The Nassau County Soil & Water Conservation District recieves funding through the NYS Environmental Protection Fund (EPF) that is set by the govenor and state legislature annually. The EPF is mainly financed through real estate transfer taxes. Three Provisions of the state aid to District Program include:
Part A - Direct reimbursment to Soil & Water Conservation Districts for technical services provided to landowners within the jurisdictions they cover. (established by Chapter 534 of the Laws of 1996, SWCDL Section 11a-ammended July 2012)
Part B - Annual resources to assist with the implementation of local "Conservation Projects" pre-approved by the SWCC that benefit landowners and/or the general public. (SWCDL Section 11a-1b)
Part C - Competitively awarded conservation project resources based on the material performance of a Conservation District in their normal delivery of public services to landowners and communities in their jurisdiction. (SWCDL Section 11a-1c)
The Nassau County Soil and Water Conservation District funds a limited number of mission-aligned projects every year. Eligible applicants include local governments in Nassau County and not-for-profit organizations.
Projects must meet one or more of the follow criteria in Nassau County:
A Day in the Life is a program organized by the South Shore Estuary Reserve focused on environmental education, community engagement and water-quality monitoring. Students will get the opportunity to collect water quality samples, learn about ecosystem services and engage with local flora & fauna.
After the field trip event, the data collected by student groups is processed and shared for analysis—an activity in which students are encouraged to participate in. This can range from tracking water & soil health throughout Nassau County to GIS analysis of the collected data.
dThe purpose of a Rain Garen is to capture excess stormwater runoff and filter it of pollutants as it enters the groundwater system. Rain Gardens are a type of green infrastructure, using native plants with extensive root systems that capture and clean as water passes down their roots.
The NCSWCD has built numerous gardens over the years, five gardens were. The locations include Nassau Hall in Muttontown Preserve, Bayville Community Center, Bayville West Harbor Beach, Bayville Eastern Waterfront Center and the Hempstead Plains Nature Preserve on the NCC Campus.
The NCSWCD provided funding to Cornell Cooperative Extension (CCE) to collect water quality data that will then be used to identify problem areas and manage fecal coliform contamination in the watershed.
The project was broken into four parts with the main goal to use data collected to guide efforts to identify problem areas and manage fecal coliform contaminiation.
The Invasive Plant Removal and Native Plant Revegetation of Leeds Pond Preserve was made possible with funding from the Nassau County Soil & Water Conservation District. The Science Museum of Long Island worked with Spadefoot Design and Construction to complete the project with the goal of clearing 2 acres of Invasive plants like Japanese Knotweed, English Ivy and Norway Maple and replanting with resilient native species.
The NCSWCD provided funding to reimburse Town of North Hempstead Residents who purchased native plants to create native plant gardens and rain gardens. Native plants provide food, shelter and nesting resources for birds, pollinators, small mammals and a variety of wildlife species.
Native plants have a multitude of environmental benefits like extensive root systems that absorb polluted stormwater, sequestering carbon, lower maintenance requirements and less need for fertilizer, mowing and irrigation.
Providing rebates for installation of these plants would lead to more native plants being put into the ground, which will support the Town's effort to increase native plants and wildlife habitat throughout the Town of North Hempstead.
Repairing and replacing the riparian buffer along the shores of Baxter's Pond.
Bordered by a densely suburban community and 2 highly trafficked roads, Baxter's Pond is the catch basin for debris, runoff, litter and chemical waste from lawns and road care. Baxters pond is spring-fed and flows directly into Manhasset Bay eventually feeding into the Long Island Sound
The "Shorescaping" Project will address the need to abate nonpoint pollution sources reaching Manhasset Bay, increase and improve the natural resources with native plantings and the removal of invasive plants.
The project, funded by the NCSWCD began in 2019 and has supported a multi-year design and planting program. The Baxter's Pond Foundation has engaged volunteers to assist in the planting process and educate about native plant choices.
Nassau County Soil & Water Conservation District recently participated in the 2022 TICK BLITZ
The NYS Tick Blitz is a yearly event created by the Northeast Regional Vector Control Center NEVBD. With help from Cornell Cooperative Extension CCE and NYS Integrated Pest Management NYIPM. Read about the NYS Tick Blitz here
The purpose of the study is to study all NY regions simultaneously to understand where different tick species are present and track their northward expansion. District Technician Sean Rooney surveyed a collective 1,500 meters of Muttontown Preserve.
Interested in protecting your local resources? Looking for a chance to give back to your community?
The Nassau County Soil and Water Conservation District is currently seeking volunteers to help implement various environmental projects. No experience required. Weekend opportunities available.
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