Wildflower Walk at Zurich Bog Sunday May 1st

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Join Trail Works wildflower expert Mark DeCracker to hike a National Natural Landmark with a sphagnum bog and floating bog cradled between Wayne County drumlins.

Trail loop is 2 miles.

Dress for the weather with appropriate footwear for wet and muddy conditions.

For more information call Mark DeCracker 315-573-8170.

SUNDAY AT 1:30 PM – 3:30 PM

Wildflower Walk at Zurich Bog

3909 Arcadia Zurich Norris Rd, Lyons, NY 14489-9020, United States
For more information visit https://fb.me/e/1dZJBqqU6
Filed Under: Events of Interest

IJC is Seeking Comments on Water Levels Plan

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International Joint Commission (IJC) Seeking Comments on Phase I Review of Water Levels Plan

The Great Lakes Adaptive Management (GLAM) Committee has completed its Phase I review of Plan 2014, the plan for regulating Lake Ontario outflows. The Plan went into effect in 2017 and was preceded by extremely wet conditions, causing significant flooding impacts to both US and Canadian communities. In response to public concerns, the IJC asked the GLAM Committee to launch an expedited review.

There are two review phases, the first phase focused on providing information to the IJC’s International Lake Ontario-St. Lawrence River Board (ILOSLRB) during this ongoing period of near-record high inflows from Lake Erie. It analyzed the impact of high water levels on shoreline homes, marinas, commercial shippers and more. Early results in 2020 helped the ILOSLRB set Lake Ontario outflows more effectively in the spring of that year. The full review of Phase I is now complete and available for public comment.

Comments can be submitted on the IJC’s website until April 14, visit www.GLAM-Engage.ijc.org

Read the Report

The second phase will address extreme high and low water levels over the longer term. In this phase the GLAM Committee will advise the ILOSLRB on whether adjustments to the plan might make sense, not just for the current conditions, but overall. That review is expected to be completed by late 2024.

Any changes to Plan 2014 would need to be approved by the IJC and agreed to by the Governments of Canada and the United States.

Filed Under: District News

DEC Announces Annual ‘Buffer in a Bag’ Program

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Free Seedlings Available to Qualified Landowners for Streamside Plantings

The application period for DEC’s Trees for Tribs’ Buffer in a Bag Program is now open. Qualifying private and public landowners may apply for a free bag of 25 tree and shrub seedlings for planting near streams, rivers, or lakes to help stabilize banks, protect water quality, and improve wildlife habitat.

To qualify, landowners must have property in New York State with at least 50 feet that borders a stream, river, or lake, and provide photos or a map of the planting location. We encourage previous recipients to reapply to continue building their riparian buffer. Applicants are eligible for one bag of 25 seedlings and recipients are chosen on a first-come, first-served basis.

A total of 350 bags will be available statewide for this round of applications, so apply right away.

Interested applicants can visit DEC’s website for more information about the Buffer in a Bag application process and requirements.  Applications are due by 3:00 p.m. on Monday, April 11th.

Full NYS press release can be found at https://www.dec.ny.gov/press/124734.html

Filed Under: District News

INfocus: 8 Sustainable Alternatives to Sidewalk and Road Salts

31 Dec by

Conventional deicers can wreak havoc on ecosystems.

With all this snow it’s important to consider water quality when salting driveways and walkways. Most communities send out big trucks that dump loads of salts on roads. Many homeowners will also add salts to sidewalks to keep people safer from slip hazards. Conventional deicers like salts often wash into nearby streams and can create aquatic dead zones that suffocate plant and aquatic life.

Many municipalities are coming up with new methods to melt snow and ice or prevent it from sticking to walkways and roads. Here in Wayne County, sand has proven to be an excellent alternative. There are many options found in the home that contain even more eco-friendly ingredients, including brines, coffee grounds, and even sugar beet juice.

Here are a few:

Alfalfa Meal

Alfalfa meal is mostly used as a fertilizer, but it’s also effective for melting ice. Alfalfa meal has a grainy texture that also offers more traction as you walk. Although a deicer, use this alternative in moderation. Excessive nitrogen can leach into waterways and could lead to algal blooms.

Sugar Beet Juice
Sugar beet juice is a popular ice melt option that lowers the freezing point of ice and helps deicers stick to the ground better. Beet Juice is safe for pets and not corrosive to vehicles. On its own, sugar beet juice isn’t as effective as other deicers, but it does reduce the amount of conventional deicers you would need to clear up walkways. This alternative is gaining traction in Canada. ( read article from Modern Farmer)

Coffee Grounds
Don’t toss those Keurig pods of coffee grounds. These grounds can help with melting ice, plus they add traction to the walkways.

