A completed project in Montour County
Field Days
August 5, 6, 7, or 8 2014
Steven and Esther Martin Farm, Lewisburg PA
Eroding streams are problems for landowners who watch their yard shrink; farmers who see their fields wash away with each storm; and municipalities as they try to keep roads stable, bridges fixed, and culverts functioning. The soil washed away during rain events silts up the water and stream bed, damaging the aquatic habitat, diminishing the ecological functioning of the stream, and reducing the recreational attributes of the stream.
For most of these problems there is a solution that will stabilize the stream bank and increase the aquatic habitat. The techniques, in use by the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission for over 60 years, use log and stone deflectors, and stone-filled lob cribbing to protect banks and redirect streamflows.
A pasture in Union County before work is undertaken
Other tool, such as animal walkways, fencing, animal crossings and buffer plantings, are used to address the issues farmers face along their fields and pastures. Agricultural Best Management Practices (Ag. BMPs) help reduce the nutrients entering the stream. They also help keep pressure off the stream banks by moving animals and activity back from the edge of the stream.
For five summers, county conservation districts have been working with the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission on projects to install projects along sediment-impaired streams. The projects work to secure the stream bank and decrease erosion, while at the same time providing opportunities for increased aquatic habitat. These projects have protected dozens of farm fields, access lanes, roads, and culverts.
The same Union County pasture immediately after construction.
To get more information and see the projects firsthand join us on Turtle Creek (Union County) as we work with several private landowners to stabilize the stream bank, increase aquatic habitat, and fence livestock from the stream. This will be an active construction and you’ll see sections of the stream that still have eroding stream banks, as well as sections of the stream where multi-log deflectors and mudsills have been installed. Possibly best of all, you can talk to the designers and installers about the techniques, how they are permitted, and where there might be partnering opportunities for funding. You’ll also have the opportunity to see the active construction taking place.
Because of the interest, we are opening the site for four days this year. The days are being set-up for specific audiences, but feel free to contact us if you can’t make it on the designated day and would like to come on one of the other designated days:
• Tuesday, August 5 – state and county agencies
• Wednesday, August 6 – farmers
• Thursday, August 7 – conservation organizations, municipalities, and landowners
• Friday, August 8 – open to anyone
If you can’t attend the day that you “fit” in, please let us know. We’ll do our best to accommodate you.
All four days will have a morning tour at 10am, lasting until about 12pm, and a second tour from about 1pm until 3pm.
Since several of the farms we’ll be working at are plain sect farms, we’re asking that people attending the field days be considerate of their conservative beliefs. Please think about your attire for the day, and if wearing shorts, make sure they are longer shorts (which is a contradiction, we know). T-shirts are fine, but please think about whether any text or graphics on the shirts could be offensive.
Likewise, you are more than welcome to take pictures during the event, but we ask that you stay aware of any plain sect members who are working at the farm or attending the tour, and keep them out of the photos, even the background. We are more than happy to work with you to help you get the photos you need.
Pre-registration is not required, but it will help with planning. To register email rcarey@npcweb.org, or call 570-323-6222. Please include your name and a daytime contact number.
Feel free to pass this information along to landowners, farmers, or other municipal officials you feel may be interested in attending.
Directions to 4542 Furnace Road, Lewisburg, PA 17837:
From Route 45, turn south onto Dreisbach Church Road; at the 4 -way intersection, turn left heading east onto Furnace Road; go approximately 1 mile and the driveway will be on your left; it’s a long driveway and the farmstead is not visible from Furnace Road.
From Route 15, turn west onto Furnace Road just north of Winfield; (this will take you by the SEDA-COG office); continue on Furnace Road west for approximately 4.5 miles; the driveway will be on your right. It is approximately 0.6 miles west of the intersection of Furnace Road and Salem Church Road.
