2014 larry innovative ag

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

Connecting People to Nature!

Presenter

Presentation Notes

Children with ADD symptoms function better following outdoor activities Daily doses of nature enhances our ability to focus IN a recent study only 6% of kids ages 9-13 play outside on their own Studies show that kids with early exposure to the out of doors have less stress, better concentration, more creativity and higher self-esteem Kids who have spent time outdoors in nature are more inclined to protect these places as they grow older Most 8 year olds can identify 25% more of the Pokemon characters than wildlife species Trees near inner-city housing bring less procrastination and better coping skills.

Presenter

Presentation Notes

Invite them to ground breaking tomorrow at noon.

AIR ENERGY LAND

WASTE WATER

Presenter

Presentation Notes

We have copies of the report here with us tonight.

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!

2014 larry innovative ag

Environment

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