D24-Uncaster Farming Saturday, November 11,1989 Grassland FFA’ers Return To Black Creek Proj BY PAT PURCELL NEW HOLLAND (Lancaster Co.) “The first thing they learned in this project was how the different agencies must work together. Our group of students has really been the catalyst to get all the necessary agencies working together as much as they should,” said Bob Lauffer, Grass land FFA advisor. For the Garden Spot High School Grassland FFA chapter, completing their stream improve ment project on Black Creek has been a lesson in red tape. The Building Our American Communities project was begun in 1987 by Grassland FFA’ers who graduated in 1988. The project, which was scheduled to be completed last year, has been progressing at a slow pace due to delay in approvals from some government agencies. Now, with the gui dance and the ‘okay’ from the Lancaster Coun ty Conservation District, Fish Commission and Game Commission, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Department of Enviommental Resour ces, the Grassland FFA’ers have brought the Black Creek stream improvement project near completion. The project was sche duled for completion in June of 1988. A channel change request brought the project to a stand still. Channel changes are an unusual request and most met with defeat, but due to the condition of this particular stream, although slow in coming, an approval was given. Also, an archeological study was required to determine if the the earth to be moved for the chan nel change would harm any possible artifact sites. “Because it is a model project everything had to be done exactly right. And the investigation into the archeological significance was a requirement. Our cultural resources are just as important as the natural resources,” said Lauffer.” Recendy FFA mem bers from the Garden Spot chapter were able to take up where the initia tors of this project were forced to stop. This pro ject is located on the farm of Tom and Harold Went zel just outside of Terre Hill. As on many farms cattle have access to the stream. The cattle’s con stant trampling of the stream banks leads to excessive stream bank erosion. As a result, excessive sediment in the stream and a high level of nitrates in the stream water from cattle urine and feces makes the water a breeding ground for bacteria whichjeads to mastitis in cowT. The water is also unsuitable for the cattle to drink and undesirable for aquatic life. By fencing the stream off to the cattle and per mitting only one access area, the stream banks will not be exposed to additional trampling. Stream bank excavation was recently completed by Brubacher Excavating of Bowmansville. Banks were excavated to a 3:1 slope to reduce stream bank deterioration. After excavation stu dents raked stream banks and sowed tall fescue grass seed to stabilize the soil on the banks and dis courage erosion. Where cattle can cross the stream FFA’ers forti fied the bank area with railroad ties. More rail road ties will be laid on the stream bed and when the project is completed, which may not be until spring, the access area through the stream will be fortified with cement to allow the Wentzels to move machinery and cattle safely across the stream. The stream was restored to its original pathway through a chan nel change. A channel change is not a recom mended practice and rarely meets the approval of the Department of Environmental Resour ces or the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers. The delay in completing the BOAC project was caused by the delay in gaining approval from these agencies. “Normally the fish and game commissions would not approve a channel change because of the loss of stream, but the stream as it exists now does not have much value to the sportsmen or to the fish because of the stream’s poor condition,” said Lauffer. The channel change has been dug except for 10 feet or so. Due to the lateness in the season, the proper seeding of the stream banks could not be completed to assure stream bank and soil sta bilization. Once the final cut is made, the stream banks will need several tons of rock for rip-rap which fortify the banks and prevent further erosion. Total funding for the project has been secured through the fund-raising efforts of FFA members. “In each case where we have received funding the member has gone to the organization and made the presentation explaining what the chap ter is doing at this site. 1 think that has really helped a lot and it helps the student to know what is expected of him or her. It’» good for the organi zation to see the students are motivated,” said Lauffer. More than $2,000 of the $3,000 price tag needed to complete the project has been contri buted by the Adult Far mer Program, Adam stown Rod and Gun Club, Lancaster County Con servation District, North east Lancaster Rod and Gun Club and Penn Dutch Sportsman’s Club. Brubaker Excavating did all the excavation. Stanford Seed Co. of Denver donated 100 pounds of tall fescue seed. Eventually, plant ings for wildlife includ ing food plots and everg reens for nesting will be added. With the stream banks rcsloped and seeded the Wentzels will be able to manage their pasture bet ter with the channel change. Sedimentation will be greatly reduced and clear water will pro vide a healthier environ ment for both cattle and aquatic life. Your Full-Service John Deere Dealers ADAMSTOWN EQUIPMENT INC. Mohnton, PA (near Adamatown) 215-4*4-4391 BARRETT EQUIPMENT Smlck*burg, PA 814-257-6*Bl ■ Only John Deere loaders are designed for John Deere tractors by John Deere engineers Grassland FFA’ers fortify cattle crossing at Black Creek on the Wentzel farm by planting railroad ties. When the chapter project Is completed, fencing will surround the entire stream to restrict cattle crossing to the access area only. BARTRON SUPPLY, INC. Tunkhannock, PA 717-530-4011 CARLYLE & DEERFIELD AG & MARTIN, INC. TURF CENTER, INC. Hagaratown, MD Wataontown, PA 301-733-1873 717-538-3557 LOADERS DESIGNED ESPECIALLY FO IRA CLUGSTON FARM ENFIELD H.R. GUTSHALL & EQUIPMENT EQUIPPING. sons, INC. Naadmora, PA Carllala, PA 717-573-2215 301-452-5252 717-249-2313 CLUGSTON EVERGREEN 4BC IMPLEMENT, INC. TRACTOR CO., INC. A S™ Chambaraburg, PA Labanon, PA 717 ]»,. 717-283-4103 717-272-4641 Deluxe models include self leveling, 40-degree rollback and quick-attadb features FOSTER EQUIPMENT SALES Elmar, NJ 609-769-1535 ect ROBERT G. HAMPTON, INC Shiloh, NJ 609-451-9520
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