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

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

Thankful for Community Conservation

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

Audubon for All Guided Birding Hike – Saturday, June 19

Saturday, June 19
2:00 PM – 4:00 PM

Join the Montezuma Audubon Center for a fun and inclusive birding walk with a Montezuma Audubon Center environmental educator during this month’s celebration of the LGBTQIA+ community. Enjoy a leisurely 1-mile walk through the grassland and forest while learning about the many birds that live there. This nature walk is for anyone who appreciates community, adventure, and wants to get outdoors to explore. We welcome those who identify as LGBTQIA+, allies, families, and anyone looking for a fun, educational, and inclusive outdoor experience. Facial coverings will be required, and we will follow physical distancing guidelines. This tour is funded in part through the generous support of the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor.

Please note: This hike will depart from the Montezuma Audubon Center (2295 State Route 89, Savannah, NY).

-Fee: $5/child, $10/adult, $25/family.
-Please plan to arrive 15 minutes early to get checked in and use the restroom.
-Space is limited and pre-paid online reservations are required.
-Call 315.365.3588 or email montezuma@audubon.org with questions.

Registration is required. https://act.audubon.org/a/audubon-all-guided-birding-hike-colvin-marsh-61921

Conservation Packs

The 2023 Forever Green Tree & Shrub sale is underway. This year the District is offering five different types of conservation packs. These are great starters for the garden. Each pack is $20 and contains 2 of each 5 different species. Order with payment due by March 10, 2023

Native New York Wildlife; 2 each of White Pine, Red osier Dogwood, Black Cherry Tree, Hazelnut Bush, Juneberry Bush

Perennial Plant Pack;  2 each of Dream Baby Daylilly, Stella De Oro Daylilly, Mixed Peony, and White Iris


Butterfly and Bird Pack; 2 each of Butterfly Bush, Elderberry, Lilatris, Ninebark, Stella Dora Daylily


Ornamental Flowering Pack; 2 each of Ninebark, Butterfly Bush, Lilac, Rose of Sharon, White Flowering Dogwood

Pond Habitat Pack
Pond Habitat Pack; 2 each of Red osier dogwood, Buttonbush, Sycamore, River Birch, Willow

Hosta Pack Pack
Hosta Plant Pack, 2 of each species/ variety of Ventricosa, Hyacinthia, Albo Marginata, F. Aureo Marginata, Honey Bells

Windbreaks and Privacy Row – Tree Sale

Diagram showing a windbreak and relationship between windbreak height and the subsequent impact on wind velocity (from: Tree Windbreaks for Farms and Homes, Purdue University Extension).

The Tree and Shrub Sale offers great stock if you are planning a windbreak or privacy row. Start with at least 3-4 rows. The Norway Spruce is excellent and is a fast growing (2-3’ per year) it can grow up to 5 ft a year in a good weather year, another conifer for the tall row is Douglas Fir. For the medium row, Eastern White Pine or White Spruce, for low row, a mixture of shrubs like Lilac or Hazelnut.

Tree and shrub windbreaks are valuable conservation tools with many functions:
🌲Reduced soil erosion — Windbreaks prevent wind erosion for 10 to 20 times their height downwind. They also filter wind-blown soil particles from the air.
🌲Energy conservation — Windbreaks can reduce winter heating costs 20 to 40% by reducing cold air infiltration into buildings. In summer water evaporation from leaves directly cools the air. Windbreaks can be designed to provide energy savings for a small residential lot, a farmstead, or an entire housing development.
🌲Wildlife habitat — In open areas where windbreaks are needed for wind reduction, they may also provide the only woody cover and food necessary for some wildlife species.
🌲Beauty — Trees provide visual screening and permanence in the landscape that other types of plants can not.
🌲Crop protection — Windbreaks can increase crop yields up to 44%. Wind protection reduces crop water use, increases a plant’s ability to make food, and may increase pollination. Quality of fruit and other high value crops can be increased due to reduced sand and soil abrasion.
🌲Snow control — Windbreaks can serve as “living snowfences”, controlling drifts near roads, buildings, or livestock or distributing snow evenly over large areas like
crop fields. Money and energy are saved by reduced need for snow plowing and artificial snow fences.
🌲Livestock protection —Windbreaks can be used as“outdoor barns,” sheltered areas for feeding, calving, and other livestock-related activities.
For questions or design ideas, call 315-946-7200 or email drew@waynenyswcd.org

Free Seedlings Available to Qualified Landowners

Photo Courtesy NYS DEC

NYSDEC recently announced that the application period for the ‘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.

DEC’s Trees for Tribs Buffer in a Bag program provides free tree and shrub seedlings for organizations and private landowners to create or improve stream buffers on their property. The seedlings are available to qualified landowners for streamside plantings under DEC Buffer in a Bag Program Learn more at https://www.dec.ny.gov/animals/77710.html#Bag

Riparian buffers are strips of vegetation (trees, shrubs or grass) planted next to streams or other waterbodies. By planting vegetation along streams, space is created between the water and upland land uses, which helps protect the water quality and stream habitat. To qualify, landowners must have property in New York State with at least 50 feet bordering a stream, river, or lake, and provide photos or a map of the planting location.

Previous recipients are encouraged to reapply to continue to build riparian buffers. 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. The 2023 Buffer in a Bag program, application requirements, and the April 7 deadline.  Applications are due by 3 p.m.

These mighty waterside plants start out small, but their impacts are huge:

🌱 They help reduce pollution from entering waterways
🌱 They absorb rain during storms, which slows flooding
🌱 Their roots hold soil in place, which prevents erosion
🌱 The provide wildlife habitat both on land and in the water
🌱 They provide shade, which cools water temperatures and protects native fish
🌱 They absorb and store carbon dioxide, which helps combat climate change

Contact treesfortribs@dec.ny.gov with questions and visit DEC’s Trees for Tribs webpage to learn more.

Pond Stocking

Forever Green Tree & Shrub Sale

Think Spring! The District’s Forever Green Tree and Shrub sale is under way. Order online, mail a check or call the office at 315-946-7200. Orders with payment are due by March 10. 2023 with pickup dates in April.

The District offers varieties of low-cost bare root seedlings and transplants, conifers, deciduous trees, bushes and shrubs, fruit plants, conservation packs, habitat boxes, and other products. All plants are grown by private commercial nurseries, these plants provide an economical source of conservation landscaping materials, windbreaks, and quantities for reforesting.

Offering these trees, shrubs and plants helps support conservation planting projects, wildlife enhancement, erosion control and windbreak development needs throughout the area. Download a catalog or order online by clicking here.

2023 Wayne County Youth Derby

Thinking about Bee Keeping?

Are you thinking about beekeeping and wondering what all the buzz is about?
Join Master Gardener and Beekeeper, Barb Cummings and learn the basics of beekeeping and what it involves.
Topics covered will be equipment needed, possible diseases and pests, extracting, overwintering, and options for all that wax and honey! We’re hoping this workshop will help you decide whether to Bee or not to Bee keep!
Registration opens Monday, Oct. 16th – $10.00 per person
Mail a check, or stop by the office with cash or check:
CCE Wayne County, 1581 Rte. 88 N., Newark, NY 14513
In the memo: Bee Class
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