Implementing Land Stewardship through Preservation

Honey Brook Township Saving Farms Saving Water

The mission of the Brandywine Conservancy is to conserve the natural and cultural resources of the Brandywine River watershed and other selected areas with a primary emphasis on conservation of water quantity and quality. The mission is founded on a belief that a healthy and secure natural environment is essential to meet the needs and aspirations of present and future generations. To accomplish its mission the Conservancy works with individuals, municipal governments, county and state government agencies, and private organizations to: Permanently protect and conserve land and water, including natural, cultural and scenic resources;Create and strengthen municipal and county plans and regulations that support resource conservation;Improve site planning and design to support resource conservation in land development projects;Conduct research and analyses of approaches to planning and to conservation of natural and cultural resources;Enhance awareness and knowledge of conservation approaches within the Brandywine River watershed and beyond.The Conservancy focuses on the integration of conservation with social and economic development through three programs: Land Stewardship, Municipal Assistance and Conservation Design.

Land Stewardship Conservation Easements Land Management Farmland PreservationMunicipal Assistance Innovative Land Use Regulation Conservation Design Transfer of Development Rights Mapping and AnalysesThe Conservancy focuses on the integration of conservation with social and economic development through three programs: Land Stewardship, Municipal Assistance and Conservation Design.

Honey Brook Holistic Approach Municipal Prioritization modelingMunicipal Comprehensive planning Municipal Open Space ReferendumPlain Sect Easement Acquisition ProgramFree Conservation PlanningBest Management Practice (BMP) grants

Prime Soils

Why Save Agriculture Here? Prime SoilsLength of Growing Season (temperate)Non IrrigatedDemographicsCultural significanceMicro Economic engine/stability

Top 5 counties in agricultural sales 2007

Lancaster County18.5%$1,072,151,000.Chester County9.5%$553,290,000.Berks County6.3%$367,840,000.Franklin County5.2%$304,450,000.Lebanon County4.4%$257,097,000York County3.6%$212,634,000State total$5,808,803,000 More information on agricultural sales Census of Agriculture ContactNASS Customer Service, 1-800-727-9540.

The City of Wilmington developed the Source Water Protection Plan (SWP Plan) in order to:Better protect the water supply for future generations, Reduce long term operating costs while avoiding future treatment improvement costs through proactive watershed planning,3. Be better able to respond to future spills and water quality events, through4. Leverage upstream investments to protect the water supply through agricultural mitigation and farmland preservation

Agricultural Mitigation Mitigating agricultural impacts provides benefits to the water supply. It prevents and reduces pathogens such as Cryptosporidium, sediment, livestock pharmaceuticals, ammonia, nitrate, and phosphorus. A study by AWWA and the Trust for Public Lands of water supplies suggested that for every 4 percent increase in raw water turbidity, treatment costs increase 1 percent. (Trust for Public Lands, 2004)

Agricultural Mitigation is a low cost / high return mitigation activity. Honey Brook is the top priority area for this work.

Agricultural Preservation Agricultural preservation provides benefits to the water supply because properly managed and preserved farmland can support significant riparian buffers and prevents the addition of urban/suburban storm water challenges due to development. The 2,700 acres of farmland along first order streams in the Honey Brook area on the West Branch represents prime agricultural parcels should be the primary preservation target area of the initial 5 to 10 year period.

City of Wilmington'sPriority Protection Areas

Honey Brooks Agricultural Resources 2004

Township size- 16,134 acres870 acres eased (5%)136.9 acres proposed to sell development rights, (.8%)

Honey Brooks Agricultural Preservation & Opportunities 2010Township size- 16,134 acres1,901 acres preserved through easements (11.7%)1,849 acres proposed to sell development rights, (11.4%)

Honey Brooks Agricultural Preservation & Opportunities 20143,155 acres preserved (19.6% of Township)1,593 acres applied to sell development rights (9.8%)Township is #1 in the County participating in Preservation Programs ---4 years in a row

Conservation Planning 2008-142008 Began Promoting No Cost Soil and Conservation Planning70 plans on 6,593 acres County Wide47 plans on 3,789 acres in Honey BrookAcquired grants to implements BMPs on 6 Farms in Honey Brook

Stabilizing High Traffic Area

Before

After

Honey Brook 2004 to Present

Brandywine Headwaters Preservation Program

Eligible: Land in or adjacent to geographic areas delineated in the City of Wilmington Source Water Protection Plan as Ag Cluster 1, Ag Cluster 2 or Ag Cluster 3.Not Eligible: Property on which there is an ongoing violation of federal, state or local laws.There is no minimum size requirement.There is no minimum agricultural use requirement.

WILLIAM PENN FOUNDATION WATERSHED PROTECTION PROGRAM

Protect & Restore the Delaware River BasinWPF selected 8 Cluster Sites within the Basin. Involving 8 cluster teams and a total of 47 non-profits conservation organizations. The BrandywineChristina Watershed was a selected site.

The BrandywineChristina Watershed Cluster Team.

Led by the Brandywine Conservancy and included:Stroud Water Research Center, Natural Lands Trust, Brandywine Valley Association, The Nature Conservancy of DE, and University of Delawares Water Resources Agency.

9 Pilot Projects proposed, 8 were selected.

Source Water Protection in Honey Brook Township was the largest of the 8 selected Pilot Projects. Stroud Water Research Center and Brandywine Valley Association will participate in the project.

New GrantsImplementing BMPSGrowing GreenerNational Fish & Wildlife FoundationPurchasing Development RightsOpen Space Institute

Thank You

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