Vol. 26, No. 1 Conservation CrierSpring 2017 Newsletter of the TREE SALE 2017 Administrator’s Corner Something New at the Tree Sale ew fl avors are coming to the Tree Sale this year. The Reboot Recap Galarina, a red apple that holds its fl avor better than Gala will join the Da Rosa, yellow apple on the order leaning up the Chesapeake Bay continues to be a driver N form. Looking for fl avor that’s at the top of the chart? Checkout for much of what the state requires the Conservation the Flavortop Nectarine and you’ll fi nd it has beautiful pink CDistrict to do, but the Lancaster County Conservation blossoms in spring. District (LCCD) Board of Directors and staff use those mandates Completely new to the tree sale is the Jewel Black Raspberry. and funding to get good conservation work on the ground to You may enjoy them by the handful or in jams and jellies if you help clean up and protect our local streams, creeks and rivers. like. Pruning will keep individual plants in check or allow the We started 2016 with a lot of uncertainty relative to the cane ends to touch the ground and you’ll have plants before you unveiling of Pennsylvania’s Comprehensive Strategy to Improve know it. Water Quality in the state and Chesapeake Bay Watershed. This Nannyberry joins Arrowwood, American Cranberry, and “Reboot” Strategy had the co-equal goals for success: clean water Allegheny Serviceberry as a wonderful wildlife shrub. A and viable farms, but it relied on creating a “culture of compliance” member of the Viburnum family, it will always bring color to and cast an ominous shadow over our outlook forward as we your environment. White fl owers pop in spring, green leaves for considered how to help the Lancaster farmers be compliant with summer, these leaves change to burgundy in autumn, and hang state regulations. After twelve months and about 350 combined on until just berries remain for the winter. staff hours attending meetings at the federal, state, and local As always there’s something new in perennials. Take a look levels to make the new policies something Districts could work and you’ll fi nd cats and kittens along with cups and saucers with, we have made signifi cant strides forward reaching new otherwise known as “Sempervivum” and “ Canterbury Bells”. operators. The modifi ed strategy still had the co-equal goals for Paw Paw trees are back. Remember it’s best to plant two trees success: clean water and viable farms, however instead of being to ensure cross pollinations. driven by the premise that “farmers are guilty until they prove There will be perennials and trees for sale during the day of they are innocent” it embraces a culture of stewardship, and pick up. Quantity and varieties will vary throughout the day. looks for proactive leadership from the agriculture community Take a second look at the day-of-sale stand and you might to be a solution to our clean water needs. just fi nd something you missed from an earlier order. The We are still conducting farm verifi cation visits to make sure Conservation District looks forward to working with you to add operators meet the basic state requirements of having an Ag more roots and shoots in Lancaster County. Erosion and Sedimentation plan, and if applicable a Manure Management Plan. In 2017, you will see several efforts to recognize and reward those farmers and land owners who are Tree Sale Pick Up already doing their part to keep our local waters clean. Wednesday, april 12, 2017 • 8aM – 7 PM FaRM aND HOME CENTER auDITORIuM continued on page 4 Directions to the Tree Sale Your investment in the Tree Sale allows the Conservation District to continue valuable education programs relating to watershed, wetlands, and conservation practices. Thank you, we appreciate your support. -Sallie Gregory, Matt Kofroth, Committee Co-chairs Board of Directors Kenneth Meck, Chairman Robert Shearer, Vice Chairman Daniel C. Heller, Treasurer Herb Kreider Roger Rohrer Richard Shellenberger Jay Snyder Sonia Wasco Craig Lehman, County Commissioner Donald M. Robinson, Dir. Emeritus Associate Directors Darrell Becker Gregory Strausser Frank R. Burkhart Robert E. Wagner Lisa A. Graybeal Kent Weaver Youth Conservation School – Applications Accepted Ernest M. Orr, Jr. District Advisors A Leader in Outdoor Learning John Beiler Kathleen V. Schreiber James E. Hershey Deb Seibert he Lancaster County Youth Conservation School will take place July 23-29 celebrating Matthew J. Mack Alfred Wanner Jr. 39 years of education in the great outdoors. Students ages 14-16, here’s your chance David D. Miller Matthew Young to be a part of it. Kenneth M. Rutt Cynthia Zawrotuk T The Lancaster County Conservation District along with Local Sportsmen’s Clubs proudly Staff offers a weeklong summer field school focusing on outdoor activities and conservation of our Administration Christopher Thompson, Administrator natural resources. Students reside at the school where