Indiana County - Grassed Waterway
Farmstead stormwater was causing erosion and movement of sediment and nutrients into nearby waterways and impacting the operation's productivity. A grassed waterway was installed with five inlet boxes and stormwater pipe beneath it. Additionally, 404 feet of underground outlets were placed to capture runoff from roofs of farm structures and connected into the stormwater system. The stormwater from the upper farmstead area is captured and discharged into riprap installed at the bottom of the grassed waterway system.
Carbon County - Heavy Use Area
A large animal concentration area (ACA) of bare soil and manure had developed outside the barn on this beef cattle operation. A concrete heavy use area (HUA)was installed to provide stabilized housing. This ACAP project also included a vegetated treatment area to manage nutrient-laden runoff from the concrete pad, along with a small manure stack area to reduce manure applications during environmentally sensitive times of year.
Berks County - Mushroom Wastewater Storage
Areas of erosion and groundwater contamination existed at this mushroom farm due to production wastewater having inadequate storage and being pumped into failing lagoons or directly onto the land surface. A concrete storage tank with a four-month capacity was installed, and now wastewater can be delivered to a spray irrigation system and used at appropriate times. This project also included stormwater features to direct clean rainwater away from the storage system.
McKean County - Manure Storage and Rotational Grazing
A severely overgrazed pasture became an animal concentration area at this beef operation. The farm also had no manure storage, which was leading to nutrient runoff. The farmer completed an ACAP project that included a roofed manure storage facility, along with rotational grazing plan implementation, access road, and animal trails and walkways.
Greene County - Roofed Heavy Use Area
Congregating animals and unprotected manure piles were causing erosion and nutrient runoff on this farm. This project used combined funding sources, including Growing Greener and EQIP, with ACAP funds to install a roofed heavy use area. The associated BMPs included roof run off structures, animal walkways, and heavy use area protection.
Lebanon County - Animal Walkway
This dairy operation aimed to minimize uncontrolled stormwater and manure runoff while reducing erosion across the farmstead and pasture. Practices included a stabilized stream crossing and a cattle walkway complete with a high-tensile fence. In addition, the eroding pond bank adjacent to the walkway was stabilized with large boulders and the walkway was elevated to prevent further encroachment by the pond. Prior to the project, uncontrolled cattle access to both the pond and stream caused significant erosion, sedimentation, and nutrient runoff.
Montour County - Equine HUA and Watering System
Several areas of bare soil and manure had developed around horse run in sheds in the pasture of this operation. The improved heavy use areas provide adequate space to fully enclose all animals during periods of wet weather, reducing soil erosion issues. This project also included roofed manure storages and watering facilities, eliminating the need for horses to drink from streams and other sensitive areas.
