7312 Route 31 Lyons, NY 14489 / 315-946-7200
The Department of Biology, the Environmental Studies Program, the Finger Lakes Institute, and FL-PRISM invite you to join them for a co-hosted seminar on Tues. 11/29 (5-6 pm at Hobart Williams University, in the Sanford Room).
Dr. Tim McCay of Colgate University will speak about his research on earthworms in the Northeastern U.S.
All are welcome. Refreshments precede the seminar.
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
Photo Courtesy SARE
The Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program (SARE) has released the 2016-2017 Cover Crop survey
Cover Crops Boost Yields and Weed Control
Survey participants—88 percent of whom use cover crops—reported that after cover crops:
This marks the fifth consecutive year in which the survey reported yield increases in corn and soybeans following cover crops (find previous surveys at www.sare.org/covercropsurvey). It is the first year the survey team was able to calculate the impact of cover crops on wheat yields. The poll was conducted by the Conservation Technology Information Center (CTIC) with help from Purdue University and funding support from SARE and the American Seed Trade Association (ASTA).
Happy Fall all! It is that time of year again for Leaf (Leaves) Management. What do you do with your leaves can affect the water bodies nearest to your homes.
How so? Check out this article for some more information!
http://www.almanac.com/blog/natural-health-home-tips/what-do-fall-leaves
Program Will Help Large Livestock Farmers Meet New Environmental Requirements
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced that $50 million in grant funding is available, over three consecutive application rounds, to help New York livestock farms implement water quality protection projects. The funding is a part of the Governor’s historic $2.5 billion Clean Water Infrastructure Act of 2017, which invests unprecedented resources for drinking water and wastewater infrastructure and other water quality protection across the state, including funds to ensure proper management and storage of nutrients such as manure on farms.
“By providing New York’s farmers with the resources they need to be successful, we are supporting New York’s economy and growing jobs while taking steps to protect the state’s vibrant natural resources,” said Governor Cuomo. “This funding is critical to ensuring New York’s water is preserved and protected while helping farmers across the state to meet environmental standards to secure a cleaner and healthier tomorrow for all.”
County Soil and Water Conservation Districts can apply for the CAFO Waste Storage and Transfer System Program on behalf of eligible farmers. The maximum award amount per proposal is $385,000, which includes funding for engineering and construction expenses. Grants will help Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation-permitted farms offset the cost of water quality protection projects, such as manure storage construction, site preparation and associated best management practices.
New York State has more than 500 CAFO farms, most of which are dairy farms with 300 or more cows. CAFOs can also include associated livestock operations such as beef, poultry and equine farms. Projects funded will also help farmers meet the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation’s new environmental requirements first announced in January.
The full press release can be found here.
Winter is the best time to look for evidence of an infestation. Cooler temperatures trigger feeding activity, and as the hemlock woolly adelgids feed, they secrete a white, waxy material that creates ovisacs. The presence of these small, round, white masses makes it possible to identify infested trees. As they feed, these tiny, soft-bodied insects consume a hemlock’s stored nutrients, slowly sucking the life from the tree.
The eastern hemlock (Tsuga canadensis) is one of the most important tree species in our region. These trees cast the most shade of any native tree species, and a hemlock canopy creates unique environments that many other species such as brook trout rely on. Hemlocks also tend to grow on the cliffs of many of the gorges around the Finger Lakes. If we lose hemlocks, it becomes increasingly likely that these cliffsides will collapse and alter many of our waterways. By protecting hemlocks, not only are trees themselves protected, but also the organisms that rely on them for habitat.
The Finger Lakes PRISM is launching its annual Hemlock Woolly Adelgid (HWA) Survey and they are looking for clubs and individuals to help them out. The 2022 was a pilot year for the HWA Survey and it was a great success. Across 12 events PRISM trained and recruited 181 people to scour for HWA across our region and recorded over 80 observations. For 2023, they would like to build upon the progress!
What is the FL-PRISM HWA Survey?
FL-PRISM created the survey to find new populations of HWA in the region and help prioritize control measures where hemlocks can still be saved. They train volunteers on what hemlock woolly adelgids are why they are a threat. Once trained they are lead them on a guided hike to find HWA. If left unchecked, HWA threatens to wipe out the eastern hemlock, one of our most important native tree species.
What would working with the HWA Survey look like?
The process for the HWA survey is simple. Your organization will set up a date with the Finger Lakes PRISM where they will deliver a presentation (can be over zoom, in the field, or at an event space) and then lead volunteers to search for HWA on local hemlock trees. The entire process usually runs about 2 hours. They are open for scheduling training events with partners on weekdays or weekends from January 4th to the end of April (with the exception of 2/16-2/19 and 3/10-3/20).
If interested Contact Matt Gallo gallo@hws.edu to set up a workshop session, share advertisements about the HWAS on social media
Signup for the survey here: https://forms.gle/NYfU5yYe67f5KjF57 (opens new tab)
Photo Credit: Genesee Land Trust – Ganargua Creek Meadow Preserve
Join the Trailworks for a Black Friday hike at the Ganargua Creek Meadow Preserve in Macedon, NY. The Ganargua Creek Meadow Preserve is 56 acres of adjacent land along Ganargua Creek. The trail is managed by Genesee Land Trust in partnership with Macedon Trails. Trails on both east and west sides of Ganargua Creek accessed from three trailheads. Both trail systems offer easy, level walking through meadows following a steep hill descent. West Sides Trails: From the West Side trailhead off Bunker Hill Dr., follow a forested trail down a hill, to a circular trail around the meadow on the west side of Ganargua Creek (1-mile, total). For a level hike, begin at the Wilkinson Road parking area. A 0.3-mile spur takes you through Wayne ARC property, adjacent to Genesee Land Trust’s preserve. This trail joins with the West Side Trail loop. East Side Trail: The East Side Trail takes you on a 0.8-mile walk with two loops that wind their way around two meadows along the east side of the creek.
WHEN: Friday, November 27th
TIME: 10:00 A.M.
WHERE: Ganargua Creek Meadow Preserve, Macedon, NY
meet up at the roadside entrance on Bunker Hill Dr./Victor Rd./Wilkinson Rd. Macedon
PASSPORT MARKER: at the base of Bunker Hill, when coming in from the west side
Be a part of the world’s largest coastal clean up!
Each year as part of the Ocean Conservancy effort, groups organize to pick up beach trash and report the findings.
September 16th Sodus Point Beach
9:00 A.M – NOON
Refreshments will be served.
SOS Save Our Sodus,NASP Neighborhood Association of Sodus Point and FLLOWPA.
Sean-Drum with-Daniel and Matthew Russotti from Boy Scout Troop 262
Sean Drum of Webster Boy Scout troop 262 has built a handicap accessible bird blind at the Trail of Hope in Lyons.
Sean says he wanted to serve people who may have a hard time getting to parks and seeing nature.
This was all a part of his Eagle Scout project.
A bird blind is another way to look at the birds. A bird blind lets us see the birds without them seeing us, which prevents them from being scared away by the observers. The nesting boxes were supplied by WCSWCD.
In October there will be a dedication at the Trail of Hope located at 9 Manhattan St. in Lyons. Take Exit 42 off New York Thruway, take Rt. 14 North into the Village of Lyons. Take a right onto Clyde Rd, turn left onto Manhattan St. The Trail of Hope will be on your right. For more information about the project click here to download a brochure.
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
