The Venango Conservation District recently completed repair work to Cherrytree Run that was eroding the stream bank, causing pollution and land damage to a property in Cherrytree Township. Storm water was picking up sizable rocks and depositing them in a new location, which was changing the path of the waterway. The land owner reported loosing several feet of his property. Staff from both Pennsylvania DEP and the Venango Conservation District was able to visit the property to view the damage in 2014. The group formulated a plan to remove the gravel bar that was forming and re-deposit the material at the original stream bank channel. This work will encourage the storm water to make its way back through the original waterway, thereby reducing erosion and damage to the land owner’s property. In June of 2015, district staff and landowners got together to make this work happen. The work took only about a day. Staff intends to return to inspect the progress of vegetation and stabilization of the work. It is expected that existing vegetation should re-establish easily. The district expects the water flow to be less damaging and that the re-established stream channel should now be more stable. The Venango Conservation District is very pleased with the completion of this project. The district intends to continue stream bank repair at other sites around Venango County that have been causing nonpoint source pollution as a result of high water events. Check back to read more about our progress.
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Noticing a bit of hub-bub about rain gardens? The Venango Conservation District has been working to get the word out about rain gardens with news articles, mailings and educational events. The district has been awarded funding to build rain gardens for educational showcases and most recently to build rain gardens for property owners in the Lower Two Mile Run Watershed (Cranberry/Seneca area). Why you may ask?
To reduce nonpoint source pollution. Nonpoint source water pollution is pollution that comes from many different sources, even your back yard. Stormwater runs off impervious surfaces of your property (rooftops, paved driveways, sidewalks etc.). That stormwater run-off causes nonpoint source pollution by adding a large amount of stormwater entering your neighborhood waterway and causing erosion. That stormwater also picks up contaminates on its way to the stream, and so causes additional pollution problems. What is a rain garden? Rather than a traditional raised garden bed, a rain garden is a sunken garden. A ponding area is created and layers of gravel, sand, and a soil/sand mix are added. Then native perennials are. The garden will collect stormwater to allow it to infiltrate rather than run off. Compared to a patch of lawn, a rain garden allows about 30% more rain water to filter into the ground. What are the benefits of a rain garden? Environmental – a rain garden reduces nonpoint source pollution by collecting stormwater, filtering it and allowing it to infiltrate or evaporate. Rain gardens provide food and cover for wildlife. Maintenance – rain gardens reduce lawn area that needs to be maintenanced. Rain gardens themselves are easy and inexpensive to maintain. A rain garden reduces flooding and drainage problems. The Venango Conservation District is partnering with the Oil Creek State Park to host an educational event for children. "Learning to Fish with Mom or Dad" will be held on Saturday June 20th at 9:30am at Two Mile Run County Park. Learn everything you need to know to start catching fish! All gear & bait will be provided, no licesnse needed. Dress for the weather. You may want to bring drinks, snacks, and bug spray. REGISTRATION REQUIRED, Call Oil Creek State Park at 814-676-5915 to register! Meet at the Boat Ramp.
See the OCSP post for more information https://www.facebook.com/events/656798317787199/ A grazing field day and tour will be held at the Wagner Therapeutic Riding Center, Venango Area Riding for the Handicapped Association (VARHA) facility near Polk, PA on Monday June 22, 2015. VARHA provides therapeutic horseback riding for children, adolescents, and adults with special needs.
The field day will focus on the details of an installed grazing system for horses that has allowed better pasture management. The program will run from 10:15am until 2:30pm and features sessions on forage selection and management, grazing management, fencing, watering facilities and manure and nutrient management. Scott Rushe, Agronomist with Seedway, will discuss forage management considerations. Becky Deeter, Venango Conservation District Agricultural Resource Technician will talk about various manure and nutrient management issues that horse owners should know about. Grazing management and how to create a grazing plan will be reviewed by the area NRCS Grazing Specialist. Lunch will be provided. A pasture walk, to allow a hands on review of the day’s topics will round out the day. For driving directions load VARHA, Wagner Equine Therapeutic Center, 150 Wagner Drive, Franklin PA 16323. For further information visit www.varhacenter.org. Submitted by M Muir. The Venango Conservation District is pleased to welcome Ashley Hazlett as our new Dirt Gravel and Low Volume Road Resource Technician. Ashley is a graduate of Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania with a Master's degree in Park and Resource Management and a Bachelor's degree in Marketing with a minor in Management. Ashley has had experience with Natural Resource Education programming.
