CONSERVATION UPDATES

MAY 2006
StephenHalesNamed 2005CooperatoroftheYear
AttheannualcooperatordinneronMay3,2006, theCharlesSoilConservationDistrictBoardof Supervisorspresentedtheir2005CooperatoroftheYear awardposthumouslytoStephenHalesinrecognitionof thenumerousconservationpracticesandstructureshe completedonhisZekiahViewFarminBelAlton, Maryland.Mr.Haleswife,Cynthia,andhisfamily acceptedtheawardinhishonor. SincebecomingacooperatorwiththeCharles SCDin1993,Mr.Halesinstallednumerousconservation practicesincludingconservationtillage,covercrop, pastureandhayplantingandprescribedgrazing.He alsohasinstallednumerousstructuresincludingawaste storagefacility,livestockpond,fencing,heavyusearea andwateringfacilities. Mr.HalesturnedhisZekiahViewFarmintoa uniquelivestockandgrainfarmwithapproximately100 acresofmanagedpastureand57acresofcropland.He activelypursuedconservationpracticesthatwould improvewaterqualityandalsobenefithisfarm operation.

20052006MACSCoverCropProgram ClaimforPaymentDeadline

Remindertoallparticipantsinthe20052006 covercropprogramthatthedeadlinetosubmitclaimfor paymentandcertifyforthecovercropsuppressionor killdownisFriday,June2,2006.Ifyouhaveany questionsregardingthisprogram,pleasecontactthe CharlesSCDoffice.

CharlesSCDWorkingwithNavalFacilities EngineeringCommand(NAVFAC)onShoreline StabilizationProject

TheCharlesSCDisworkingwithNaval FacilitiesEngineeringCommand(NAVFAC)todesign andinstalloffshorebreakwaters,sillsandbeachfill alongapproximately6,300feetoferodingPotomacRiver shorelineattheNavalSupportFacilityIndianHead (NSFIH).Scrubshrub,riparianfloodplain,forestand uplandvegetationwillbeplantedlandwardofshoreline stabilizationstructurestoprovidewildlifebenefitsin additiontotheprimaryprojectbenefits:erosionand sedimentcontrol,facilityandinfrastructureprotection andwaterqualityenhancement. TheshorelineofthePotomacRiveratNSFIHis generallyhighuplandbanksranginginheightfrom30 feettoover100feetabovethePotomacRiver.These bankshaveaveragehistoricalerosionratesof1to2feet peryear. Toaddresstheshorelineerosionthatthreatens buildings,roadsandotherinfrastructureattheMain InstallationofNSFIH,theprojectenvisions approximately6,300feetofnoncontinuousoffshore

StephenHalesFamily

breakwaterswithgapsdesignedtoallowforbeach development.Thesestructureswillreduceadverse waveactionontheshorelineand,incombinationwith thesill,beachfillandplantings,effectivelystabilizethis criticallyerodingarea. TheDistrictiscurrentlyworkingwithadesign consultant,NSFIHandSouthernMarylandResource ConservationandDevelopment(RC&D)tocoordinate projectapprovalandpermitting.Itisexpectedthatthe SCDwillalsoprovidecontractingassistanceandproject oversightbeginningsometimeinthefirsthalfof2006.

200607CoverCropProgramSignin June12thruJuly28,2006
Aharvestoptiontopsthelistofnewfeatures availabletofarmerswhosignupfortheMaryland DepartmentofAgricultures20062007CoverCrop Program.Eligiblefarmerscanreceivecostshare assistancerangingfrom$20$50anacretoplantcover cropsthisfall. Inadditiontotheharvestoption,otherchanges intheprogramthisyearincludelargeracreagecapsand anextendedsignupperiod(June12thruJuly28,2006). Morethan$8millionincovercropfundswillbe availabletofarmersforthe20062007plantingseason throughaspecialsupplementtotheChesapeakeBay RestorationFund. AlsonewthisyearisaCommodityCoverCrop Programwhichisofferedforfarmerswhowantto harvesttheircovercrops.Upto500acresmaybe enrolledusingaseparateapplication.Nofertilizeror manuremaybeappliedtotheseacrespriortoMarch1, 2007. IntheConventionalprogram,aminimumof fiveacresofcovercrophastobeplantedwitha maximumplantingof1,000acresperfarm. Requestsforcovercropfundswillbeapproved onafirstcome,firstservedbasis.Additionalstandby acresintheconventionalprogrammaybeapprovedif fundsareavailableaftertheregularsignupends. StandbyacreageisnotavailableintheCommodity CoverCropProgram. Formoreinformationaboutthecovercrop programortosignup,pleasecallorvisittheCharles SCDofficeat101CatalpaDrive,Suite106C,LaPlata, Md.,phone:3019349588,ext.3 NEWFEATURESOFTHEMARYLAND COVERCROPPROGRAM: Plantupto1,000acresperfarm Plusharvestoptionavailable500acremaximum Lesspaperwork

