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
The Ugly Graze-ling
Most of us know the Hans Christian Anderson’s fable about the ugly duckling blossoming into a beautiful swan. This story extends to an unsightly ten acres of my pasture system. This rank, hideous wad of growth has prompted visitors to say, “When ya gonna mow that, it looks ugly?” Like the duckling, I have been belittled for “wasting” grass in favor of my feathered friends but this fairy tale always has a happy ending.
I preface this story by telling my customers, conservation planners and the agricultural world this activity of fallowing land for grassland bird habitat was actually planned and implemented as part of a long term strategy to make or retain more economic, biological, environmental and social wealth. Huh? Yea, this is a conscience decision-making process with a triple bottom line focus to replenish the farm’s ecological bank account....
Read more by the Grass Whisperer on his blog
USC Watershed Implementation Plan Meeting 17 August 2010 10:00 AM until 3:00 at Public Safety Bldg, Multi-Purpose Room,103 Corporate Drive, Owego, NY contact Aaron Ristow for more information
Register for the Stream Investigation, Stabilization, and Design Workshop that will be held September 28-30. Registration is due by 22 September, but space is limited so click here for more details.
The next USC bi-monthly meeting will be in September in Owego, NY. Contact us for more information
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.
Our very busy wetland construction season is underway. Work throughout the basin consists of finalizing projects in 8 targeted watersheds, working on combined wetland and buffer restoration projects, wetland construction on State Forest Land, vernal pool construction in cooperation with SUNY ESF, and a 5-acre wetland mitigation project. We have become truly "vertically and horizontally" integrated with the addition of new construction equipment and the development of a wetland mitigation bank and in-lieu fee draft prospectus. We are continuously searching for new wetland restoration site opportunities. Please visit our wetland construction page to learn how to submit potential sites.
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