 

Brines
That extra pickle juice in the jar? If you’re not going to drink it, maybe you can use it to clear your frosty sidewalks. In another effort to turn waste into something useful, people have creatively used brines like pickle or cheese brine instead of road salts.

Baking Soda
This alternative works in a similar way to salt. It lowers the freezing point of water when it permeates it, working well in environments that have cold weather, but not extremely cold weather.

Epsom Salt
This is a great option for ice melt because it’s as effective as table salt and rock salt, but it’s much safer to use around plant life. Mix the Epsom salt with some sugar for the best results.

Another consideration is the placement of snow. When piles melt there is a potential for flooding. If your home is on a grade or hill, shovel snow so that it doesn’t roll toward your home when it melts. Always keep drainage areas around your home clear of snow and ice build-up. Make certain to locate snow piles in areas that gradually penetrates into the ground when piles melt. Never shovel snow into a street drain.

Parts of this post were taken from an article written by Paige Bennett from EcoWatch To read the full article visit https://www.ecowatch.com/sustainable-alternatives-winter-salts-2656111075.html

Let us know if you like these posts, feedback is appreciated, email maxine@waynenyswcd.org

Filed Under: InFocus

Earth-Friendly Gift Wrapping Ideas

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Gift Wrapping Ideas

Here are some Gift Wrapping Ideas.
Try the Japanese tradition of furoshiki fabric wraps.

To make it easy, use fabric squares made from machine washable 100% organic cotton that can be reused in a wide variety of ways. Make your own art! Your gift recipients can either re-gift or hang it in their home or office as wall art, use it as a face mask or grocery bag, style it as a scarf, and more. Here is a furoshiki guide to wrapping

Newspaper is another great material that is frequently recommended for wrapping.

Newspapers are printed that morning in the same city and are recyclable, making them more affordable and sustainable than typical wrapping paper. Get creative and buy newspapers from other countries, many bookstores carry these or shop antique stores for print media with memorable dates.

Wrap your presents as usual, but add the twine or ribbon. Grap that gathering bag and collect items like fresh pine cones, beautiful white birch bark, twigs, moss, and greens make your gift extra special. Look in the cupboard for bay leaves and cinnamon sticks. Use floral wire to attach kumquats, holly sprigs.

Filed Under: Events of Interest

Buy a Grown and Certifed Christmas Tree this season

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Tree Farmers are proud members of the New York State Grown & Certified program, which highlights New York’s agricultural producers and growers who adhere to the best practices in safe food handling and environmental stewardship.

The program is currently available to produce growers who are certified for Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) and are participating in Agricultural Environmental Management (AEM) plans.

Did you know that there are over 47 Christmas tree farms across New York State that are now NYS Grown & Certified!

Shop local, find a New York-grown Christmas tree vendor nearest to you https://on.ny.gov/3DGoRzV

To learn more about the Grown and Certifed program contact Ian@waynenyswcd.org

Filed Under: Events of Interest

Thankful for Community Conservation

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In this time of being thankful, it is so important to remember that a community is maintained through a whole community effort. Every person has a role and a responsibility to look out for our neighbors, both big and small. Conservation is working towards a better tomorrow of land, waste, infrastructure, air, ecosystem, and water quality management.  We are all partners in this mission.

If nothing else, be thankful that Wayne County is made up of a wonderful place of much of the beauty available on this earth. It is made up of hard-working people that love what they do, their neighbors, and their community.

Thank you for giving Wayne County Soil & Water Conservation some of your valuable time to learn more about your community and events that offer continued growth and knowledge of the natural resources around you! May you and your loved ones have much to be thankful for and be blessed from above!

With yours,  and well-wishes ~ Lindsey

Lindsey M. Gerstenslager, District Manager

Wayne County Soil & Water Conservation District

Filed Under: Events of Interest Tagged With: , , , ,

Let’s Talk Lake Ontario Webinar Series – Green Stuff in the Water: No Day at the Beach

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Let’s Talk Lake Ontario Webinar Series – Green Stuff in the Water: No Day at the Beach

Join the Lake Ontario Partnership for a one-hour webinar talking about Cladophora! Wednesday, November 17th Noon – 1:00 P.M.

What is Cladophra

Cladophora are those green mats of algae in the water that you may have seen on beaches and along shorelines in Lake Ontario. While Cladophora is necessary for a healthy ecosystem, when nutrient levels in the water are too high—i.e., from lawn fertilizers, agricultural and urban runoff, and septic and sewage treatment systems—we see too much Cladophora growth. This can present aesthetic and odor issues that impair recreational uses of the lake, as well, decaying Cladophora harbors bacteria that can pose health threats to humans, fish, and wildlife.

