Water

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Basic and Advanced Training in Erosion and Sediment Control Practices

Are you certified to work near water bodies? As of July 1, 2013, work within 250 feet of any water body (the shoreland zone) requires a certified contractor on site. The Basic and Advanced Training in Erosion and Sediment Control Practices course will be held on Friday, November 21st from 8:00AM to 4:30PM at the Penquis Higher Education Center in Dover-Foxcroft. This course is necessary in order to become certified in erosion control practices by the Maine Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), and is designed for contractors, municipal code enforcement officers, consultants, engineers and public works employees. By attending this session, you qualify to become DEP certified in erosion and sediment control practices after the completion of a site evaluation.

 

In addition to sections on “Why Erosion Control is Important”, and “Erosion and How it Happens”, participants are provided with information on the proper selection, installation and maintenance of practices such as sediment barriers, mulch, vegetative stabilization, riprap, etc. You will also learn about new state-of-the-art erosion control techniques and ways to save time and money on your construction projects, as well as become eligible for discounts, expedited DEP permitting and other free educational resources.

 

If you are in need of this training, the Maine DEP’s Nonpoint Source Training and Resource Center and the Piscataquis County Soil and Water Conservation District (PCSWCD) urge you to take this Basic and Advanced Training Session in Erosion and Sediment Control Practices this fall. Refreshments, lunch, and a manual will be provided. Code Enforcement Officers will earn 7 Shoreland Zoning Credits. For more information about the benefits of contractor certification, visit www.maine.gov/dep/training or call the PCSWCD at 564-2321, Extension 3. To register for this course, visit the Penquis Valley Adult Education Cooperative’s (PVAEC) on-line registration portal at www.pvaec.maineadulted.org or call the PVAEC at 564-6525. The course is $85.00, or $95.00 if registering after November 7th. The registration deadline is November 14th. Don’t lose work opportunities – get certified – register for this course today.

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Soil and Water Stewardship Week is April 27 to May 3, 2014

In 1955, the National Association of Conservation Districts began a national program to encourage Americans to focus on stewardship. Stewardship Week is officially celebrated from the last Sunday in April to the first Sunday in May. It is one of the world’s largest conservation-related observances.

The program relies on locally-led conservation districts sharing and promoting stewardship and conservation activities. Districts provide conservation and stewardship field days, programs, workshops and additional outreach efforts throughout their community to educate citizens about the need to care for our resources. Many district activities extend beyond the one week observance to include an entire year of outreach.

The Stewardship concept involves personal and social responsibility, including a duty to learn about and improve natural resources as we use them wisely, leaving a rich legacy for future generations.

One definition of Stewardship is “the individual’s responsibility to manage his life and property with proper regard to the rights of others.” E. William Anderson suggests stewardship “is essentially a synonym for conservation.”

Stewardship Week helps to remind us all of the power each person has to conserve natural resources and improve the world. When everyone works together with their local conservation district, that power continuously grows. We have seen these good deeds multiply across the nation’s network of conservation districts and the results are spectacular!

When the land does well for its owner, and the owner does well by his land—when both end up better by reason of their partnership—then we have conservation. – Aldo Leopold

Stewardship week each year is always the last Sunday in April to the first Sunday in May.

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Saco River Conference April 23 Addresses Conservation Challenges

The Oxford County Soil & Water Conservation District (OCSWCD) is pleased to announce a first-of-its-kind conference, on April 23, which brings together experts from two states – Maine and New Hampshire – to discuss the many conservation challenges facing the river and its watershed. The day-long conference will be held at the Leura Eastman Performing Arts Center on the campus of Fryeburg Academy.
OCSWCD is sponsoring the event. Co-sponsors include the Carroll County Conservation District in New Hampshire, the University of New England, Wells National Estuarine Research Reserve, Fiddlehead Environmental Consulting, Maine Association of Conservation Districts, and Norway Savings Bank. Advance registration costs $30 for non-students, $15 for students. For those registering after April 20 registration is $35 for non-students, $20 for students.
The Saco River Watershed faces many conservation challenges. A partial list includes mitigating the impact of flooding, protecting water quality, preventing river bank erosion, and enhancing fisheries. At the same time, the Saco River is prized for outstanding recreational opportunities. It is home to rare ecosystems and plant and animal species. Protecting the watershed’s unique assets into the future presents a huge challenge to planners, state and municipal officials, and residents. This conference aims to start that dialogue.
Topics range from fisheries, tourism and invasive species (terrestrial and aquatic) to discussions about conservation easements, public education, recreation, and restoring native sea-run fish populations. The final session of the day is titled “Where do we go from here?” and will, with audience participation, explore strategies, such as developing a two-state working group, to begin addressing issues that affect the watershed on both sides of the state line.

On April 23, the day of the conference, registration begins at 7:45 a.m. After brief introductory remarks by the conference coordinator at 8:30 a.m., the keynote address starts at 8:40 a.m. and will be delivered by Christine Feurt, Ph.D. of the University of New England. The title of her presentation is “Sustaining the Saco – The power of collaboration from the headwaters to the sea.” The morning features concurrent breakout sessions, while there will be combined sessions in the afternoon. Throughout the day, there will be breaks for networking. Lunch will be served at the Fryeburg Academy dining hall which is a short walk from the performing arts center. The conference ends about 3:40 p.m.
For more information about the conference, the full agenda, and to register online go to the OCSWCD website: http://www.oxfordcountyswcd.org. Alternately, registration forms can be downloaded from the website and mailed with registration fees by check payable to: Oxford County SWCD, 17 Olson Rd., South Paris, ME 04281. Maine Code Enforcement Officers are eligible for 1 contact hour in Land Use or Shoreland Zoning offered by the Maine Departments of Economic and Community Development and Environmental Protection. Foresters are eligible for 3.5 category 1 CFE credits from the Society of American Foresters. For planners, the conference is pending 6.5 AICP CM credits from the American Planning Association.
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For more information:
– Jeff Stern, Watershed Specialist, Fiddlehead Environmental Consulting, email address: sternjm@hotmail.com, telephone: 207-627-3126.
– Michele Windsor, Project Manager, Oxford County Soil & Water Conservation District, email address: michele.windsor@me.nacdnet.net, telephone: (207)743-5789 X101.