The Endless Mountains Resource Conservation and Development Council will lead a diverse group of stakeholders in the sound conservation and stewardship of the region’s natural resources. The Council will promote the rural quality of life and its economic stability through organizational efforts, education of communities, technical expertise and sponsorship of projects.
For Pine Creek is a river: the River of Pines. Tiadaghton.
In 2007, the Endless Mountains RC&D and it’s partners completed the Pine Creek Watershed Rivers Conservation Plan funded by Pennsylvania’s Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Community Conservation Partnership Program.
The Pine Creek Watershed Rivers Conservation Plan (RCP) offers a plan for protecting the very things we find attractive, absorbing, and compelling about this area. The plan presents a non-regulatory, non-prescriptive framework for addressing issues the watershed faces. The RCP offers a wealth of good ideas for community groups to pursue and carry out. The plan presents recommendations for helping a timeless resource withstand the pressures of time – and change. Read more...
The Weed Control/Wildlife Habitat project
The Weed Control/Wildlife Habitat project was started three years ago and offered a one-on-one technical assistance program for landowners enrolled in USDA’s Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP). The program is designed to increase a landowner’s ability to identify and control noxious and invasive weeds on the land enrolled in CREP while enhancing wildlife habitat. Read more...
Installation of Grazing Best Management Practices and Solar/Wind Powered Water Pumping Systems for Rotational Grazing
The Endless Mountains RC&D Council received a grant to convert 360 acres of cropland to pasture and to install (10) solar/wind powered water pumping systems. The project is in cooperation with the Northeast Chapter of Project Grass and the Pocono Northeast RC&D Council. Read more...
Cost-Share Dollars Available for Forest Practices - 2008 Farm Bill provides funding for improving your forestland
The Food, Conservation and Energy Act of 2008, as the most recent Farm Bill is known, is important legislation that will drive U.S. agriculture policy for years to come. Along with the usual agriculture programs it also contains new features that can affect forestland and wildlife habitat. In recent years, Congress heard comments from Pennsylvania landowners, organizations and agencies about a lack of support for forestry and because of that input, Congress strengthened forest landowner opportunities in this legislation. Funding for the Conservation Title of the Farm Bill has increased significantly – an additional $4 billion in mandatory spending over the next five years. Combined with expanded eligibility, this new funding should enable more forest landowners to participate in USDA working lands programs. Early this year, the USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) met with the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR), PA Game Commission (PGC) and PA Fish and Boat Commission (PA F&BC) staff to discuss how NRCS will roll out programs affecting forests. If you have been avoiding improving your woods because of the expense, now is the ideal time to begin.
The Endless Mountains RC&D Council partnered with the Bradford/Sullivan Forest Landowners Association on December 15, 2009, the Susquehanna County Forest Landowners Association on February 4, 2010 and the Tioga County Woodland Owners Association on March 18, 2010 and hosted workshops to explain the details of these Farm Bill programs: participant eligibility, application and payment process, eligible practices and cost share availability.
Below are a few Farm Bill programs that forest landowners may find appropriate for their forests and objectives.
- Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP)
- Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP)
- Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program (WHIP)
- Farmland Protection Program (FPP)
Woodland Resource Adventure Camp
The Endless Mountains Resource Conservation and Development Council and its partners have been holding the Woodland Resource Adventure Camp for twenty-three years.Last year, this program was held on the campus of The Haft, near Dushore, Sullivan County, Pennsylvania. The Woodland Resources Adventure Camp is an overnight camp, open for students ages 12-16. Last year’s theme was “Aquatics”, and included one full day kayaking on the Susquehanna River. Participants learned about emerging contaminates, acid mine drainage, pond and lake ecology, wetlands, macroinvertebrates, stream dynamics and hydrology, fish management, boating safety, and much more. Read more...
