Siltation of lakes, streams, and rivers. Point
and non-point source pollution are causing siltation to our lakes, streams,
and rivers. This siltation reduces water quality and quantity for human
and wildlife use. We currently have two programs available to address this
need.
Lake Rehab Guide. This book provides local lake
managers easy-to-follow methods to clean up their lakes. Couple this with
erosion control practices, lakes can come back to a healthy condition.
Weather station network. Our weather station network
provides 6-minute rainfall data required by TR20 to model watersheds for
erosion control studies. Our Web site can produce a wind rose model that
indicates predominate wind direction and speed.Wind and water erosion. Wind and water erosion degrades
the soil resource base at the same time creating harmful air quality conditions
for humans and wildlife and additional siltation problems. We currently
have two program available to address this need.Weather station network. Our weather station
network can provide most weather data required to analyze soil erosion
problems. We can provide weather data from one or more weather stations
in various formats to create weather gradient maps.
Wildlife habitat. Using various federal, state,
and private group expertise, we can help protect water quality from shore
bank erosion while creating wildlife habitat.Urbanization. With a population of 3,634,666 in 1990
on 4,710 square miles (772 people per square mile), South Jersey is becoming
an urban area. Strains are being placed on many resources. Homes and businesses
are being constructed in inappropriate locations. We are currently focusing
only on water conservation in the landscape and have two programs available
to address part of this need. We are partnered with another organization
to help address water conservation issues.
Weather station network. Each weather station
in our network can calculate the evapotranspiration (ET) or water-use rate
of grass. This number provides valuable information for lawn watering.
All data is available via the Internet.
Homeowner lawn watering guide. Coupled with our
network of weather stations and its ET power, we can provide vast numbers
of clients with simple to use, powerful water conservation tools.
United Water Toms River Weather Station. This
local water company is using our ET information as a public service to
their clients. They have already realized a 1-mgd reduction in summer pumping
rates.Agriculture. Agriculture is a $1 billion a year industry.
Agriculture faces many threats, mostly urbanization. Competition for water
between the agricultural and homeowner community is increasing. Rising
production costs with steady product sales requires a second and third
income. We are primarily focused on water conservation as a tool to lower
production costs. Our alternative agricultural effort focuses on creating
a fee hunting enterprise to produce additional income and creation of wildlife
habitat.
Weather station network. The data collected from
our network of weather stations provides information relative to irrigation
scheduling, pest management, and more. Special request will help us realize
the full potential of this system.
IWM. Irrigation Water Management (IWM) includes
irrigation water application and scheduling. Following a good IWM plan
may decrease water application rates thereby reducing utility (electrical
or diesel) use. At the same time, crop production will remain the same
or increase. Overall, input cost should go down.
Alternate AG – Fee hunting. Using fee hunting
to increase farm income is gaining in popularity across the country. Couple
this with CRP, WHIP, WRP and other programs, farmers can realize additional
off-season income. We will also see an increase in wildlife habitat.
IWM Specialist. Our efforts helped create this
NRCS position. We are currently providing help to the irrigation portion
of the NRCS EQIP program.Watershed Protection Tidegate/levy system. Flood protection for homeowners
and businesses is becoming increasingly important. River and bay areas
are protected by tidegate and levy systems dating back to the early 1700’s.
The Atlantic Coast area is protected by the dune system. Currently, we
are using the NRCS PL-566 and Army Corps 205 programs plus helping local
communities fund their local share.
Repaupo Creek FP. This project protects portions
of Logan and Greenwich Townships in Gloucester County. The tidegate/levy
system protects 450 homes and the aquifers that supply water to portion
of Cumberland, Gloucester, Camden, and Burlington counties. Our efforts
are in supporting the local sponsors in getting help from the Army Corps
and USDA-NRCS.
Pine Mount Creek FP. We helped the local sponsor
complete the initial request for federal help under PL566. Since then Cumberland
County has repaired and upgraded the road. This action removed most benefits.Large scale watershed projects. All communities reside
in a watershed. Total resource management plans must include soil, water,
air, human, and wildlife elements. These plans must be assembled and acted
upon by multiple agencies and groups. We are working with several groups
to meet these various needs.
Repaupo Creek FP. This project includes upstream
flood protection problems as well as danger from river flooding. The area
includes farm and urban lands, forestland, and over 2,000 acres of fresh
water marsh. The area has several large businesses, major rail and road
transportation routes, and a super fund site.
Pine Mount Creek FP. This area is predominately
agricultural. County repairs to the road have removed most potential benefits.
Rancocas Creek. To determine erosion rate from
this Burlington County watershed using various tools including part of
Council’s weather station network.
Great Egg Harbor. This river has been named as
a wild and scenic river. This system is experiencing localized urban buildup.
Much of the area is forested wildlife-lands that are in need of enhancement.
Agriculture is a major land use.
Barnegat Bay. The Ocean SCD (our sponsor) is leading
the effort to protect this estuary system.Wildlife Resource Open space. Open space provides a home to wildlife
as well as active and passive recreation for humans. Humans have destroyed
thousands of acres of prime habitat. Our strength lies in supporting individual
projects using partnerships to realize habitat creation or enhancement.
