What's Going on at BCSCD

BURLINGTON COUNTY SOIL CONSERVATION DISTRICT ENJOYS THEIR OPEN HOUSE

On March 27, 2008, the Burlington County Soil Conservation District invited state, county, and local representatives along with local farmers, engineers, and businesses for a guided tour of the new 10,000 square foot agricultural building.  The new complex is now operational and houses not only the Soil Conservation District but also the Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS), Rural Development (RD), and the Farm Services Agency (FSA).  The larger building and open space will allow the District to expand its services to Burlington County residents.  Demonstration plots of agricultural conservation techniques are planned to be displayed for farmers and others to see.  A nature trail/outdoor classroom is currently being designed for the county’s environmental educational programs as well.  Other demonstration projects depicting conservation practices such as xeric landscaping, backyard water conservation, and gardening techniques will be part of the education center.

Chairwoman Cathy Costa alongside Theodore Zeller (treasurer), Don Knezick (supervisor), and Thomas Budd (supervisor) hosted the grand event.  Shown to the right is Cathy Costa presenting Mrs. Traino with flowers to demonstrate the utmost respect and gratitude towards her late husband Mr. John Traino (former Chairman for the BSCD) during the ribbon cutting ceremony for the complex. 

The core function of the Burlington County Soil Conservation District is its State mandate to ensure that construction sites county-wide are in compliance with New Jersey’s soil erosion and sediment control laws.  The new facility has more space and is better suited for that purpose.  Guided tours of the facility, led by the District’s Supervisors, introduced attendees to staff members, their duties and tools of the trade.  Attendees were surprised by the complexity and range of functions the staff is responsible for, and pleased with the fact that the District is funded primarily through developer’s fees, not tax dollars.

The tour continued through the offices of the Federal agencies mentioned above with an emphasis on the new facility’s value to staff and their clients, largely New Jersey’s agricultural community.

District Assists County In Maintaining Open Space

Burlington County has become a national leader in the purchase of open space and the preservation of farmland in recent years.  Putting them ahead of many of their counterparts both locally and nationally is their recognition of the importance of maintaining these parcels once they are preserved.  Funding for comprehensive maintenance of the county’s valuable open space properties was set aside by the Freeholders’ in partnership with the County’s Resource Conservation Office.  Recognizing our expertise in land conservation practices, County officials approached the Burlington County Soil Conservation District for assistance in this effort.   

In 2006 the County Board of Chosen Freeholders and the District developed an agreement spelling out the responsibilities of both agencies.  Initially, the agreement addressed the Sod Farm Property in Springfield Township and a maintenance plan was prepared and executed.  Since then, this successful program has expanded to include thirteen parcels.  In the spring and summer of 2007, proposals were developed by District personnel and approved by the Freeholders for each of the parcels.  The proposals included costs for the planned maintenance activities.  Local farmers were contacted to find people who had the equipment, time and willingness to do the work for a fair wage.  Every effort was made to select someone local who had an interest in the property.  The initial agreement between the County and the District was amended to include each parcel and the program was off to the races.  Maintenance activities included mowing, conservation plantings, orchard tree removal, and invasive species control and drainage improvements.  Several of the tracts were previously cultivated by local farmers who wished to continue to grow and harvest soybeans, corn or hay.  These practices achieved the dual goals of maintaining the ground and keeping it productive at the same time.

 These maintenance activities often serve as placeholders until final plans are developed and put in place by the County.  For example, the Sod Farm is the future home of the Burlington County Farm Fair.  Plans for the Fairgrounds are currently being engineered, but are not yet complete.  The District also recently received plans for the development of a park at the Boundary Creek Property along the Rancocas Creek in Moorestown near the border with Delran Township.  In 2007, both of these parcels were maintained by local farmers to keep them in good condition until the plans are put into action.