Link to join: https://meetny.webex.com/meetny/onstage/g.php?MTID=e2314291261b79dedf2f9a22a20369aa6

Event number: 161 404 9404

Event password: welcome1

Guest speakers
David Depew, Research Scientist, Environment and Climate Change Canada,  Mary Anne Evans, Research Ecologist, United States Geological Survey, Greg Ford, Great Lakes Water Monitoring Manager, Niagara Coastal Community Collaborative

Agenda
12:00 – 12:05 Welcome
Moderator: Emma Tahirali, MECP

12:05 – 12:15 State of Lake Ontario overview
Luca Cargnelli, ECCC; Kristina Heinemann, US EPA
12:15 – 12:25 Introduction to Cladophora in Lake Ontario – What is it and why it’s a problem
David Depew, ECCC
12:25 – 12:30 Nutrient management
Luca Cargnelli, ECCC; Kristina Heinemann, US EPA

12:30 – 12:40 Cladophora monitoring work
Mary Anne Evans, USGS
12:40 – 12:50 Community/citizen science profile: The Visual Assessment Survey Tool
Greg Ford, Niagara Coastal Community Collaborative
12:50 – 12:55 Audience Q&A
Moderator: Emma Tahirali, MECP
12:55 – 1:00 News you can use
Dr. Joan Kennedy, DEC; Emma Tahirali, MECP

Webinar Registration

 

Filed Under: Events of Interest Tagged With: ,

INFocus Groundwater Recharge on a Cold Raining Day in Wayne County

26 Oct by

Water Cycle

These cold and rainy fall days may feel a little uncomfortable, but with the rain, the land is actually getting a “recharge.”  The land is coming out of a drought year. We need the aquifers refilled to maintain drinking water and long term watershed supply. When it rains, water does not stop moving when it hits the ground. Some water flows along the land into streams, bays, and lakes. Some water is used up by trees and plants and other water particles evaporate and return to the atmosphere which increases humidity and storm potential. Local forecasts keep changing for snow and precipitation projections but based on the water systematic increases, water increases the potential recycling within the local system.  It also provides opportunities to balance carbon and other important air quality effects from the local community and ecosystem.

Recharge and water supply from the fall perspective set up the local community to withstand the frost freeze changes during winter months.  Many storms like the last week, while consistent and bountiful, the 5 inches of average rain in the last week has helped elevate water tables, recharge many local wells and increase Lake Ontario’s water level during times of draw down to help balance shoreline levels. All surface water has a purpose and excess water seeps into the ground.

The water that seeps into the ground clings to particles of soil and plant roots just below the land surface that provide plants enough to grow. It also provides winter resiliency for the plants during hardening for healthy stock next year. The water not used by plants moves deeper into the ground and downward through empty spaces or cracks in the soil, sand, or rocks until it reaches a layer of rock through which water cannot easily move. This creates a reserve.   The top of the water in the soil, sand, or rocks is called the water table, and the water that fills the empty spaces and cracks is called the groundwater zone. Water seeping down from the land surface adds to the groundwater and is called recharge water. Maintaining good aquifer levels will support water storage for water treatment systems and irrigation for agricultural production, and the garden plants and trees.

 

Filed Under: Water Quality Updates

Shoreline Property Owners Wayne CLEAR Initiative Webinar Thursday, November 18th, 5:00 – 6:00pm

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Virtual Public Engagement for CLEAR Initiative November (Click Here to Register)

The NYS Department of State will be hosting its 3rd public engagement sessions for the Coastal Lakeshore Economy and Resiliency Initiative (CLEAR).

CLEAR Public Webinar #3 – Thursday, November 18th, 5:00 pm (Zoom)

Live presentation and discussion on the Coastal Lakeshore Economy And Resiliency (CLEAR) initiative. Participants will learn about risk and resilience scenarios for their region and discuss strategies for increasing the resilience of shoreline communities to changing lakeshore conditions. The public can ask questions during the presentation.

Goals of the CLEAR Initiative include: 

  • Facilitate vibrant communities that can thrive in changing and variable lake levels and conditions.
  • Embrace the connectivity of the coastal environment through innovative designs for rebuilding and adaptive uses.
  • Instill a deeper understanding and appreciation for the important role shoreline property owners play in their communities’ resilience.
  • Identify coastal development patterns that provide continued opportunities for existing and new recreation and employment.
  • Empower local governments, organizations, and leaders to protect their communities and create new, more resilient paths

The public engagement is to engage communities in the CLEAR planning process to help conceptualize the potential impacts from future changes and identify opportunities to enhance connections and access to the water while increasing resiliency to potential stressors.  Questions can be addressed to OPD@dos.ny.gov

Register at:   https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_bRlYN7NXSzG-sbxQ4Xn_0Q

Filed Under: Events of Interest
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