Turnmill Pond WMA. A new water control structure
created improved waterfowl and fishery habitat.
Rowand Pond WMA. A new water control structure
and sediment removal created improved fishery and waterfowl habitat. This
project is important as the new structure is built from recycled plastic
lumber. Sediment removal work donated by the Camden County Mosquito Commission.
Bear Creek Restoration. This partnership of federal,
state, nonprofit and private citizens created 40 acres of enhanced fresh-water
marsh for waterfowl production in Atlantic County.
Cedar lake Restoration. This partnership of federal,
state, nonprofit and private citizens is creating 54 acres of enhanced
fresh-water wetlands for waterfowl production in Gloucester and Atlantic
counties.Wildlife habitat. Every species of wildlife requires
specific habitat needs. Human activity has impacted many of the habitats.
We have a duty to protect, repair, or enhance any area possible for wildlife.
Strength lies in partnership building.
Turnmill Pond WMA. This project provides waterfowl
and fishery habitat.
Rowand Pond WMA. This project provides fishery
and waterfowl habitat.
Alternate AG – Fee Hunting. This project provides
improved upland wildlife habitat. Some migratory wildlife may use the area.
Bear Creek Restoration. This project provides
improved waterfowl and fishery habitat.
Cedar lake Restoration. This project provides
improved waterfowl and fishery habitat.
Partners for Wildlife. This group provides technical
input for various wildlife projects.
Quail Unlimited Partnership. This partnership
is mutually beneficial to both organizations in promoting improved upland
habitat.
Handicap Duck Blind. Working with the Bear Creek
Conservancy, we built the first fully accessible duck blind/wildlife observation
shelter.
Wildlife Habitat Meeting. In partnership with
Quail Unlimited, we held a multiple state wildlife habitat workshop. Additional
New Jersey workshops are being planned.
Wildlife Habitat Legislation. In partnership with
Quail Unlimited, we are attempting to develop and introduce legislation
to fund habitat management projects.Sedimentation. Sedimentation of our lakes, streams,
and rivers is causing severe problems for our fisheries. Due to the high
cost involved, partnership building is essential.
Rowand Pond WMA. This project highlights partnerships.
The owner, New Jersey Division of Fish, Game and Wildlife, provided $320,000
for dam reconstruction and project oversight. NRCS provided the design
and construction inspection. The structure is built using plastic lumber.
Camden County Mosquito Commission is donating close to $600,000 worth of
labor and equipment to remove sediment. The Division and Mosquito Commission
will then stock with trout and panfish.Communications Confusing regulations. Rules are written that
are difficult to understand and act on. We need to work carefully to understand
needs, then proactively pursue solutions.
Wildlife Habitat legislation. Current priorities
are to purchase open space but habitat enhancement priorities do not exist.
A letter sent to every state legislator asked for support of a proposed
piece of legislation to pay for wildlife habitat enhancement. Research
written in easy to understand language states reason why habitat is important.
Acting proactively, we presented information to a state legislator asking
him to help write a bill to support the proposal.Sound, technical communications. To deliver technical
data to our client base requires clear, concise communication in the form
our client base can understand. We should attract high quality speakers,
able to explain complex issues in layman’s terms. Follow-up can be done
via a newsletter and other forms of direct mail and by an Internet web
site.
Wildlife Habitat Meeting. We had a number of
leading Quail experts as presenters. This meeting was successful.
Recycle Meetings. We had over 19 major corporations
explain their recycling efforts. These meetings were successful.
Non-point source pollution meeting. We had a number
of federal and state agency people as presenters. The audience was primarily
agency people. This meeting was only partially successful.Council enhancement. To be effective in helping others,
we must improve our capabilities to govern and lead.
501(c)(3). Council obtained its nonprofit status
in 1978.
ST-5. Council obtained its NJ sales tax exemption
in 1978.
Incorporation. Council obtained its Incorporation
in 1977.
Charities Registration. Council received its NJ
Charities Registration in 1992.
Expanded RC&D Area. Council expanded its Area
in 1992 to include Middlesex and Monmouth counties.
Revised Area Plan. Council revised its Area Plan
in 1995
Revised By-laws. Council began revising By-laws
in 1994 and continues.
Bear Creek Incorporation. Council assisted this
organization Incorporate, obtain non-profit status, and receive its ST-5.
Council Member Inventory. Council began its first
Council Member Inventory in 1996.
Partners for Wildlife. Council created this committee
in 1996.
Partners for RISE. Council created this program
in 1996 to support its network of weather stations.
Quail Unlimited Partnership. Council entered into
a long-term partnership in 1997 with this organization to develop wildlife
habitat.
WAI Joint Venture. Council entered into a joint
venture with this for-profit company in 1997 to collect and disseminate
its weather data. This joint venture ended in 1998.
Capacity Building. Council began a capacity building
effort in 1998.
Wildlife Habitat Legislation. Council is working
to develop wildlife habitat legislation with Quail Unlimited.