tents and cots demonstrate low impact Gerald Heistand, Business Manager camping at the Northern Lancaster County Fish and Game Protection Association in West Paula Harnish, Administrative Secretary Cocalico Township. Beverly Parmer, Sec./Receptionist Holly Shaub, Sec./Receptionist Motivated students should apply. Students gain extensive knowledge about wildlife and Erosion and Sedimentation conservation, leadership experience, and communication skills. There are many study topics Nate Kurtz, Department Manager to empower students, ensuring a sustained conservation legacy. Topics include water quality, Nevin Greiner, Resource Conservationist forestry, canoeing, wildlife management, archery, survival, and firearm safety. Students will Samantha Gordon, Erosion Control Tech Evan Martin, Erosion Control Tech have the opportunity to meet professionals in various environmental and conservation related Emily Broich, Erosion Control Tech fields and discuss career options with them. Jim Fricke, Erosion Control Tech Students benefit from generous County Federated Sportmens Clubs and Community Suzanne Kopp, E & S Secretary Organizations who provide 90% of the YCS tuition. Students are responsible for a $25 Agriculture Jeff Hill, Ag. Program Manager registration fee. To receive an application, contact the Conservation District at 299-5361 x.5 Kevin Seibert, Ag Compliance Coordinator or click www.lancasterconservation.org by June 15. James Saltsman, Ag Eng Tech Spec –Sallie Gregory, Education Coordinator Adam Hartz, Ag Eng Tech Spec Kent Bitting, Professional Engineer Kate Bresaw, Ag Compliance Insp Justin Furnia, Ag Compliance Insp FREE 2017 Calendar Greg Heigel, Ag Conservation Tech Keith Lutz, Ag Conservation Tech “A Healthy Bay Kevin Lutz, Ag Conservation Tech A Healthy Bay Takes Root in Trees” Steven Reiff, Ag Conservation Tech Takes Root in Maddie Klein, Ag Conservation Tech Trees™ The benefits of trees and conservation practices are Eric Knoll, Ag Conservation Tech featured in this FREE calendar filled with beautiful Leslie Weller, Ag Conservation Tech Dennis Eby, Plain Sect Outreach pictures. Watershed and Education 2017 Please contact the Conservation District if you would Matthew Kofroth, Watershed Specialist Calendar Sallie Gregory, Education Coordinator like to receive a 2017 Watershed Calendar, 299-5361 x.5. Shelly Dehoff, Ag/Public Liaison USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service Heather Grove, District Conservationist Kefeni Kejela, Soil Cons./Dist. Conservationist A Healthy Bay Takes Root in Trees You’d never guess that a tree planted in Lancaster County could actually be an antidote for a healthy Chesapeake Bay but, it’s true. As Gary Ballina, Civil Engineering Tech a resident of Lancaster County, we are living in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed an area that includes land areas in six states that drains into streams, brooks, and rivers that contribute waters in the Chesapeake Bay. Imagine a leaf that falls from a native tree and lands in a Lancaster County stream or on the ground near a stream provides a healthy Omer Brubaker, Soil Conservationist meal for the F.B.I. that lives in that stream. I’m talking about the F.B.I. that includes Fungus, Bacteria, and Insects. For example, a sycamore leaf drops into the stream and aquatic insects like a mayfl y takes cover attaching itself to the leaf. As the season continues, the leaf breaks down and the mayfl y feeds upon the leaf. Dayanna Estades, Soil Conservationist The mayfl y grows and moves through the bug life cycle. Keeping undercover, the mayfl y hopes to survive and stay clear of being eaten by a fi sh. If it can survive by spring it will wait for a warm day in May to crawl out of the water and emerge from the water. Shedding its exoskeleton, wings will develop and dry, and then it’s ready to take fl ight. Mark Myers, Soil Conservationist The mayfl y has an adult life of roughly 24 hours. Without a mouth and no time to eat or drink the mayfl y looks for a spot to deposit eggs as it rests near the surface of a river or stream. The eggs will sink and scatter within plants and leaves within the water. And the cycle begins again. Sally Barnes, Soil Conservation Tech The native sycamore feeds an indicator of good water quality, the mayfl y. With excellent water quality, the mayfl y may become food for a native brook trout, our state fi sh. In turn, the healthy water travels into the Chesapeake Bay boosting a completely new elissa iper- elson ecosystem. M P N , Program Assistant This equation begins upstream and leads to a healthy answer that can benefi t all communities in the Chesapeake One poppy has scouted out conditions and popped in this fl owerbed. As warm temperatures Bay Watershed. The summer harvest makes way for fall planting that conserves soil climb, perennial beds wake up. Perennial plants construct a permanent system in the soils as a cover crop.