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NRCS New York News

Updated: 06/19/2008

This area of the NRCS New York Web site will provide you with the latest updates to events and information regarding NRCS New York.


Current news stories


Striving for Excellence in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed

The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) have forged an important partnership to assist forest landowners make educated decisions in the management of their land and to ensure protection of the Chesapeake Bay Watershed.

Benefiting from an opportunity in the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), New York State landowners can receive financial and technical assistance to create and enhance conservation practices on their wooded lands. The practices include, but are not limited to, forest health thinning, crop tree release, and light density clearing. These actions go a long way by ensuring that area wildlife habitats, water quality, and erosion control are maintained at the highest level.

Doug Whittaker describes his crop tree release method, for this apple tree, to NY DEC Forester Matt Swayze.

Doug Whittaker describes his crop tree release method, for this apple tree, to NY DEC Forester Matt Swayze.

Doug Whittaker is the perfect example of a landowner benefiting from this program. He exemplifies the purest attributes of a lifetime conservationist and land user, although he is relatively new to this profession. Doug is a retired firefighter, having proudly served 33 years protecting his community and educating others on fire safety. It was not until 22 years ago that he decided to now dedicate himself to caring for the environment and protecting the land he now calls home.

“I consider myself the luckiest man alive to be able to wake up and work on this beautiful land,” boasted Whittaker.

He has since made use of every NRCS and New York DEC program available to him, to ensure that he leaves this land to his son in better shape than when he first bought it. His current goal is to help release the numerous apple trees on his land, to ensure a nutrient-rich and abundant food source for the wildlife that also call his property home. With a DEC Forest Stewardship Plan in place, he is able to receive financial assistance in completing this and other forestland conservation activities on his land.

“It isn’t just for the financial incentive. The education that NRCS and DEC provides allowed me to do great things for this land, which is something very important to me,” added Whittaker.

Doug has also gone above and beyond just the financial-incentives programs that are available to him by creating natural wetlands throughout his 325 acres to ensure a safe habitat for local wildlife. He has worked with non-government organizations like Ducks Unlimited to ensure that his duck populations can thrive. And has allowed numerous educational groups to practice conservation activities on his land, including Cornell University students, to foster new thought on Helping People Help the Land.

Matt Swayze, NY DEC Forester, Suzette Kocher, Cortland County District Conservationist, Doug Whittaker, and his son, discuss his Forest Stewardship Plan.

(Left to Right) Matt Swayze, NY DEC Forester, Suzette Kocher, Cortland County District Conservationist, Doug Whittaker, and his son, discuss his Forest Stewardship Plan.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“At the beginning I only took from the land but now I feel good that I am giving something back. This is a win-win situation for everyone. Our eco-system benefits, our local habitat can thrive, and the government and my children benefit as well,” Whittaker concluded, with smile.


Ms. Kathleen Anderson has been an excellent conservationist in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed as well. You can view her story and learn about our forestland conservation program, in cooperation with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, by clicking on the fact sheet. 

This document requires Adobe Acrobat.

For Striving for Excellence in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed (PDF; 226 KB)
A cooperative NRCS and DEC Fact Sheet.

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USDA Official Provides Expertise at International Conference

Regional Assistant Chief Richard Coombe. Coombe brought his expertise in watershed protection and planning to discussions at the Global Katoomba Conference held June 9-10 in Washington, DC. USDA image.

Regional Assistant Chief Richard Coombe. Coombe brought his expertise in watershed protection and planning to discussions at the Global Katoomba Conference held June 9-10 in Washington, DC. USDA image.

Syracuse, New York, June 10, 2008 — A U.S. Department of Agriculture official served as a panelist at the Global Katoomba Conference, an international conference on market-based conservation, held at the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of Natural History June 9-10.

Its international Web site describes the Global Katoomba Conference as an annual meeting held by the Katoomba Group, an international working group composed of leading experts from forest and energy industries, research institutions, the financial world, and environmental Non-Government Organizations dedicated to advancing markets for some of the ecosystem services provided by forests – such as watershed protection, biodiversity habitat, and carbon storage.

Richard Coombe, Regional Assistant Chief for Natural Resources Conservation Service’s East Region, shared his expertise as a member of the team that worked to revitalize the New York City Watershed several years ago. As the Founding Chair and CEO of the Watershed Agricultural Council, Inc. from 1993 – 2003, Coombe was instrumental in implementing a comprehensive planning approach to watershed protection in the 1.2 million acre New York City Watershed, a vital water source for over nine million residents. 

The New York City Watershed served as the perfect example, as a prototype for effective water quality trading, because it demonstrates effectively how local voluntary efforts can solve environmental problems. 

Much of the conference focused on the potential for market-based conservation in the 64,000-square mile Chesapeake Bay Watershed, which covers parts of Delaware, Maryland, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia.

This year’s Global Katoomba Conference focused on the current scope and potential of ecosystem markets – carbon, water and bio-diversity – to address environmental concerns. Conference participants’ goals were to develop strategies to solve the urgent environmental issues faced by the world today. More than 600 individuals and groups from around the world participated in this important event.

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Funding Opportunity to Address Wildlife Habitat Concerns

Picture of a pond constructed to provide improved wildlife habitat.

Syracuse, New York, June 9, 2008 — The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is excited to announce that additional funding for the Wildlife Habitat Incentive Program (WHIP) is available for this calendar year starting today through July 1, 2008. 

