PACD Accepting CREP Mini-Grant Applications |
|
PACD has extended the application deadline for the 2022 CREP mini-grant program! The new deadline to apply is April 8, 2022.
Grants up to $3,000 will be awarded to implement educational and outreach activities that support and extend the work of the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP).
|
|
Project examples:
- Walk abouts/field days
- Farmer and landowner workshops
- Riparian buffer workshops
- Workshop series with several topics
- Developing educational materials like brochures, flyers, fact sheets, or billboards
- Hire interns to provide CREP outreach
|
|
Participants of a 2019 CREP Workshop held by the Blair County Conservation District |
|
We encourage working with USDA-NRCS, USDA-FSA, Pheasants Forever, PA Game Commission, Stroud Water Research Center, Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay, Chesapeake Bay Foundation, DEP, and other CREP partners to set up workshops and other projects! Be creative!
Financial and other support for the CREP Outreach Program Office Mini-grant Program is provided by the Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts, Inc. through a Growing Greener Watershed Protection grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection and with additional support from USDA-NRCS.
|
|
2022 CREP Partner Training Survey |
|
The Pennsylvania CREP partnership is planning 2022 training for those who work with the Pennsylvania CREP program. We need input from our target audience to make this training as effective as possible for you. If you work with the PA CREP program, please use the link below to complete the survey. Thank you for taking the time to participate! The survey will be open until April 22, 2022.
|
|
West Virginia Conservation Agency Recently Created CREP Video |
|
The West Virginia Conservation Agency created a video titled “Benefits of CREP in West Virginia (Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program) Video”. The video is intended to raise awareness about the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) and encourage more potential cooperators in West Virginia to enroll a portion of their farmland in CREP.
|
|
|
Insights on Reforestation Methods from
Stroud Water Research Center
|
The last newsletter included two insights from Stroud Center’s research on buffer methods: 1) use of stone mulch as an alternative to herbicide spots for protecting trees from voles and 2) use of 4’ tall welded wire fencing (~ 12’ x 12’) to protect clusters of multi-stem shrubs from deer.
In this issue: Stroud Center’s findings on tree shelter removal, tips for success in reed canary grass and the “center-hole” method for installing bird nets.
|
Case Study on Tree Shelter Removal: Actions when Trees Reached 1.5"-2" Diameter at Top of Tube |
|
As far back as 2006, the “best professional judgement” for tree shelter removal was to remove shelter when a tree reached 1.5-2” diameter at top of tube, noting that removal had to be balanced with risk of buck rub. Stroud Center now has data to help clarify that guidance. Above shows the treatments in the study. Below shows the results – percentage of trees that were damaged by buck rub. |
|
For the 100 trees with shelters fully removed, nearly 50% were damaged by buck rub by the third year after removal. Damage was often severe, with many trees 12-15’ tall dying back to only stump sprouts. For the 426 trees with shelter split but left in place, buck rub was seen on ~ 10% by year 3 and was less severe. (If splitting tubes, consider leaving a 2” band UNSPLIT in the middle. It will greatly help keeping tube in place.) For the 426 trees with shelter left intact and in place, ZERO percent were damaged by buck rub. To this point, none of those trees show any adverse effects of tubes being left in place. These were Tubex Combitubes with a perforation intended to allow trees to self-remove tubes. Numerous other brands include similar burst features. Where risk of buck rub is high, Stroud Center recommends leaving tubes in place unless specifically causing damage. If tubes are causing specific harm, splitting it all but 2” in middle is advisable. |
|
Beating Reed Canary Grass |
|
Reed canary grass is a tough competitor, and sites are often very wet. Buffer plantings on sites with reed canary grass are at increased risk of failure. Stroud Center has routinely had strong success (85%+ survival through four years) in reed canary grass. Recommendations are below. A common cause of failure is species selection not accounting for the typically very strong hydrology of sites with reed canary grass – plants drown. Maintenance is critical, and often also challenging due to wet soils.
To Beat Reed Canary Grass:
- Be sure species match soil moisture
- Maintenance is key
- 2x/yr herbicide spots
- 2x/yr mowing OR 6' diameter herbicide spots
|
|
Successful 2 Year-Old Planting in Reed Canary Grass |
|
Center-Hole Net Method
Nets protect birds, but if neglected can tangle trees. Neglected nets are a common problem in buffer plantings, leading to deformed tree leaders (see below). The simple practice of installing nets using the center-hole method can reduce tangling by roughly three-quarters, even if nets are neglected and not removed at the proper time.
|
|
Approximately 75% less tree tangling using the center-hole method |
|
Conservation Districts Complete Buffer Projects |
|
Allegheny County
Allegheny County Conservation District planted 2.7-acres of multi-functional riparian forest buffer at Round Hill Park in Allegheny County. The project cost $17,832.00.
|
|
|
Allegheny County
Allegheny County Conservation District planted 0.3-acres of multi-functional riparian forest buffer along Copper Creek in Allegheny County. The project cost $3,215.
|
|
|
Dauphin County
Dauphin County Conservation District planted a total of 5.7-acres of multi-functional riparian forest buffers at four sites in Dauphin County. Together the projects cost $17,651.56.
|
|
|
|
|
Financial and other support for this project is provided by the Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts, Inc. through a grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Bureau of Recreation and Conservation. |
|
Landowner Guide to Buffer Success |
|
CREP partners updated the “Landowner Guide to Buffer Success” that was last published in 2007. The guide features key tasks by season, tips to improve outcomes, example photos, summaries of how riparian forest buffers help streams, and links to resources. Guides are still available. |
Contact Holly Miller at hmiller@pacd.org to request copies and make arrangements for pick-up. |
|
|
Thank you to all our CREP partners who contributed to the Landowner Guide to Buffer Success! |
|
Are You a Member of the CREP Partners Listserve? |
|
Members of the CREP Partners Listserve already know that it’s a convenient way to share and receive program information, but did you know it’s also an email discussion group? Listserve members can ask questions, seek opinions, and discuss current issues related to the program through the list. Interested partners can email Molly Burns at mburns@pacd.org to join. |
|
Financial and other support for the CREP Outreach Program Office is provided by the Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts, Inc. through a Growing Greener Watershed Protection grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection and with additional support from USDA-NRCS.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
