CROP INITIATIVE
The USC Cover Crop Initiative to
Bring Answers to Producer’s
Questions in the New York
The USC was recently awarded Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG). The goal of this project is to stimulate the utilization of cover crops in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed to assist with basin-wide nutrient and sediment reduction goals. Click here for more information on the project.
The USC has developed Basin Wide Grazing Initiative that promotes prescribed grazing techniques, cow exclusion form streams and riparian buffers. Two Grazing Specialist have been hired and they have begun coordinating several grants that will provide resources of grazing project spread through the USC. A grazing request form was developed to track potential project sites. Interested grazers can contact Aaron Ristow the USC Ag Coordinator.
The USC Stream Team, composed of stream professionals from several member counties, is leading the way to rehabilitate streams in the watershed. Their rigorous technical approach will ensure a high quality restoration product. Members can suggest potential stream restoration projects using this form and interested readers can contact the Team Leader, Mike Lovegreen.
In June 2012 the USC and The Wetland Trust submitted our In-Lieu Fee Program Instrument for the Susquehanna Watershed in New York. In addition to work on the In-Lieu Fee Program, USC staff and partners continue to develop quailty wetland resources, implement off-site mitigation projects, monitor vernal pools and promote vernal pool research, and generally expand wetland awareness and protection throughout the watershed. To view new resources visit our wetland resources page here.
Our GIS (Geographic Information Systems) Program is designed to support and enhance our natural resource projects. High quality topographic, aerial imagery, and site-by-site data promote our watershed modeling and tracking efforts. We are constantly expanding and improving our data resources and capabilities so please contact Chris Yearick, our GIS Specialist for more information.
Upper Susquehanna Coalition
Main Office: 183 Corporate Drive - Owego, NY 13827 - (607) 687-3553
Coordinator: James Curatolo - 4729 State Route 414, Burdett, NY 14818 - (607) 546-2528 jac3@htva.net
