Spring 2024

"The Dirt"

A Resource for Local Conservation

Montgomery County Conservation District, Martha’s Community Farm & Penn State Master Watershed Stewards Partner to Offer Tour of Riparian Buffer “Food Forest”

Brian Vadino, Watershed Specialist

On April 20, MCCD, Martha’s Choice Marketplace and Community Farm, and the Penn State Master Watershed Stewards Program hosted a tour of a 1-acre riparian buffer “food forest” that was planted at the farm along the Perkiomen Creek in Fall of 2022. A total of 30 individuals, including residents and representatives of local organizations, attended the tour.

Martha’s Choice Marketplace and Community Farm is the largest food pantry in Montgomery County, serving almost 20,000 individuals and delivering 1.5 million pounds of food every year. Their mission is to build community through access to healthy food. For more information, please visit: https://www.marthaschoicemarketplace.com/community-farm

Following an introduction by Jesse Antonini, Farm Manager, MCCD’s Watershed Specialist, Brian Vadino, provided information on MCCD programs, the Perkiomen Creek watershed, the importance of riparian forest buffers, specific goals of the completed riparian buffer project (which include but are not limited to preventing soil erosion and reducing pollution), and project planning for success. Penn State Master Watershed Steward, Robert Pace, shared project information including site preparation, plant selection, installation, protection, irrigation, maintenance, and monitoring. Other Penn State Master Watershed Steward volunteers provided a demonstration of non-point source pollution using the EnviroScape model. Jesse Antonini and Jake Summers (Community Engagement and Education Manager, Martha’s Community Farm) offered a public tour of other planting areas (gardens and greenhouses) to discuss what is being grown, and how it is being grown to support communities in need.

For links to additional information and guidance to design, establish and maintain food forest buffers (aka Multifunctional Riparian Forest Buffers), visit this DCNR resource .

The Penn State Master Watershed Steward program was established to educate and empower volunteers to protect environmental resources. Training and volunteer service are coordinated at the county level by Extension staff, partners, or trained volunteers. Generally, 15-20 people are selected for the program each year. Those accepted to the program attend training classes that focus on a broad range of water resource topics, including groundwater, stream ecology, wetlands, invasive plants, water recreation and stormwater management.

For more information, please visit:

https://extension.psu.edu/programs/watershed-stewards/counties/montgomery

The Fall 2022 planting project featured on the tour was made possible by the TreeVitalize Watersheds Grant program, managed by the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, with funding from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection’s Growing Greener program, PECO and Aqua PA for projects located within its source water protection zones.

Financial and other support for the tour was provided by the Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts, Inc. through a grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection under Section 319 of the Clean Water Act, administered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

No-Till Drill Educational Video

Abby Reiter, Ag Conservation Specialist

Montgomery County Conservation District partnered with Penn State Extension, the Montgomery County Planning Commission and Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts through an educational grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection to film a video demonstrating the use of a no till drill which is available for rental through MCCD. This video provides a step-by-step guide on how to set up, calibrate and use the no till drill for planting.

The goal for this project was to create an educational video that serves as a resource for participants of the no till drill rental program, as well as general ag conservation education, to promote no-till planting. The drill can be used for no-till seeding, pasture renovation, planting of pollinator plots and lawn to meadow conversion, and basin naturalization.

No till farming plants crops without disturbing the soil. This provides many soil and water quality benefits including:

Reduced soil erosion
Improved soil structure and increased soil moisture
Increased organic matter & soil fertility
Increased soil microbial activity and biological diversity
Increased nutrient cycling and reduced nutrient runoff
Reduced labor, fuel and irrigation time/cost

No-Till Drill Video

PAG-02 Expiration & Renewal - December 2024

Jeff, McKenna, Resource Conservationist

The current PAG-02 NPDES General Permit for Discharges of Stormwater Associated with Construction Activities expires this December, and a new permit is on the horizon. All existing, open permits will either need to be renewed or terminated (including acknowledgement of the Notice of Termination) before December 7, 2024. DEP is working on a simplified Notice of Intent (NOI) for renewal purposes. Once the final renewal NOI is posted, applicants will be notified of the process to renew permits. This is expected to be announcement in September.

Who will need to renew their permits prior to December?

Permits for projects that are still active and/or wish to retain permit coverage need to renew. Projects that received permit authorization or renewal in 2024 prior to December 7^th will need to renew their permit. Projects that are completed, but do not yet have a uniform 70% vegetative stabilization/do not yet have an acknowledged Notice of Termination will also need to renew their permit. A $500.00 filing fee and District review fee will be required to accompany the renewal NOI.

This permit renewal exercise will extend all renewed permits until December, 2029.

Our current guidance suggests that quite a few of the documents that are now being utilized will be updated, replaced, or eliminated. A majority of the documents associated with the new permit are currently available in draft form on the DEP website E&S Resources page.

A PAG-02 Fact Sheet is available, containing valuable information regarding the proposed changes that will be included in the upcoming 2024 PAG-02 permit.

Stay tuned for more in-depth information coming soon to a Conservation District near you!

May is Garden for Wildlife Month!

Jessica Buck, District Manager

Choose NATIVE! Native plants are adapted to thrive in a specific region and climate. Native species serve pollinators and wildlife, providing food and habitat. They require less maintenance and benefit soil quality through deep root systems, reduced erosion and increased stormwater infiltration.

When selecting plant species for your gardens, consider native plants first. Visit the Perkiomen Watershed Conservancy's website to learn of additional benefits of native species, and resources are available to help you select the species that will thrive in your location.

Also view Pennsylvania's Native Plants for the Perennial Garden.

Unlike native species, invasive and non-native species do not provide the same benefits to pollinators and wildlife, do not provide ecological benefits, require more maintenance, are not necessarily adapted to thrive in your climate/region, and often outcompete beneficial species. One way invasive plants take hold in our region is through our gardens. Before your next plant purchase, please consider regional native alternatives that are just as breathtaking as the invasives!

7 Beautiful Native Plants to substitute for popular invasives

Where to buy native plants: This time of year, local watershed organizations and Penn State Master Gardener programs host native plant sales. There are also native plant nurseries in the area.

Click here to learn more about where to purchase native plants.

PV TU Teams Up with Aqua PA and MCCD to Enhance Perkiomen Creek Tree Cover

Jim Coffey - “Trout in the Classroom” and Youth Education Coordinator, Board Member, Perkiomen Valley Trout Unlimited

The Perkiomen Valley Chapter of Trout Unlimited, Aqua PA and the Montgomery County Conservation District teamed up to help our local environment and protect water quality. Volunteers planted and maintained trees in the Riparian Area of Green Lane Park along the West Branch of the Perkiomen Creek and the Main Branch of the Perkiomen Creek. The Trees will not only produce oxygen and enhance the local climate but will help improve water quality by filtering pollutants from storm water runoff, preventing soil erosion and lowering water temperatures. A special thanks goes out to Amanda Obosenko and Matt Marchisello of Aqua Pa, Brian Vadino of the MCCD, and Mark Stannard, James Brennan, Derek Bargaehr, Dave Demig , Steve Basson and Jim Coffey of PVTU.

Congratulations to the winner of the 2024 High School Envirothon, North Penn High School! This team of 5 students will advance to the PA State competition!

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PV TU Teams Up with Aqua PA and MCCD to Enhance Perkiomen Creek Tree Cover

﻿Congratulations to the winner of the 2024 High School Envirothon, North Penn High School! This team of 5 students will advance to the PA State competition!

Congratulations to the winner of the 2024 High School Envirothon, North Penn High School! This team of 5 students will advance to the PA State competition!