PA Environment Digest Blog

Tuesday, August 1, 2017

Expanding REAP Farm Conservation Tax Credit Suggested To Bring REAL Private Capital to Chesapeake Bay Cleanup Effort

The PA Chesapeake Bay Watershed Phase 3 Implementation Planning Steering Committee Monday heard from panelists on the changes they would like to see come out of the process and among the suggestions was expanding the REAP Farm Conservation Tax Credit Program to bring real private capital to the Bay cleanup effort.

Also suggested was making it much easier for communities to meet their MS4 Stormwater pollution reductions by allowing them to buy inexpensive, cost-effective on-farm conservation practices in their local watersheds like stream fencing and forested buffers.

Panel Discussion

Felicia Dell, Director of the York County Planning Commission, Jennifer Reed-Harry, Vice President of PennAg Industries Association and John Brosious, Deputy Executive Director of the PA Municipal Authorities Association presented their thoughts on what they would like to see come out of the Phase 3 Planning Process.

Felicia Dell said in York County they have involved local governments as key partners in an innovative Integrated Water Resources Plan that adopts a regional approach to complying not only with the MS4 Stormwater requirements, but the Chesapeake Bay and local TMDL impaired stream nutrient and sediment reductions.

Dell said municipalities included in the county’s regional approach would like to see more prioritization and targeting of resources. They also support watershed-wide solutions to stormwater issues, instead of solutions limited to their own MS4 communities.

Dell also said municipalities recommended state grant programs give more points for projects that have stormwater benefits in addition paying for recreation or other projects.

Jennifer Reed-Harry, PennAg Industries Association, noted the farm inspections being done by county conservation districts are showing more compliance with farm conservation plans than many thought.

At the same time, she acknowledged the agriculture community has not done a good enough job in documenting the nutrient and sediment reductions achieved by these plans.

Among her recommendations were an expansion of the public-private partnership embodied in the Resource Enhancement and Protection Farm Conservation Tax Credit Program to bring more and real private capital to Bay cleanup program.

In response to a question from DEP Secretary Patrick McDonnell, she said farmers need to be approach with a view toward return on investment. How will the conservation practices benefit their operations and their bottom lines? And they do.

John Brosious, PA Municipal Authorities Association, said wastewater plants met the initial nitrogen and phosphorus reduction numbers three years early and are now on the verge of meeting their 2025 phosphorus reduction.

Brosious recommended reviving a Nutrient Credit Trading workgroup to develop the changes needed to really make the trading program work.

He noted wastewater plants do a lot of trades among themselves because the credits can be easily verified, but there have not been many trades between nonpoint (farm) and point sources (wastewater plants).

DEP said a review of the trading program is part of the Phase 3 Planning Process.

Brosious said there should be more options for MS4 Stormwater Program communities to comply with the requirements, like allowing communities to pay for cost-effective and inexpensive on-farm conservation practices we know work like streambank fencing and forest buffers in other parts of their watersheds.

Dell also supported the concept.

Most Cost-Effective BMPs

Matt Johnston, University Of Maryland Chesapeake Bay Program Nonpoint Source Data Analyst, gave a presentation on tools now available to make better estimates of the costs and benefits-- potential pounds of nutrient and sediment reduction-- of adopting relatively simple on-farm conservation practices.

Johnston said the top 10 most cost effective and low-tech on-farm best management practices per pound of nitrogen reduced were-- alternative crops, barnyard runoff control, water quality conservation plans, water control structures, stream access controls for cattle with fenced and grassed buffer, narrow grass stream buffer, forested buffer, agricultural grass buffers and loafing lot management.
[Note: These same practices also have significant sediment runoff reduction benefits as well. Buffer plantings only get more effective over time as grasses, shrubs and trees grow.]

Revised Planning Schedule

Nicki Kasi, Manager of DEP’s Chesapeake Bay Program, presented a revised briefing schedule for Steering Committee members--

August--

-- Midpoint EPA Assessment is expected to yield specifics of any added reductions in nitrogen, phosphorous and sediment as a result of the Conowingo Dam not trapping sediment and factors increasing reductions as a result of growth and climate change;

-- BMP Effectiveness: More information will be available from monitoring on the effectiveness of best management practices;

-- Public Input: DEP and the workgroups will be developing additional input tools to provide more opportunity for public involvement in the workgroup and Phase 3 planning process; and

-- Summary of Kickoff Event Recommendations: DEP will present the comments and suggestions from the June Planning Process Kickoff Event and its associated comment period.

September--

-- Progress Status Report: What measures have worked to achieve reductions, what investments have been made so far and where, current, up-to-date numbers of reductions by sectors and where Pennsylvania is coming up short; and

-- Midpoint Assessment Update: Official EPA Chesapeake Bay Program reduction targets.

Next Meeting

The next meeting of the Steering Committee will be August 24.

Materials associated with this meeting will be posted on the WIP Steering Committee webpage.