CharlesSCDSponsoringGreenCard TrainingonJune14,2006
TheCharlesSCDandtheMarylandDepartment oftheEnvironmentsResponsiblePersonnel CertificationProgramforErosionandSedimentControl arehostingGreenCardtrainingonWednesday,June 14,2006from9:00a.m.thru12:30p.m.Thetrainingwill beheldattheCharlesCountyGovernmentBuilding, CountyCommissionersMeetingRoom,200Baltimore Street,LaPlata,MD.Preregistrationisrequiredforthis courseandtheregistrationfeeis$25.00perperson. Statelawrequiresthatanyresponsiblepersonnel involvedingradingorothersoildisturbingactivitiesbe knowledgeableaboutsedimentanderosioncontrol principles,specificationsandimplementationandhavea certificateofattendanceatanMDEGreenCardclass. Foradditionalinformation,ortoregisterforthe class,pleasecalltheCharlesSCDat:3019349588,ext.3

LaPlataHighSchoolWinsCharlesCounty EnvirothonCompetition
ThethirteenthannualCharlesCounty EnvirothonCompetitionwasheldatGilbertRunPark onApril26,2006.TeamsfromallsixCharlesCounty publichighschoolsviedforthehonorofrepresenting theCountyattheMarylandStateEnvirothon,which willbeheldfromJune20thru22attheWilliamS. SchmidtOutdoorEducationCenterinPrinceGeorges County. Forthefourthyearinarow,ateamfrom LaPlataHighSchoolwontheCountyevent.Team membersincluded:MaryHoward,LisaReese,Dustin Burch,NicoleShillingandMaysaMiller. ThesecondplaceteamfromThomasStoneHigh Schoolincluded:NicoleLubinsky,JessicaBurroughs, KaitlynMilmanandKatieFlerlage. Severalofthesestudentshavebeeninthe CharlesCountyEnvirothonprogramfortheirentire fouryearsofhighschool.Theyare:MaryHoward, LaPlataHighSchoolplusKatieFlerlage,Jessica BurroughsandNicoleLubinskifromThomasStone HighSchool.

GordonSpeaksatMAEOEWorkshop
CarolGordon,MDAPlannerstationedinthe CharlesSCD,gaveapresentationonthebasicsofsoil scienceincludingphysical,chemicalandbiological propertiesofsoilandthefivesoilformingfactors.She explainedwhysoilsareimportantandhowtheyvary statewideaswellasglobally. TheworkshopwassponsoredbytheMaryland AssociationforEnvironmentalandOutdoor Education(MAEOE)andwasheldattheHarfordGlen EnvironmentalEducationCenter.Attendeesconsisted largelyofnonformalenvironmentaleducatorsfrom outdooreducationcentersinMarylandandthe surroundingregionwhowereinterestedinlearningthe technicalaspectsofsoilsaswellashowtomakesoilsa moreexcitingandengagingtopicforchildren..Oncethe basicswerecovered,Ms.Gordontooktheclassoutdoors toexaminetwodifferencehanddugsoilpits.Soil texturingbyfeelandpickingawayatthesoilsurface inthepitprovidedthehandsonlearningexperience participantswereanticipating.Thefirstpitofclayloam, inawoodlandarea,contrastedwellwiththesecondpit ofalluvialsoillocatedonthebanksofastream.Later thegroupwasgiveninstructionsonhowtonavigate throughasoilsurvey. Thetopicsparticipantsseemedmostinterestedin wereaggregatestability,thebenefitsoforganicmatter andclayinthesoilduetotheirhighercationexchange capacity,calculatingbulkdensity,soilpHandnutrient availability,andhowsoiltyperelatestolandscape. Theworkshopalsocoveredtopicssuchas watershedandwetlands,uplandvegetation,and schoolyardandcommunityprojects.

1stPlace2006CharlesCountyEnvirothon WinnerLaPlataHighSchoolCoachElaineReynolds

2ndPlace2006CharlesCountyEnvirothonWinnerThomasStone HighSchoolCoachJanMilman

Gordon(standingtorightofsoilpit)andworkshopparticipants

B.J.HanksJoinsCharlesSCDStaff
TheCharlesSCDwelcomesourneweststaff member,BettyJ.Hanks(BJ).BJworksfortheDistrict onaparttimebasis(WednesdayandThursday) assistingwithvariousofficetasksincludingreviewing erosionandsedimentcontrolplans.BJgrewupona farminNebraska.ShenowresidesinSt.MarysCounty withherhusband,Dan.

CALENDAROFEVENTS
DATE June3,2006 Thru June4,2006 June8,2006 (2:00p.m.) June12,2006 thru July28,2006 June14,2006 (9:00a.m.12:30p.m.) June22,2006 EVENT AmericanIndianFestival&Pow Wow16816CountryLane, Waldorf,MD MarylandHorseHealthand DiseasePreventionSeminar LaurelRacetrack 200607WinterCoverCropSign upBegins GreenCardSedimentControl Training MarylandEnvirothon CompetitionWilliamS.Schmidt OutdoorEducationCenterPrince GeorgesCounty PastureWalksinCharlesCounty CharlesSCDWebSite

Upcoming Soon

B. J. Hanks

Charles SCD 101 Catalpa Drive, Suite 106-C LaPlata, MD 20646

Standard Rate U. S. Postage PAID Permit # 16 LaPlata, MD 20646