Improving Surface and Ground Water Quality via Agricultural Lands: Two Lancaster County Case Studies

Jeffery E. Swinehart Stephanie A. SmithDeputy Director Municipal Outreach CoordinatorLancaster Farmland Trust Lancaster Farmland Trust

Case Study #1

West Lampeter Township BMP (Best Management Practices)

Assessment

The Context for the AssessmentWhy is water quality at the forefront of the conversation?

Lancaster

CHESAPEAKE BAY CLEANUP

Lancaster Countys Impaired Streams

West LampeterTownship

West Lampeter is comprised of Pequea Creek watershed Mill Creek watershed Slight portion of Conestoga

River watershed

**From 2003 Comprehensive Plan**

Case Study: West Lampeter Township, Lancaster County, PA

West Lampeters MS4 Permit and TMDL Plan

Notice of Intent for renewal of MS4 Permit Submitted to PA DEP in Sept. 2012

Requires Township to provide a MS4 Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) Plan to achieve the required reductions outlined in TMDL Plan for Pequea Creek (2006)

o PhosphorusReduction 57%

o Sediment Reduction 83%

West Lampeter Townships TMDL Strategy for the Pequea Creek Watershed

West Lampeters MS4 Area is 629 acres

Developed Area 398 acres

Agricultural Area231 acres

Long Term Stormwater Management Costs

UMDs Environmental Finance Center completed the Lancaster County Municipal Stormwater Management Financing Feasibility Study in 2013

Worked with 6 Lancaster County municipalities (listed on left)

The objective of this effort was to:- Identify the current level of stormwater service- Determine the future level of service needed to

deliver a comprehensive stormwatermanagement program

- Highlight any and all opportunities to work collaboratively across the collective municipalities

Scope includes visiting all of West LampeterTownships ag-use properties 10 acres or more to get a baseline of the following:

- In compliance?- Document BMPs- Listen and understand farmers concerns- Find opportunities for partnership between farmer and municipality

What is the West Lampeter BMP (Best Management Practice) Assessment Project?

A partnership between West LampeterTownship and Lancaster Farmland Trust to cost-effectively improve local water quality through baseline documentation, education and outreach to West LampeterTownship farmers.

A New Model to Improve Water Quality

Farmers are implementing good practices! Just not documented.

Green infrastructure BMPs happening all over Lancaster County

West Lampeters current and future land use

Rising maintenance costs for existing (and future) infrastructure

Opportunities to build relationships with farmers

Reinvest in regions biggest industry, agriculture

Agriculture can assist in alleviating water quality issues!

Identified Properties

West Lampeter Township BMP Assessment Timeline

Jan2013

Feb2014

FarmersMeeting

Feb2013

Oct2013

Nov2013

Dec2013

Jan2014

Farm Assessments DataAnalysisReport Results

Mtgs.

Results

Conservation Practices

2,582 acres in no-till 1,316 acres of cover crops 2,619 acres of contour farming 38,103 linear feet of grassed waterways 107,487 linear feet of terracing

Conservation Plans/Nutrient Management Plans

47% have a Conservation Plan/Ag E&S Plan

53% have Manure/Nutrient Management Plan

About 50% of BMPs found were NOT documented in a conservation plan!

Streams on Farms

80% of properties have a stream

63% of properties with a stream have buffer on at least a portion of the stream

59 properties (63%) have 700+ feet of stream

Future PartnershipOpportunities Identified

PHASE II: Planning, Compliance, and Implementation

Design possible BMPs to implement

LandStudies completed Big Spring Run floodplain restoration extension feasibility study

Follow up with farmers to have discussion about their future plans and implementation goals

Board of Supervisors approved to create local Conservation Plan cost-share program ($250/plan)

Match $$$ for partnerships: National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) grant to get farmers in compliance AND go above baseline (CIP program)

Other Ways to Utilize Baseline Information

Baseline information can be used for MapShed modeling (GIS-based watershed modeling tool)

To get accurate picture of ground conditions for better results and to identify best BMPs to implement

LFT using BMP Assessment information in East Cocalico to enter data into MapShed. LandStudies contracted to do the work.

Agriculture Animal Data (screen shot of model input)

A Model for Replication

Municipality

3rd Party Verification/Outreach

(Land Trust,Non-Profit)

EngineerAnd/or

Consulting Firm

Landowner/Specific Land Use

(ie. Farmers)

Challenges/Barriers to Approach

- How to quantify BMPs (how does a BMP not in a plan get counted?

- How to monitor and maintain BMPs

- BMPs happening outside of MS4 area but still drain into same watershed - change DEPs offset policy?

Case Study #2

ELANCO (Eastern Lancaster County)

Source Water Protection Collaborative

ELANCO Region

This part of Lancaster County historically has high nitrate levels (averaging around 8 ppm). Treatment levels for public water suppliers start at 10 ppm (maximum contaminant level - MCL).

Large conservative Mennonite community that is very closed off to outside organizations and agencies.

National Source Water Collaborative Pilot Project

Lancaster County chosen as one of three national pilot projects

Lancaster County, Pennsylvania

Sheridan, Wyoming

State of Wisconsin

ObjectiveTo conduct outreach to farmers to promote conservation practices that reduce nitrate levels in the region

ELANCO Source Water Protection a True Collaborative

EPA Headquarters (Washington, DC) and Region 3 (Philadelphia USDA/NRCS Lancaster County Conservation District ELANCO municipalities (East Earl Township, Terre Hill Borough, Caernarvon Township, Brecknock

Township, and Earl Township) PA Department of Environmental Protection (Office of Drinking Water) Pennsylvania Rural Water Association WREN Western Heights Water Authority Lancaster Farmland Trust Lancaster County Conservancy Susquehanna River Basin Commission Private consulting firms: Team Ag, SMS Group (did ELANCO Source Water Protection Plan), LandStudies,

Becker Engineering Most importantly, representatives from the Mennonite Community

Amos Zimmerman (farmer) Aaron Hurst (small business owner)

Headed by Lancaster County Planning Commission, partners included:

Phase I: Education and Outreach to Farmers

GoalTo conduct outreach to farmers to promote conservation practices that reduce nitrate levels in the region

Education and OutreachOrganized workshop at Shady Maple with Ray Archuleta, noted NRCS soil health expert.

Local connections key!Used Mennonite hotline to get the word out about the event.

400 FARMERS ATTENDED!

THE WORD IS OUT.

NOW WHAT?

FORMALIZINGTHECOLLABORATIVE

Ag Committee Lancaster County Conservation

District Lancaster Farmland Trust Team Ag Consulting Jeff Stoltzfus, Adult Educator DEP Office of Drinking Water EPA Region 3 Amos and Aaron, Mennonite

Representatives

Next Steps Conservation District 1-on-1 visits Focus groups

Pasture management Manure/Pesticide Management Free well water testing

Implementation assistance!

Collaboration, open communication, and program streamlining key to

keep consistent messaging!

STAY TUNED FOR INITIAL RESULTS.COMING SPRING 2015.

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