For more information, visit DEP's Phase 3 Chesapeake Bay Watershed Implementation Plans, Nutrient Credit Trading and Municipal Stormwater webpages.

PJM Expects Loss Of Up To 2,500 MW Of Solar Power Generation During Upcoming Solar Eclipse

The PJM Interconnection Monday said it expects to temporarily lose up to 2,500 megawatts of solar power generation from 1:30 to 3:40 on the afternoon of the August 21 solar eclipse.

Although the eclipse will reduce solar power generation, PJM Interconnection expects no power grid reliability issues in its footprint, which includes 13 states and the District of Columbia and 65 million people. It will use its sufficient reserves for replacement generation.

"Certainly, this is an unusual solar event, but as far as potential impacts to the grid, PJM and its members are prepared," said PJM President and CEO Andrew L. Ott. "While this is an anticipated event, we routinely plan and prepare for unpredictable events or things that can't be forecast far in advance, such as severe storms and heat waves.”

Certain states will experience a greater impact, including North Carolina, which will experience a complete solar eclipse, and New Jersey, which has more photovoltaic solar generation than most other the states served by PJM.

PJM will ensure sufficient resources are ready to replace any solar generation loss and will refine its analysis prior to the eclipse to factor in the latest weather forecasts.

PJM's established planning, operations and markets functions have produced a reliable, diverse resource mix that includes natural gas, coal, nuclear, renewables and demand response.

About 500 MW of solar generation is connected to the grid. Another 2,000 MW is generated by rooftop solar panels that serve individual consumers.

A reduction in power from the rooftop panels results in an increase in electric demand on the grid.

Although growing in the region, solar generation comprises less than 1 percent of PJM's 185,000 MW of generation capacity.

For context, 1 MW can power up to 1,000 homes.

Because rooftop solar is not wholesale power and, therefore, not monitored by PJM, post-eclipse analysis will provide valuable information for future planning.

PJM will integrate lessons learned from the Aug. 21 event into preparing for the next solar eclipse, predicted to occur in 2024, when the grid is expected to have more solar generation.

Europe experienced a total eclipse in 2015 with no impact on electric reliability because of coordinated planning for the ramping up and down of electricity on the grid.

The last total solar eclipse to occur in the continental United States was in 1979, before the rise of solar power. It was viewable only from the Pacific Northwest.

August's planetary event will be the first total eclipse since the year 1257 to begin and end exclusively over the territory that now makes up the United States, according to NASA.

(Map: Path of solar eclipse. Shading indicates relative darkness of eclipse on the ground.)

Centre Outdoors Activities Recreation/Fitness Events Heading Into Home Stretch In Centre County

Centred Outdoors, an invitation for people of all ages and fitness levels to explore nine outdoor destinations across Centre County, has led hundreds of participants on outdoor adventures all around Centre County.

The effort was launched on June 11 by ClearWater Conservancy with support from partnering organizations and funded by a grant from the Centre Foundation.

The response to this new initiative has been fantastic, with kids and adults exploring the outdoors on 642 personal adventures and hiking more than 800 cumulative miles during the first 13 outings.

People are encouraged to register on the Centred Outdoors website to participate in the remaining seven events, which are free and open to the public, or to explore these destinations on their own.

“We are extremely pleased that so many people have come out to explore the natural places that make Central Pennsylvania such a healthy and beautiful place to live. We look forward to meeting more new faces at upcoming events happening in State College,” explains Deb Nardone, Executive Director of ClearWater Conservancy.

At some of the Centred Outdoors’ guided outings such as those at Black Moshannon State Park and the Spring Creek Canyon, participants learned about local flora and fauna, while at Bellefonte’s Talleyrand Park and the Poe Paddy Tunnel offered historic perspectives.

The events at Spring Creek Canyon during the week of July 16 were led by Fish and Boat Commission, Spring Creek Trout Unlimited, and local legends and experts who brought to life the unique habitat and features that contribute to Spring Creek’s reputation as a world-famous fly fishing stream.

Fly-fishing legend Joe Humphreys offered instruction to novice anglers, and Mark Nale, an accomplished outdoor photographer and author, guided participants on a relaxing nature walk as he identified plants and wildlife along the cool, shaded trail.

Events at Poe Paddy Tunnel featured native plant and bird walks and fishing demonstrations led by Penns Valley Conservation Association and the Penns Creek Chapter of Trout Unlimited.

This past Sunday (July 30), 78 hikers attended guided walks and visited information stations at Millbrook Marsh Nature Center.

Centred Outdoors participants can follow the event calendar and select their destinations via the website, where specific information is listed, including directions and parking, difficulty of trail, and local ecology.

Participants who register on the website receive frequent email updates and are eligible to wine prize drawing based on the number of e-trophies they earn.

The number of trophies then determines the number of chances to win prizes at the Wrap-Up Party on August 20 at Millbrook Marsh.

“We are thrilled with the generosity of our community partners in providing some spectacular prizes, ranging from backpacks to bikes, boats, and fishing poles as incentives to participate” says Deb Nardone.

