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
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.
Wetland and Grazing Crew Build “Wall to Wall Buffers”
The Tioga County SWCD/Upper Susquehanna Coalition’s Wetland crew knows how to tread lightly on the land when working around sensitive areas. This capability with the right equipment benefitted a recent pond buffer project in Madison County while the men where in the area constructing a wetland complex. Utilizing a skidsteer loader on tracks with an attached post pounder coupled with a timely freeze, “the grass and wetland whisperers”, Troy Bishopp and Ryan Ceruti installed a high-tensile fence excluding dairy heifers from a 2 acre pond in less than ideal conditions. The farmer couldn’t even tell they were there. On the wetland complex site, the equipment and men teamed up to install an eight foot deer fence protecting the newly planted trees. It’s just another example of Districts working together for a common water quality goal and helping each other get conservation in the ground.
Click here to view a series of powerpoints used during the 2nd annual legislative session in July 2011:
This is a document discussing the status of the NY Watershed Improvement Plan (WIP):
Holding a successful pasture walk, an article by Troy Bishop, USC Grazing Specialist
This day-long workshop will present instruction in practical wetland and stream restoration techniques. Participants will learn how to identify drained wetlands and moved streams, and plan for their restoration...
June 29, 2012 (Friday), 9:00-3:30pm
The Next USC Meeting
will be held Friday, June 25, 2012 at 10:00 a.m. at the Public Safety Bldg, 103 Corporate Drive, Owego, NY 13827
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.
After a busy 2010 our wetland team is gearing up for the upcoming field season. Work in 2011 will include projects that combine wetland and buffer restoration, wetland construction on State Forest Land, vernal pool evaluation and education, and watershed analyses to target high quality wetland restoration sites. We will continue to monitor our existing mitigation projects and surge forward in our efforts to develop an in-Lieu fee prospectus for the Susquehanna Watershed in New York. We are continuously searching for new wetland restoration site opportunities. Please visit our wetland construction page to learn how to submit potential sites.
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
