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 Whitaker describes his crop tree release method for his apple trees 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.

(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. 

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

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