The Venango Conservation District is pleased to announce that a new Venango County Plat Book has been published and is available to purchase. A plat book is a reference guide to property ownership. The book includes color maps by municipality and includes tax map parcel information, parcel owner name and the number of acres owned. A landowner index for cross referencing is also included. The parcel maps are taken from 2014 County data.
The new Venango County Plat Book is available to purchase for $35 at the Venango Conservation District offices located at 1793 Cherrytree Road, Franklin PA 16323. For more information, call the Venango Conservation District at 814-676-2832 or stop by our offices. Spring will soon be upon us, and now is the time to make your planting plans. The Venango Conservation District is offering its annual tree seedling and groundcover sale through March 20th. Several species are available for conservation planting, landscaping, erosion control, or attracting wildlife. Wildflower seed mix is also offered. Trees available are: Norway Spruce, Colorado Blue Spruce, Fraser Fir, Douglas Fir, Eastern White Pine, Eastern Hemlock, Red Oak, White Oak, Sugar Maple, Button Bush and Red Chokeberry. Myrtle groundcover is also offered.
Click here for seedling descriptions and an order form. Order forms and seedling descriptions can also be obtained by visiting our office at 1793 Cherrytree Road, Franklin PA 16323, or by calling us at 814-676-2832. Notice is hereby given that the Venango Dirt & Gravel Roads Quality Assurance Board has scheduled a meeting to be held February 3rd, 2015 at 11:00am at Dawndi's Restaurant, 136 Warren Road, Franklin PA 16323.
Do you have questions about No-Till, Cover Crops, or Soil Health? Do you know how implementing no-till and cover crops can improve the soil and can even benefit you financially? Are you curious to know how other farmers in this area are implementing these practices?
If so, please join the Venango Conservation District for their first Agricultural Roundtable Meeting. This Roundtable will be a discussion forum regarding no-till, cover crops, and soil health, lead by No-Till Specialist and retired NRCS Agronomist, Joel Myers. Joel is a lifetime farmer and has been practicing strict no-till on his Pennsylvania farm for 30 years and implementing cover crops for 12 years. Joel, along with other local agricultural specialists will be there to discuss these topics, technical and financial assistance programs for farmers, and any questions you may have. This is a great opportunity to meet with other local farmers to hear about what types of practices they are implementing on their operations, and to hear how certain farming practices work in regards to crop land in this area. There will be an $8.00 registration fee to help cover meal costs and materials. Registration is required by January 30th, 2015. For more information or to register, please contact Becky Deeter at the Venango Conservation District by calling 814-676-2832 or by email bdeeter@usachoice.net. AFTERNOON MEETING - 11am - 2pm at King's Restaurant in Franklin PA EVENING MEETING - 5pm - 8pm at King's Restaurant in Barkeyville PA Every farming operation in Pennsylvania, regardless of animal type or number, that produces or land applies manure must have and implement a written Manure Management Plan (MMP) required under DEP's Land Application of Manure Revision released in October 2011.
The Venango Conservation District will host a series of workshops to provide an overview of the Manure Management Program and the steps to completing a Manure Management Plan. Time and assistance will be provided to successfully complete a plan while attending a workshop. All workshops will be held at the Nature Lodge located on Two Mile Run County Park at 417 Beach Road, Franklin PA 16323. Saturday January 24th 2015 - 10am - 12pm - registration deadline Jan 21st. overview of Manure Management - plans will not be completed at this workshop Tuesday February 17th 2015 - 9am - 3pm - registration deadline Feb 13th. Thursday March 19th 2015 - 11am - 3pm - registration deadline Mar17th. Wednesday April 15th 2015 - 5:30pm - 8:30pm - registration deadline Apr 13th. this workshop has a focus toward equine operations Workshops include a light meal and refreshments. To register, please call 814-676-2832 or email bdeeter@usachoice.net. Financial support for this project is provided by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection through the Clean Water Fund. |
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