A3B-Lancaster Farming, Saturday, March 30,2002
Drought Under Discussion At Rural Water Association Annual Conference
STATE COLLEGE (Centre
Co.) Pennsylvania Department
of Environmental Protection
(DEP) Secretary David E. Hess
recently discussed current
drought conditions and stressed
the need for new legislation to
protect Pennsylvania’s water re
sources at the annual conference
of the Pennsylvania Rural Water
Association (PRWA).
“Current drought conditions
across the state reflect the need
for water-resources planning to
protect and preserve our water
resources for the future,” Hess
said.
“DEP is grateful to the PRWA
for serving as the voice of Penn
sylvania’s rural water and waste
water utilities, allowing even the
smallest system to benefit from a
united effort.”
Hess praised the PRWA for
providing leadership in the oper
ation, maintenance, and manage
ment of systems responsible for
providing safe drinking water
and wastewater management.
“PRWA has provided training
and on-site technical assistance
Northwest Transition Cow Workshops Set
MERCER (Mercer Co.) Do
you have recurrent health prob
lems with fresh cows? Are transi
tion cow problems limiting pro
duction? Are your cows a
challenge to breed back?
Take just 90 minutes out of the
day and come listen to an in
formative cow side discussion of
current transition cow issues fac
ing today’s dairyman. Hear how
dry cow and close-up cow nutri
tional management practices
offer opportunities to better pre
vent fresh cow problems. Learn
what diseases transition cows are
at risk for, and how to systema
tically evaluate them for early de
tection and treatment.
Speakers include Dr. Gabriella
Varga of Penn State’s Depart
to more than 370 Pennsylvania detection in 70 communities has PRWA is a member-support- monwealth with professional
small community water systems,” saved an astounding 1.3 billion ed, nonprofit organization whose technical support, certified train-
Hess said. gallons of drinking water and mission is to support its members ing, legislative representation,
“Their efforts in on-site leak- more than a half-million dollars.” and utilities throughout the com- and other services and benefits.
Drought Emergency Tips For Agricultural Landowners, Operators
WEST CHESTER (Chester
Co.) The Pennsylvania Code,
Chapter 119, regulates activities
during a drought emergency.
Agricultural operations are ad
dressed under Section 119.4.3,
Prohibitions of Nonessential
Water Uses, and include: “The
use of fresh water for irrigation
and watering of outdoor gardens,
landscaped areas, trees, shrubs,
and other outdoor plants except
that fresh water may be: used for
irrigation for the production of
food and fiber, and the mainte
nance of livestock and poultry.”
The following tips will help
you to conserve water resources
in your operation and may pro
vide answers to frequently asked
questions:
• Agricultural landowners and
ment of Dairy and Animal Sci
ence, and Dr. David H. Baver,
Extension Veterinarian, Mercer
County/Northwest Region.
Workshop details are as follows:
• Workshop 1: Clarion Coun
ty, at the Griebel Farm in Lucin
da, Thursday, April 11, from
10-11:30 a.m. The farm is located
6'A miles north of the Rt. 322 and
Rt. 66 north intersection. Take
Rt. 66 north 6V2 miles through
Lucinda past Pennzoil station,
turn right onto East Drive, go ap
proximately 'A mile, and turn
right onto Dairy Lane to Griebel
Farm. Signs will be posted.
• Workshop 2: Crawford/
Mercer Counties, at the Rynd
Home Farm just outside of Coch
ranton, Thursday, April 11 from
operators can withdraw water
from a pond on their property to
irrigate crops.
• To withdraw water from a
stream, please call the Pennsylva
nia Department of Environ
mental Protection (PA DEP) for
permission. They may direct you
to the Delaware River Basin
Commission (DRBC) or Susque
hanna River Basin Commission
(SRBC for Octorara watershed
only).
• Manure storage can be used
to irrigate crops (if necessary).
• Fresh water irrigation should
be done after 5 p.m. to reduce
evaporation.
• To reduce dust, spray your
farm lanes and driveways with
soybean oil (one application per
year) or dust suppressants (com-
1:30-3 p.m. Take Rt. 173 north
out of Cochranton and turn right
onto Route 322. Go two to three
miles. The farm is on the left and
is visible from the road. To get to
the farm you will need to turn
left on the next road past
the farm.
Workshop 3: Warren/
Erie Counties, at the Bob
and Joe Nickerson farm,
Friday, April 12, from
10:30-12:00 a.m. The Nick
erson farm is located along
Rt. 6, approximately two
miles east of Corry.
For more information
call our the Mercer County
extension office at (724)
662-3141.
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• Dams or restrictions on wa
terways are not permitted or al
lowed unless permitted by PA
DEP.
• Stagger heavy water use
throughout the day so that the
well has an opportunity to recov
er.
• Reduce mowing in non-pro
ductive areas.
• Residue and cover crops will
hold the moisture- minimum till
age and/or no-till plowing.
• Check all pipes, faucets, and
watering systems for leaks in
your home and barn.
• Meter your well (even tempo
rarily for a 30 day period) to
know your water use.
• Learn how to recycle your
water use for wash-down.
• For poultry use nipples in
stead of cups (also improves ma
nure management)
• Cover watering hoses if they
are black
• Closely monitor grazing (use
rotational grazing sticks which
are available from NRCS).
• Keep cows out of creek if
flows are low to prevent stagnate,
heavy nutrient laden water.
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For details and installation with over 9 years experience, call:
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• To install stream bank fenc
ing, contact- Dave DiCeccio
(Chesapeake Bay Foundation) or
Chris Strohmaier (Chester Coun
ty Conservation District) at (610)
696-5126.
For more information on the
drought, contact the following or
ganizations:
County Conservation District,
Government Services Center,
P.O. Box 2747, Ste 240, West
Chester, PA 19380, (610)
696-5126.
PA DEP Southeast Regional
Office, Lee Park, Ste 6010, 555
North Lane, Conshohocken, PA
19428,(610)832-6000.
PA Fish and Boat Commision,
Regional Office, P.O. Box 9, Elm,
PA 17512.
Delaware River Basin Com
mission, P.O. Box 7360, West
Trenton, NJ 08628-0360, (609)
883-9500.
Susquehanna River Basin
Commission, 1721 North Front
Street, Harrsiburg, PA
17102-2391, (717) 238-0423.
Chester County Water Re
sources Authority, Government
Services Center, P.O. Box 2746,
Ste 260, West Chester, PA 19380,
(610) 344-5400.