North Central Conservation District

Transcription

1 North Central Conservation District Annual Report Fiscal Year

2 North Central Conservation District Introduction This Annual Report summarizes work performed by the North Central Conservation District (NCCD, or the District) during the fiscal year. NCCD is a quasi-governmental agency, created by state statute to assist the Commissioner of Environmental Protection in identifying and remedying the problems of soil and water erosion, and is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. The District is financed through municipal contributions, US EPA Clean Water Act Section 319 non-point source grants, technical assistance contracts with the Connecticut Department of Agriculture and the Natural Resources Conservation Service, an annual Plant and Seedling Sale fundraiser, and private grants and contributions. NCCD s service area includes 30 municipalities within north central CT, essentially comprising the area within the northern Connecticut River watershed. NCCD s office is located in Vernon. The District is governed by a volunteer board of directors comprised of local landowners with expertise and interest in the management and protection of our natural resources. The District is also an active member of the CT Envirothon Steering Committee, the Council on Soil and Water Conservation, the CT Association of Conservation Districts, and the CT Resource Conservation and Development Council. Meetings are open to the public and are typically held at the Tolland County Agricultural Center, 24 Hyde Avenue (Rt. 30) in Vernon, at 7:00pm on the fourth Thursday of each month. Please visit or call (860) to learn more. Board of Supervisors Staff Jack Collins, Chairman Enfield Joanna Shapiro Executive Director Jeff Folger, Vice Chairman Ellington Lin Marino, Secretary/Treasurer Tolland Barbara Kelly Program Coordinator Dan Camerota West Hartford Pamm Cooper, Resigned 2016 Manchester Ruth Miller Landscape Specialist Bob DePietro Bolton Harold Eastwood Michael Mocko Jane Seymour John S. Weedon Somers Stafford Springs Tolland Manchester John Dudula Tina Pelletier Natural Resource Specialist since December 2015 Bookkeeper since January 2016

3 Year in Review The District provided valuable technical services to municipalities by reviewing development plans and wetland boundaries, as well as serving as wetland agent to inland wetland and conservation agencies in Somers and Bolton. Our primary service has been assessing proposed erosion control measures, storm water management, and wetland impacts of proposed developments. The District also assisted landowners with natural resource issues, providing technical support regarding soil erosion solutions, invasive plant control, planting guidance, pond maintenance, and more. The District provided nutrient management services to local farmers, collecting soil samples from cornfields in early summer. The UCONN soils lab provided the results and fertilizer recommendations. The program has helped local producers to reduce fertilizer usage. The Plant and Seedling Sale and Fish Fingerling Sale promoted ecological landscaping and open space enjoyment, and also provided funds to support District programs. Volunteer Master Gardeners in both the current class and many previous classes assisted plant sale customers, answering many planting questions. An educational workshop was held during the plant sale, entitled Landscaping for Birds, Bees, and Butterflies Using Native Plants. This year, online ordering was an option for the first time, a convenience that many customers appreciated. Customers picking up plant orders and shopping for additional plant offerings The District coordinated the Connecticut Envirothon program. Educational workshops were held throughout the year for high school students to learn about aquatics, forestry, soil, wildlife, and the vast 2016 current issue, Invasive Species, which was incorporated into each station and was the Members of the public attending the workshop subject of the oral presentations, covering the relevant topics of prevention, introduction, spread, impact, and response. The field day competition was at the impressive Indian Rock Preserve educational facility in Bristol. Winning team from Housatonic Valley Agriscience Students presenting on the topic of invasive species Tremendous environmental benefit resulted from projects and grant work, further described and depicted on the interior section of this document. Look inside for grants/project information

4 Grant/Project Work North Branch Park River Implementation With funding through the EPA Clean Water Act Section 319 nonpoint source program, locally administered by the CT Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, the District and the North Branch Park River Watershed Coordinator completed a multi-phase stormwater quality project. The third and largest bioretention area on the site was constructed during the summer of The three bioretention areas were designed to treat polluted stormwater before discharging to the North Branch Park River, an impaired waterbody, adjacent to parking areas serving UConn School of Law and Hartford Seminary. We continue to work with the North Branch Park River Watershed Coordinator to engage the community in protecting the watershed and maintaining the practices. Farmland Restoration Grant The District has continued to assist the Connecticut Department of Agriculture (DoAG) with implementation of the Farmland Restoration Program. The Farmland Restoration Program was created to increase food and fiber production state-wide, and helps farmers and landowners to reclaim former production farmland or to expand existing farmland. The program can fund various activities that will expand agricultural production, including tree removal, well development, stump removal, access improvement, and fence installation. The District s role in the program is to provide technical assistance, complete initial site inspections, and prepare Restoration Plans. This work has provided District staff with an opportunity to assist many farms throughout the state. Wooded area to be restored in South Windsor Proposed restoration area in Newtown Restoration work in progress in West Suffield Restored farm road in South Windsor Completed restoration field in Guilford Restored field in South Windsor Landscape Design and Planting Projects Throughout the year, the District provided invasive plant removal and planting instructions, as well as formalized concept designs, created by our in-house landscape designer, to individuals and organizations. The photos below represent a collaboration between the District, CT Water Company, and the Town of Farmington. Together, an Environmental and Regulatory Compliance Coordinator from CT Water, the Assistant Town Planner from the Town of Farmington, and the Landscape Designer from the District identified land within the aquifer from which to remove invasive Japanese Knotweed and to plant native plants. In terms of funding, the District provided the design work and CT Water and the Town of Farmington purchased the plants. Volunteers from the Town of Farmington continued to combat invasive regrowth throughout the summer. The District s planting plan is being implemented in phases (first phase is shown in photos below), as funds allow. Conceptual Drawing CT Water Company/Farmington The images to the right represent an ongoing project in which the District is assisting the Farmington River Watershed Association to redesign the landscape to improve conditions in the watershed. This project is located on the Glover Property, owned by the Simsbury Land Trust, who has been removing invasive plants. District staff designed a shrub and meadow garden, consisting of many native plant species of tremendous value to area wildlife. The second phase was planted in April Conceptual Drawing FRWA/Simsbury Land Trust

5 FINANCIAL STATEMENT* July 2015 June 2016 Income DEEP 319 Grant Projects 82,150 State of CT 42,156 Fee for Service 37,435 Seedling/Fish Sales 56,089 Long Island Sound Grant 36,250 Town Donations 32,129 NRCS Technical Services Contract 27,757 CT DoAG Agviability Grant 12,343 CT DoAG Farmland Restoration 4,887 Interest/Investments -1,284 Total 329,912 Expenses Salaries & Benefits 124,376 DEEP Grant Projects 51,700 Seedling/Fish 38,454 Long Island Sound Grant 36,000 NRCS Technical Services Contract 25,214 Taxes and Insurance 10,915 Rent 7,296 Office Expenses/Postage/Equipment 5,516 Auto Expenses and Mileage 4,931 Audit 2,500 Dues 226 Total 307,128 *Detailed financial statement available upon request