Presented by: Jim Curatolo – Wetland Team Leader
•Coalition of 19 Soil and Water Conservation Districts •16 counties in NY, 3 in PA •7,500 square miles •Headwaters of the Chesapeake Bay •USC implements nonpoint source projects to address watershed issues
Arose from a need to address nonpoint source
water quality issues while working towards a cleaner landscape and Chesapeake Bay Developed into a horizontally and verticallyintegrated team of Wetland construction experts Wetland biologists Wetland scientists Wetland planners
PROTECTION
in short – Wetland Everything
USC wetland tracking database USC wetland staff design and construct sites Own equipment USC Partner Land Steward: The Wetland Trust USC Research Partners BU,
ESF and Cornell CU Law School support Restoration on private and public lands - upwards of 500 acres of all wetland types
• Capture runoff – less flooding • Reduce peak stream flows – decreased erosion • Remove sediment – improve water quality • Provide wildlife habitat – increase diversity
The 10% Solution 1.00
Relative Floodflow
LATIVE
0.80
5% 0.60
OODFLOW 0.40
0.20
0.00
10
20
30
40
Wetlands Percent PERCENT WETLANDS Novitski, R.P: Hydrologic characteristics of Wisconsin's wetlands and their influence on floods, stream flow, and sediment. American Water Resources Association, 1978.
Wetland buffering barn runoff from Unadilla Riverthis small wetland basically eliminated the nutrient runoff into the river
Wildlife Nearly all amphibians require wetlands for breeding, at least 50% of migratory birds use wetland habitat, and many mammals, small and large rely on wetlands.
Keep the water on the
land Don’t build wetlands on top of a wetland Slow the water down Promote plant diversity Maximize wildlife habitat