This incentive-based program, which was enacted in 1996 as part of the Federal Agriculture Improvement Reform Act, is a voluntary opportunity for agricultural producers and private landowners to address natural resource concerns in their operations. In New York, the goal of the program is to develop and restore early successional habitat for wildlife, endangered and threatened species, and other wildlife species of concern. The key objectives of the program in New York State are to provide technical, educational, and financial assistance to eligible landowners to address grassland and shrubland wildlife habitat resource concerns on their land.

 

“We are thrilled to be able to offer this opportunity to New York State landowners,” stated Acting New York State Conservationist Paul Webb. “This program has benefitted more than 17,000 acres of upland wildlife habitat since 1998 by restoring and enhancing grassland and shrubland habitat statewide.”

 

Some of the conservation activities funded through this program include: native grassland habitat development, upland wildlife habitat management, shrubland habitat development, and restoration of declining habitats. Applicants can qualify for program payments to off-set the costs of installing their conservation projects.

 

In order for a landowner to be eligible for this program, they must offer land for eligible enrollment that is not already enrolled in the Conservation Restoration Program, Wetlands Restoration Program, Emergency Watershed Program, or that has a conservation easement in place. Landowners must be able to prove that they have ownership or control of the land. WHIP is a continuous sign-up program with contract agreements of 5-10 years in length. To be considered for available funding, applications must be submitted to a local NRCS office by Tuesday, July 1, 2008.

 

For more information on applying for the Wildlife Habitat Incentive Program or any of the other incentive-based programs that the Natural Resources Conservation Service offers, please visit the NRCS New York Programs Web site or visit your local NRCS office.

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Conserving Natural Resources in the Chesapeake Bay

Practices like conservation buffers along streams improve and protect water quality throughout the Chesapeake Bay watershed. The watershed covers nearly 45 million acres in 6 states and the District of Columbia.

Practices like conservation buffers along streams improve and protect water quality throughout the Chesapeake Bay watershed. The watershed covers nearly 45 million acres in six states and the District of Columbia. 
 

WASHINGTON, June 4, 2008—U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service recently released a report highlighting its activities in the Chesapeake Bay watershed for fiscal year 2007.

For example, NRCS provided more than $76 million in financial and technical assistance in the Chesapeake Bay watershed to help farmers protect water quality, recycle nutrients, preserve open spaces and improve wildlife habitat. The agency used existing Farm Bill programs such as Environmental Quality Incentives Program, Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program, Farm and Ranch Lands Protection Program and Wetlands Reserve Program to help farmers carry out conservation practices such as riparian buffers, prescribed grazing systems, irrigation water management, nutrient management systems, waste storage and manure composting facilities and wetland creation, restoration and enhancement.

These documents require Adobe Acrobat.

Conserving Natural Resources in the Chesapeake Bay: NRCS 2007 Conservation Activities (PDF; 535KB)

New York Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Forest Stewardship Information Sheet (PDF; 256 KB)
Learn about financial and technical assistance available through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) to enhance conservation practices on wooded land in the Chesapeake Bay watershed.

Technical Service Providers (TSP brochure) (PDF; 7.6 MB)

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Seneca Trails Resource Conservation and Development (RC&D) Council Reflects on 40 Years of Success

 June 3, 2008

The Seneca Trails Resource Conservation and Development (RC&D) Council took the opportunity June 3rd to reflect on forty years worth of their accomplishments, success stories, and to layout a path for the future.

Established in 1968 and currently headed by Gregory McKurth, council president and Wyoming County Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) official, the group of 15 members held their 40th anniversary luncheon and conference at a banquet hall in Olean, New York. County, State, and Federal employees in the fields of soil conservation and civil engineering were treated to in-depth information on the future of land and resource management. Lectures were separated with open discussion opportunities and a lavish four-course banquet meal.

“This event is a perfect opportunity for our council to show off our success stories,” boasted McKurth. “From grazing land conservation initiatives to financing timber bridges, we would not be successful in our jobs if it weren’t for continued public support.”

Throughout the conference, two lectures stood out to the audience as being most timely in this day and age. Mark Watts of the Chemung County SWCD provided a PowerPoint slideshow on the impacts of natural stream processes and the mounting costs of restoration to fix the damage caused by floodwaters.  He clearly demonstrated the before and after effects of changing a stream’s path, and how history proves that streams will eventually regain their natural flow path.

Dan Reynolds of the Southern Tier West Regional Planning and Development Board shared data on the cost benefits of transitioning to wind power. He provided background data on initial start up and maintenance costs of installing windmills and how it will help us break our dependence on conventional energy sources.

“I have really enjoyed working with this RC&D Council because it gives me the opportunity to branch out and work on incredibly unique projects,” stated Joann Kurtis, NRCS representative to the Seneca Trails RC&D Council. “I truly believe it puts the fun back into conservation.”

Kurtis shared with the crowd some notable accomplishments over their 40-year history including: assisting schools with land projects, working with the livestock industry to be more efficient in their operations, instituting conservation education programs in schools, installing over 500 dry hydrants, and most importantly, incorporating the Seneca Nation of Indians into the council.

The council closed the event with a renewed drive to strive for further and expanded conservation projects, which will benefit the community.

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If you have questions, suggestions, or find a broken link, please contact:

Public Affairs Specialist / Webmaster

Jonathan Groveman
USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service
441 South Salina Street, Suite 354
Syracuse, New York 13202
Telephone: 315-477-6524