Water Quality Erosion Control Workshops
Orleans County,
NY
Grantee:
Orleans County Soil and Water Conservation District
Basin Program Funds:
$3,000
Non-federal Funds:
$4,303
Project Duration:
04/1995
-
03/1996
Status:
complete
Problem Statement
Lakeshore property owners, highway superintendents and farmer are groups that
have been identified as needing information and education to reduce soil erosion
and sedimentation to Lake Ontario.
Background
Water quality erosion control workshops will be used to provide soil erosion
and sediment control information and education to three target audiences: lakeshore
owners, highway superintendents, and farmers. The workshops will highlight best
management practices for reducing erosion problems that are specific for each
audience.
The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) selected the three target
audiences because of the increased number of requests received from lakeshore
property owners for technical assistance for soil erosion control problems,
the increase in highway construction activities in Orleans County and because
of the number of large cash crop farm operations which have high percentage
of row crops. Row crops have a high soil erosion potential.
The Great Lakes Basin Program is spending $3,000 over a 12 month period to:
1) support the development of background materials for the workshops and 2)
conduct three water quality erosion control workshops.
Results
Five workshops were conducted over the 12 month period. Two additional workshops,
targeting town officials and contractors, were added to the three originally
identified in the grant proposal. The workshops were promoted at several local
events including the County Fair and the Lakeshore Erosion Seminar.
A display of local erosion problems and soil erosion control practices was
developed and presented at all five conferences. In addition, erosion and sediment
control information packets, tailored to each target group, were prepared and
distributed to all workshop attendees. All the workshops received positive reviews
from those in attendance. Below is a summary of the each of the workshop.
The landowners workshop, held January 23, focused on care of streambanks and
lakeshore areas, seeding and maintenance of waterways, addressing pasture and
cropping erosion problems and an update of soil erosion control practices. Eight
people were in attendance.
The town officials workshop, held January 30, focused on SPEDES permit requirements,
new storm water management and erosion control principles, and the role of governments
now and in the future. The workshop was attended by local town officials, planning
boards and zoning officers. Twelve people were in attendance.
Two farmers workshops were held on February 28 and Aug 16. A total of 52 farmers
were in attendance to learn about rotational grazing practices in an effort
to move more area into permanent pasture and out of row crops.
The contractors workshop, held March 26, focused on the fundamentals of erosion
and sediment control, installation and maintenance procedures, enforcement and
compliance, and examples of highway projects using best management practices.
110 contractors from 10 counties in western New York participated in the workshop.
The highway workshop, held November 2, focused on best management practices
for site preparation, runoff control, soil stabilization, and sediment control;
storm water regulations; and the hydroseeder program. Thirty four people were
in attendance representing highway departments from five counties.
Contact: Orleans County Soil and Water Conservation District, (716) 589-5959
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