Burlington County Soil Conservation District's WHIP Grant

The Burlington County Soil Conservation in partnership with the Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) has completed their WHIP (wildlife habitat incentive program) grant which showcases and an outdoor education classroom with several demonstration plots throughout the trail.  Approaching the Burlington County Soil Conservation District, USDA Columbus Service Center, you will notice in front of the building a beautiful butter fly garden, which will attractive several species of butter flies throughout the spring and summer months.  As you continue around to the back of the property, a trail head is located between a reforestation area and a pond.  Further down the trail, you will notice an area of warm season grasses.  This area, once mature, will be used by local and migratory birds for nesting purposes.  The trail leads you past a demonstration plot of purple loosestrife, which is an invasive species here in New Jersey.  Your journey then takes you to the bog turtle habitat improvement area.  Bog turtles are an endangered species and are protected by federal law. 

Here at the Burlington County Soil Conservation District, we went to great lengths to improve this rare habitat.  The trail then returns back to the beginning but not before passing fox and rabbit habitat, as well as, bluebird and tree swallow houses.  On nice spring days you will notice the tree swallows flying around the meadow and pond having lunch.  The trail finishes with a nice walk through wildflower plantings.  Further improvements are planned for the education center in the fast approaching summer months. 

A continuance of maintenance and habitat improvements is planned for off season nesting’s of the migratory birds that make the Burlington County Soil Conservation District a rest stop in the long journey. 

Summertime Brings life to the BSCD’s Pond

With summer here, the vegetation and wildlife at the Burlington County Soil Conservation Distrcit's pond is in full growth.  As you walk around the pond, take a minute to stop and appreciate all the wondrous plants and animals.  Walking around the pond you might notice a tree swallow flying by your head or skimming the pond’s surface for some unsuspecting insects.  Approaching the bank of the pond you might hear a bull frog’s croak or observe that same bull frog seeking refuge in the tall cattails along the bank of the pond.    Off in the distance a bass might jump and disturb the calmness of the pond’s surface.  Don’t forget to value the assortment of color from several species of wetland plants.  The pickerelweed can be noticed as dragonflies perch on top of the stems.  Or you may notice a buttery fly sitting atop of a harlequin blueflag or great blue lobelia.  If you have sometime, get out and enjoy the beauty of nature right here at the Burlington County Soil Conservation District, you’ll be glad you came.

            Butterfly Madness

Butterflies, butterflies everywhere!  As you walk up to the Burlington County Soil Conservation District’s office, you will notice the beauty that is now our Butterfly Garden.  Look closely and you will observe the elegance of a monarch butterfly soaring in and out of the multiple colors of the cone flowers and around an astonishing display of cardinal flowers, only to land on the brilliance of a milkweed or golden rod plant.  Walking towards the hibiscus you may notice a bumble bee collecting pollen to disperse throughout the garden.  With summer ending, the butterflies will be moving on, so take some time and see the exquisiteness of the Burlington County Soil Conservation District’s Butterfly Garden.          

Energy Conservation in Your Home

"When the well's dry, we know the worth of water."
- Benjamin Franklin, (1706-1790), Poor Richard's Almanac.

The picture below will provide energy efficiency and renewable energy ideas for your everyday life provided by the U.S. Department of Energy.  Please take a moment to see how we all can do our part in a clean future. 

The weather gets colder, days get shorter and leaves turn color and fall off the trees. Soon, winter is here. Snow covers the ground. People live in warm houses and wear heavy coats outside. Our food comes from the grocery store. But what happens to the animals?
 