She hopes that the Centred Outdoors model with its newly created infrastructure, including the website, Android app, and print materials will inspire similar future outings and events with the goal to familiarize the local population with its natural environment while promoting healthy lifestyles and engagement with local non-profits.

It is not too late to collect e-trophies for attending Centered Outdoors hikes and walks at the next five events between August 2-August 16 at Millbrook Marsh, the Arboretum at Penn State and Mount Nittany; or by visiting any of the nine sites on your own. All events are free, and open to the public.

Lexie Orr, adventure coordinator for Centred Outdoors and AmeriCorps member explains, “We invite everyone in Centre County to stress less and explore more during our remaining Centred Outdoors events. On August 20, our goal is to report that we collectively hiked over 1,200 miles during 1,000 personal adventures this summer and we are well on our way to reaching this milestone.”

For more information and to get involved, visit the Centred Outdoors website.

(Photo: Poe Paddy Tunnel, courtesy ClearWater Conservancy.)

PSU: Tree-Of-Heaven’s Prolific Seed Production Adds To Its Invasive Potential

Tree-of-heaven — or Ailanthus — is an invasive triple threat, according to a team of plant pathologists. The species produces seeds early in its lifespan, tends to make millions of viable seeds during its life, and continues to produce seeds for decades and, in some cases, for more than a century.

In a study, researchers, who report their findings in the current issue of Forests, found that an Ailanthus tree that lives around 40 years can produce approximately 10 million seeds during its lifetime, while Ailanthus trees that live over a 100 years can produce about 52 million seeds.

Little was known about the actual lifespan and seed viability — the percentage of seeds that germinate – of Ailanthus, a species that is now considered a growing invasive threat in numerous spots in the United States, according to Matt Kasson, assistant professor of forest pathology, West Virginia University, who began his study of Ailanthus at Penn State.

He added that the species' prolific ability to reproduce is thought to be key to its invasive success.

"What really got us interested in the seed production of these trees is trying to determine what is the cumulative impact of Ailanthus — what's the cumulative seed production and output that could eventually lead to secondary invasions," said Kasson. "Knowing how many seeds can be produced is really only half the story. It's important, but we needed to know something about viability of the tree because if a tree was producing a million seeds, but only 3 percent are viable, then it doesn't pose as much of a threat."

To study the effect of size and age on seed reproduction, the researchers examined 55 seed-bearing Ailanthus trees in Southcentral Pennsylvania.

In addition, the researchers used data from 25 seed-bearing Ailanthus trees from France, and two other historic trees in Pennsylvania, but because the ages of these trees were not known, the researchers only examined the relationship between size and seed production for these particular trees.

Kristen Wickert, a doctoral candidate in the division of plant and soil sciences, also at West Virginia University, who worked with Kasson, said that the viability of the Ailanthus varies.

For example, a 7-year-old tree, one of the youngest trees in the study, had 78 percent of its seeds germinate, while one of the oldest, a 104-year-old tree, had 66 percent of its seeds germinate.

Few species — native or invasive — in the U.S. compared to Ailanthus' seed viability, according to Wickert. Only 9 percent of a tulip poplar's annual seed production is viable, for example.

She added that Ailanthus is different from other tree species because of its ability to maintain seed viability over its lifetime.

"Sometimes you find that trees, as they age, much like humans, lose their reproductive ability," said Wickert. "With tree-of-heaven, it actually seems to be the the exception."

The cumulative ability to produce so many seeds makes Ailanthus a threat to not just Pennsylvania forests, but many forest areas located throughout the United States, said Don Davis, forest pathologist at Penn State, who added that he is even receiving calls for assistance on Ailanthus from Europe.

"The invasive spread of Ailanthus is more significant now," said Davis, who also worked on the study. "It's right at the top of the list of invasive species in Pennsylvania, including trees like the Norway maple, and shrubs like honeysuckles. All these invasive species are important now because they are really affecting the forests and forest regeneration, especially."

Kasson said that Ailanthus also has other traits that enhance its invasive ability.

"It's also allelopathic, which means it produces chemicals that inhibit the germination of other native species that are growing in the same forest," said Kasson. "So, in addition to its ability to grow rapidly and produce seed early, it has the ability to stunt the growth of those competitors."

Ailanthus came to the United States as a collector's item for plant enthusiasts and amateur botanists.

"It came to the United States, in the Philadelphia area, in around 1784," said Davis. "It was strictly brought in as an ornamental — it's a beautiful tree that became popular in the Philadelphia area. Initially, collectors just brought in cuttings from male plants, but then they brought in seeds — and eventually, it took off."

Currently, the researchers are continuing to investigate the use of a native soil-borne fungus to kill Ailanthus and better control its spread, according to Kasson.

Eric S. O'Neal, a former graduate student in plant pathology at Penn State, also worked on the study.

The United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service supported this work.

For more information on this invasive species, visit the Penn State Extension Tree-Of-Heaven webpage.