Niagara County Soil & Water Conservation District

2012 Tree and Shrub Program!!

The District offers an annual sale and distribution of evergreen and deciduous seedlings and transplants for the conservation of natural resources and the enhancement of forestry resources, wildlife habitat and economic development in Niagara County.

Planting tree and shrub seedlings will:
- Provide wildlife food and habitat
- Protect water quality
- Shelter crops and landscape
- Reduce air pollution
- Reduce heating/cooling expenses
- Stabilize erodible land

2012 ORDER FORM

Although it has not been identified in Niagara County yet, it could be at our �doorstep� very soon. Earlier this year the Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) was found in Erie County, detected in the City of Buffalo's South Park. Unfortunately, it has also been discovered in the Lancaster, Cheektowaga and Depew area.

"The discovery of the Emerald Ash Borer in Erie County is extremely unfortunate but not surprising," DEC Commissioner Joe Martens said. "Despite multi-state efforts to curtail its expansion, EAB has spread across the northeastern United States over the last decade. DEC is coordinating with federal and local government partners across the state to prevent the further spread of this destructive insect, especially outside of the quarantine areas. Awareness and preparedness are our best defenses, both of which are emphasized in DEC's strategic Slow Ash Mortality (SLAM) program."

SLAM focuses on early detection and rapid response to the current EAB infestation. When exclusion efforts fail, the next best protection tool is intensive surveying and monitoring which enables infestations to be detected quickly, and early, while they are still relatively small. Early detections must then be delimited, and evaluated, to determine their extent, intensity and (where possible) age.

To protect New York State�s trees, we need your help to look for and report signs of the EAB.

Ash trees have branches, leaves and buds which are directly across from one another rather than staggered spacing. Each leaf is compound, made up of 5-11 leaflets. Bark had a distinct pattern of diamond-shaped ridges, although bark on smaller trees is often smoother.

Ash tree branches dying from the top down (crown thinning), woodpecker damage on tree trunks, larvae present under the tree bark which form s-shaped galleries and, D shaped exit holes present on tree trunks are all signs of an EAB infestation.

� Don�t move firewood. The EAB is commonly transported to new areas on firewood. Follow DEC�s firewood regulation and use local firewood.

� Spread the word; talk to your family, friends, neighbors and co-workers about EAB.

Since its discovery in southeastern Michigan in 2002, the EAB is responsible for the death and decline of tens of millions of ash trees in the United States. The beetle has been detected in 14 states and two neighboring Canadian provinces. This insect primarily spreads when firewood and wood products are moved from one place to another. Many of New York State's forests and parklands are high-risk areas due to firewood movement. New York has more than 900 million ash trees, representing about seven percent of all trees in the state; all are at risk should EAB become established across the state.

USDA-NRCS Commits Funding to Help Clean-Up the Great Lakes

USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) has announced funding to help protect the Great Lakes as part of the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI). NRCS will provide financial and technical resources to improve water quality and wildlife habitat in the region.

"The Great Lakes Restoration Initiative is taking important steps to provide clean water and a healthier environment for the Americans who rely on the Great Lakes for their drinking water," said Acting State Conservationist Edward Henry." NRCS in New York is focusing on the Lake Ontario, and St. Lawrence River watersheds to conserve and restore our natural resources, strengthen our communities, and leave a healthier planet for future generations." The Great Lakes contain 20 percent of the earth's fresh water and provide drinking water for more than 40 million people.

To facilitate this process, NRCS will conduct a sign-up for GLRI funding from June 1 to July 1, 2011. GLRI funds will be distributed using existing conservation programs, including the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), the Wildlife Habitat Incentive Program (WHIP), and conservation technical assistance.

For more information on GLRI online visit www.epa.gov/greatlakes/glri/index.html. For sign-up details or additional conservation program information contact your local USDA NRCS office or visit http://www.ny.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/eqip/glri.html.