Orange County Soil and Water Conservation District
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      • Green Infrastructure Information Form
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        • MS4 Annual Report
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  • SERVICES
    • Items For Sale >
      • Maps, Books
      • Wildlife Products
    • Soil Group Worksheets for Agricultural Assessments
  • CONTACT US
  • WELCOME
  • ABOUT
    • District Board Meeting Minutes >
      • Archived Board Minutes >
        • 2013 Board Minutes
        • 2014 Board Minutes
        • 2015 Board Minutes
        • 2016 Board Minutes
        • 2017 Board Meeting Minutes
        • 2018 Board Minutes
        • 2019 Board Minutes
    • Board of Directors >
      • MEET OUR DIRECTORS
    • Conservation Partners
    • Local Volunteer Citizen Groups
  • EVENTS/NEWS
  • PROGRAMS
    • NO-TILL EQUIPMENT RENTAL
    • Agricultural Conservation >
      • AG GRANTS
      • RECENT PROJECTS >
        • Hudson Valley Carbon Farming Grant
        • AEM Tier 4 Projects
        • OTHER
      • Archived Projects
    • Flood Protection Projects >
      • Phase 2 South
  • RESOURCES
    • Farmers Markets
    • Green Infrastructure >
      • Green Infrastructure Information Form
      • Interactive Map of Conservation Projects
      • Rain Gardens
      • Time Lapse Rain Garden Video
    • Publications >
      • Newsletters
      • Publications >
        • MS4 Annual Report
    • Stormwater Information
  • SERVICES
    • Items For Sale >
      • Maps, Books
      • Wildlife Products
    • Soil Group Worksheets for Agricultural Assessments
  • CONTACT US

AGRICULTURAL CONSERVATION

                                                         OCSWCD is engaged in many activities to conserve our local agricultural resources.                                                        Below are some services and programs that we provide.

PROGRAM OVERVIEW

Protecting and improving water quality is a primary goal of Soil and Water Districts.  We have the expertise to assist with planning, designing, and constructing erosion control measures, nutrient management systems, and stormwater management practices.  In addition to providing practical solutions to enhance and preserve our natural resources, we also take an active role in promoting environmental conservation education at schools as well as in the local communities.
AGRICULTURAL CONSERVATION

* No-till Equipment Rental Service:
- Contact our office at 845-343-1873 to find out about our No-Till Equipment rental program.  The District currently rents 2 No-Till Seed Drills and 2 Conservation Corn Planters.
- 2022 No Till Agreement 

* Other Equipment Available:
   1.  Tire Cutter (Removes Sidewalls)
   2.  Boom Mower (Used primarily for grass ditchbanks 
        on the black dirt)
   3.  Rhino Slide Out Brush Hog

* Technical and Financial Assistance for the Design 
   and Installation of Soil & Water Conservation  
   Practices:
   1.  Barnyard Runoff Control
   2.  Stream Protection
   3.  Cropland Erosion Control
   4.  Nutrient Management (Judicious use of 
        fertilizer/manure/crop amendments)

* Other Agriculture Support:
   1.  Agricultural Assessment Assistance
   2.  Farmland Preservation Programs (Assist in 
        securing funds & technical support)
   3.  Administrative & Technical Assistance to the 
        Wallkill Valley Drainage Improvement Association
   4.  AEM Horse Manure Management - Composting  
        Facility


  OTHER PROGRAMS 
 
  • Tree & Shrub Seedling Sale: This program has been discontinued at our location.
  • Pond Construction & Management Advice
  • Fish Fingerling Sales: This program has been discontinued at our location.

    1. ​Grass Carp Permit Application
    2. Other Fish Permit Application
    3. ​Barley Straw Helps Control Algae in Your Pond!      
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  • Natural Resources Maps & Technical Information:
    1. Technical Publications
    2. Online Soil Maps

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URBAN CONSERVATION

*  Site Plan Review Service: Stormwater management    
    & erosion sediment control concerns (Certified  
    Professional in Erosion & Sediment Control on staff)

* Water Quality Coordinating Committee: Conservation  
   District chairs group of County Agency heads & other 
   water quality professionals who meet to coordinate  
   local efforts/secure water quality funding

* Assist communities in implementing their   
   Stormwater Management Plans


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Productive farmland next to the Neversink River in the Town of Deerpark was destined to become a commercial sand and gravel operation before being purchased by the Nature Conservancy (TNC). In 2002, TNC established 20 acres of native warm season grass on this land using the Conservation District's no-till seeder.  
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​Grass buffer strip separating crop field from a stream.   
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​
​The District's Tree & Shrub Seedling Program is an annual event, usually the 3rd weekend in April.  
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​

Stormwater Pond  
With a mix of fescue grasses on ditch banks and a winter cover of small grain (usually barley or oats), this Orange County black dirt land is well protected.  
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​Gary Keeton from the Bashakill Area Association has taught 6th graders about local wildlife every year for 20 years in a row at the Soil & Water Conservation District's Conservation Field Days Event.
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​Erosion from unprotected construction sites is a growing 
concern in Orange County.  New Stormwater laws require controls on sites disturbing more than one acre. Vigorous enforcement will be necessary for these regulations to be effective.