ag-assistanceAgricultural Assistance Program

The Bay Watershed encompasses 6 states and works its way across 64,000 square miles of land before pouring billions of gallons of fresh water into the Chesapeake Bay on a daily basis. This fresh water, carrying essential minerals and nutrients, mixes with salty ocean water creating an estuary with ideal conditions for plant and animal life. Our nation’s largest and most productive estuary, the Chesapeake Bay watershed is home to over 15 million people and thousands of plant and animal species. Read More . . .

CWFC - Long Pine - Photo Contest

Clean Water for Franklin County

Clean Water for Franklin County (CWFC) is our initiative to offer continued conservation support to our natural resources, local wildlife, parks/recreation. We also aim to retain (and even enhance) the beauty of our home for the residents of the community and future generations while reducing nutrients and accomplishing statewide goals. Franklin County is tasked with reducing nearly 1.3 million pounds of nitrogen (lbsN) runoff from entering our local communities’ waters, which we strive to accomplish alongside local efforts. Click to see how you can get involved! Read More . . .

 

dirt-and-gravelLow Volume, Dirt and Gravel Roads Program

Pennsylvania’s Low Volume, Dirt & Gravel Road Maintenance Program is a pollution prevention program based on local control. Signed into law in April 1997, as Section 9106 of the PA Vehicle Code, the programs purpose is to fund safe, efficient and environmentally sound maintenance of dirt & gravel roads which have been identified as sources of dust & sedimentation pollution.

The Dirt, Gravel, and Low Volume Road Program has been active over the last 14 years with projects in townships throughout Franklin County. The first completed project was Shinabrook Road in Letterkenny Township in the fall of 1999. Since then, there have been many more projects completed in the county on low volume and dirt and gravel roads. Read More . . .

dsc03212Erosion and Sediment Control Program

The moving of earth presents the opportunity to have erosion and sediment pollution in the event of a rain storm. The state has set up different control standards for these projects to help prevent pollution from occurring. The state requires that best management practices (BMP’s) are to be implemented and maintained for all earth moving activities. An erosion and sediment pollution control plan is required for earth moving activities of 5,000 sq. feet or more, along with implementation and maintenance of the BMP’s. Earth disturbance activity of 1 acre or more requires a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Permit for construction activities. Read More . . .

nutrient-managementNutrient Management Program

Prior to 1997, many townships across PA passed ordinances in an effort to regulate manure management. These ordinances varied greatly across the state so PA, in an effort to provide statewide uniformity to manure management regulations, passed the Nutrient Management Act in 1993. This law took effect in October 1997 and was known as Act 6. The Act provided statewide uniformity by super ceding all township ordinances that were more stringent. The Nutrient Management Law, Act 6, was revised in 2006 and is now referred to as Act 38. Read More . . .

 

watershed-image-2Watershed Program

What is a watershed?  A watershed is the area of land that drains into a stream, river, ocean, pond, or lake.  The northeastern portion of Franklin County lies within the Susquehanna River basin, while the remainder of the county is encompassed by the Potomac River basin. Read More . . .