Case Studies

Pennsylvania Stream Signage Program

funded by: PA Department of Environmental Protection - Growing Greener

The Pennsylvania Association of Resource Conservation and Development (RC&D) Councils, in partnership with the Pennsylvania Organization for Watersheds and Rivers (POWR), Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, and the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation established a Stream Signage Program to install PENNDOT-approved signs identifying streams, rivers, and creeks in Pennsylvania. The signs were placed immediately before both sides of bridges on state-owned roads that cross over the waterways.  The purpose of the Stream Signage Program was to raise awareness, connect people to their watersheds and encourage them to protect their water resources.

Nutrient Management Through Precision Agriculture

funded by: PA Department of Environmental Protection - Growing Greener

Using a global positioning system (GPS) and geographic information systems (GIS) technology to implement variable rate fertilization and pesticide application on farms to reduce non-point source agricultural nutrient and chemical pollution in the Delaware Watershed.

Complete Report

Improved Livestock Waste Distribution on Pasture

funded by: PA Department of Environmental Protection - Growing Greener

Innovative water delivery systems that utilized solar, wind, gravity, and electric power sources were installed on fourteen livestock farms in northeastern Pennsylvania. The purpose was to demonstrate the environmental and production benefits of providing drinking water in multiple locations to better distribute waste and reduce erosion around drinking areas and in cattle lanes.

Report

Reclaimed Mineland Areas As Carbon Sinks

funded by: U. S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

This project was undertaken to evaluate the potential for sequestration of atmospheric carbon on minelands and on other severely disturbed lands undergoing revegetation through use of coal ahs as a soil substitute. It involved the investigation and documentation of the apparent carbon sequestration that has occurred under three types of vegetation on coal fly ash basins in eastern Pennsylvania.

Complete Report

Northeast Pennsylvania Forest Stewardship Project

funded by: U. S. Forest Service

108 individual Forest Stewardship plans were prepared on 26,552 acres in Northeastern Pennsylvania. The initial proposal was to align neighboring forest landowners into "Working Circles" and to seek bids for consulting forest services in order to reduce the cost to $5.00 per acre or less. The report describes the problems encountered with low bid contracting and how the project was revised to achieve success.

Complete Report - Grant 1 • Complete Report - Grant 2

Solar Power Livestock Watering Project

funded by: PA Department of Environmental Protection - Growing Greener

Twenty-seven solar powered water pumping systems were installed to demonstrate the use of photovoltaic (PV) solar technology on typical Pennsylvania livestock farms.

Complete Report • Factsheet

Stormwater Management and Education Initiative

funded by: The League of Women Voters Water Resources Education Network (WREN)

Publish and distribute a stormwater management handbook, development of a website, and workshops focusing on best management practices aimed at local official, whose efforts include reducing nonpoint source pollution in streams and rivers located the ten (10) county area.
Partners: Clarks Green Borough, Dallas Borough, Delaware Township, Port Clinton Borough, Lackawanna College, EPCAMR, and the Conservation Districts of Carbon, Lackawanna, Luzerne, Monroe, Northumberland and Schuylkill Counties in Pennsylvania.

Website • Final Report • Handbook

Solar and Wind Powered Water Pumping Systems for Rotational Grazing Systems

funded by: Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection - Pennsylvania Energy Harvest Grant Program

Solar or wind powered water systems will be installed throughout the thirteen county Project Grass Northeast region to reduce the use of fossil fuels in livestock production systems by utilizing rotational grazing, while at the same time improving water and soil quality. Secondary goals include promoting rotational grazing and its use as a sound conservation practice to deal with water quality issues, erosion control, and nutrient management.

Final Report

All rights to these reports, brochures, etc. are the intellectual property of and retained by the funding agency, the Pocono Northeast RC&D Council and the Author.