Created after the dust bowl to promote healthy soil and water for agriculture, our soil and water conservation districts still provide many services to local communities. We had the chance to hear from Sean Rooney from the Nassau County Soil and Water Conservation District (NCSWCD) at our February partners meeting, where he shared their efforts in water quality improvement, environmental education, and invasive species management.
Education is a high priority for the NCSWCD. Starting with the annual Long Island Regional Envirothon on April 17th, the NCSWCD invites students to compete in science activities on aquatics, forestry, soils, and wildlife– and win scholarship money. With this year’s theme as “Renewable Energy for a Sustainable Future”, it is sure to attract students from across the region. Later on, they assist with the Day in the Life of an Estuary program, hosted by the South Shore Estuary Reserve. On this day full of community science activities, students learn about water conservation and aquatic wildlife.
To enhance water quality, the NCSWCD incentivizes local residents to upgrade their septic system. In this program titled “Septic Environmental Program to Improve Cleanliness”, homeowners can get a new, environmentally friendly, nitrogen reducing septic system at a fraction of the cost. “It tackles a large issue here on Long Island, with nitrogen being leached into the groundwater table,” says Sean Rooney, “Now [homeowners] are getting a system that uses nitrogen-stripping bacteria and leaches almost no nitrogen back into the water table.” To date, the program has 120 installations, and has allocated over 2 million dollars in program funds to homeowners for reimbursements, reducing nitrogen inputs to the watershed in the process.
The NCSWCD supports several conservation projects on the ground across the county. They helped to fund the reintroduction of fire at Hempstead Plains, install rain gardens, and post signs about native plants and removing invasive species. At Cedarmere Preserve – a well-kept secret in Roslyn – they helped fund invasive plant removal, including norway maple, english ivy, tree of heaven, and japanese maple. This was followed up by hydroseeding with native grasses and forbs. At their home in Muttontown Preserve, they conserve 550 acres of meadows, forests, and vernal pools and maintain the multi-use trails for people and horses.
In addition to all these great activities, they offer services in rain garden planning assistance, and soil group worksheets for defining soil types to Nassau County residents. Conserving nature on many fronts, LIISMA is grateful for the efforts of the Nassau County Soil and Water Conservation District.
Visit their website: https://nassauswcd.org/
Watch Sean Rooney’s presentation for the Nassau County Soil and Water Conservation District: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uJY6tjRE5rE&t=885s
