Allegheny River Headwaters Watershed Conservation Plan

Allegheny River Headwaters Conservation Plan
Chapter 3. Water Resources
stream, wet site conditions, road surface material, road slope/grade, road shape, distance from stream,
slope to stream, outlet to stream, outlet bleeder stability, road ditch stability, road bank stability, and
average canopy cover. From the evaluation worksites—locations where unpaved road runoff affects
stream quality—were identified, establishing the basis of the Dirt and Gravel Roads Program in each
county.
In order to be eligible for funding, the applicant must attend a two-day environmentally sensitive
maintenance of dirt and gravel roads training workshop. Projects must be site-specific, and require longterm
solutions to prevent erosion and pollution. Activities, such as chip-sealing and paving, are not
eligible expenses. Eligibility is based upon road ownership, not political boundaries. Federal roads are not
eligible for funding; while roads owned by a municipality or county, roads within state parks, state
forests, state game lands, public boat launches and PFBC access roads are eligible. Within McKean and
Potter counties, more than 2.8 million dollars had been spent on dirt and gravel road projects between
1997 and 2009; however, all of these sites are not located within the project area (Center for Dirt and
Gravel Road Studies, 2009). For more information about dirt and gravel roads, visit the Penn State Center
for Dirt and Gravel Road Studies website at http://www.dirtandgravelroads.org.
Agricultural Practices
Agricultural practices are responsible for 39 percent of the non-point source pollution in
Pennsylvania (U.S. EPA, 2008a). Improper fertilizer and manure management, including improper
manure storage, unintended effects of pesticides, along with erosion and sedimentation alter the quality of
area waterways. The installation and use of BMPs can minimize the impacts to the land and water, and
can improve heard health and crop yields.
1. High residue management leaves at least 30 percent of the ground covered with crop residue,
such as leaves and stalks, after crops are planted. This limits erosion by protecting and binding
the soil.
2. Cropland protection cover, or cover crop, is a crop of close-growing grasses, legumes, or
small grains usually grown for a year or less. It is not grown for harvest, but for many different
functions in crop rotations, such as preventing erosion and improving soil fertility.
3. Nutrient management is the management and crediting of nutrients from all sources,
including legumes, manure, and soil reserves, for the application of manure and commercial
fertilizers. Management includes the rate, method, and timing of the application for all sources of
nutrients to minimize the amount of nutrients entering surface or groundwater. This practice
includes manure nutrient testing, routine soil testing, and residual nitrogen soil testing.
4. Pesticide management is the management, handling, disposal, and application of pesticides,
including the rate, method, and timing of application to minimize the amount of pesticide
pollution entering surface and groundwater. This practice includes integrated pest management
(IPM), which is the practice of using economical and efficient means of pest control that will
have the least detrimental impact to people, property, and the environment (U.S. EPA 1 ).
5. Rotational grazing is a practice that divides pastures into multiple cells that receive a short,
intensive grazing period followed by a period of recovery of the vegetative cover. Rotational
grazing can correct existing pasturing practices that result in degradation. When summer dry-lots
result in water quality degradation, they should be replaced with this practice.
6. Livestock fencing encloses or divides an area of land with a permanent structure that acts as a
barrier to livestock or big game. The fencing excludes livestock from areas that should not be
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