 

 

MIGRATE

Animals do many different, amazing things to get through the winter. Some of them "migrate." This means they travel to other places where the weather is warmer or they can find food. Many birds migrate in the fall. Because the trip can be dangerous, some travel in large flocks. For example, geese fly in noisy, "V"-shaped groups. Other kinds of birds fly alone. How do they know when it is time to leave for the winter? Scientists are still studying this. Many see migration as part of a yearly cycle of changes a bird goes through. The cycle is controlled by changes in the amount of daylight and the weather. Birds can fly very long distances. For example, the Arctic tern nests close to the North Pole in the summer. In autumn, it flys south all the way to Antarctica. Each spring it returns north again. Most birds migrate shorter distances. But how do they find their way to the same place each year? Birds seem to navigate like sailors once did, using the sun, moon and stars for direction. They also seem to have a compass in their brain for using the Earth's magnetic field. Other animals migrate, too. There are a few mammals, like some bats, caribou and elk, and whales that travel in search of food each winter. Many fish migrate. They may swim south, or move into deeper, warmer water. Insects also migrate. Some butterflies and moths fly very long distances. For example, Monarch butterflies spend the summer in Canada and the Northern U.S. They migrate as far south as Mexico for the winter. Most migrating insects go much shorter distances. Many, like termites and Japanese beetles, move downward into the soil. Earthworms also move down, some as far as six feet below the surface.

 

ADAPT

Some animals remain and stay active in the winter. They must adapt to the changing weather. Many make changes in their behavior or bodies. To keep warm, animals may grow new, thicker fur in the fall. On weasels and snowshoe rabbits, the new fur is white to help them hide in the snow.  Food is hard to find in the winter. Some animals, like squirrels, mice and beavers, gather extra food in the fall and store it to eat later. Some, like rabbits and deer, spend winter looking for moss, twigs, bark and leaves to eat. Other animals eat different kinds of food as the seasons change. The red fox eats fruit and insects in the spring, summer and fall. In the winter, it can not find these things, so instead it eats small rodents.  Animals may find winter shelter in holes in trees or logs, under rocks or leaves, or underground. Some mice even build tunnels through the snow. To try to stay warm, animals like squirrels and mice may huddle close together.  Certain spiders and insects may stay active if they live in frost-free areas and can find food to eat. There are a few insects, like the winter stone fly, crane fly, and snow fleas, that are normally active in winter. Also, some fish stay active in cold water during the winter.
 

 

 

HIBERNATE

Some animals "hibernate" for part or all of the winter. This is a special, very deep sleep. The animal's body temperature drops, and its heartbeat and breathing slow down. It uses very little energy. In the fall, these animals get ready for winter by eating extra food and storing it as body fat. They use this fat for energy while hibernating. Some also store food like nuts or acorns to eat later in the winter. Bears, skunks, chipmunks, and some bats hibernate.

 

AND MORE

Cold-blooded animals like fish, frogs, snakes and turtles have no way to keep warm during the winter. Snakes and many other reptiles find shelter in holes or burrows, and spend the winter inactive, or dormant. This is similar to hibernation.  Water makes a good shelter for many animals. When the weather gets cold, they move to the bottom of lakes and ponds. There, frogs, turtles and many fish hide under rocks, logs or fallen leaves. They may even bury themselves in the mud. They become dormant. Cold water holds more oxygen than warm water, and the frogs and turtles can breath by absorbing it through their skin.   Insects look for winter shelter in holes in the ground, under the bark of trees, deep inside rotting logs or in any small crack they can find. One of the most interesting places is in a gall. A gall is a swelling on a plant. It is caused by certain insects, fungi or bacteria. They make a chemical that affects the plant's growth in a small area, forming a lump. The gall becomes its maker's home and food source.    Every type of insect has its own life cycle, which is the way it grows and changes. Different insects spend the winter in different stages of their lives. Many insects spend the winter dormant, or in "diapause." Diapause is like hibernation. It is a time when growth and development stop. The insect's heartbeat, breathing and temperature drop. Some insects spend the winter as worm-like larvae. Others spend the winter as pupae. (This is a time when insects change from one form to another.) Other insects die after laying eggs in the fall. The eggs hatch into new insects in the spring and everything begins all over again.

 

Click here for fun wintertime projects you can do at home!

Provided by Science Made Simple