Lancaster County Watersheds

Little late but Happy New Year! May we all continue to improve and protect our local water resources. Here's to a great 2021.

This year there are countless things to be Thankful for. We are thankful for all of our partners, willing landowners and volunteers that help protect and conserve Lancaster County's Water Resources. Happy Thanksgiving.

Don't forget this Friday is Lancaster's Extra Give Campaign. Once again the Conservation Foundation of Lancaster County will be one of the non-profits you can contribute too. Funds for the Foundation assist in running the Conservation District's Youth Conservation School and Envirothon Programs which educate hundreds of students every year on conservation ideas and practices. Thanks for considering a donation.

Even though we may not be able to gather this year to plant those acres of stream side forested buffers we need to improve local water quality, fall is an ideal time to plant. Take this opportunity to potentially plant some native trees and shrubs along a local waterway to help Lancaster County meet its buffer goals for this year. It might take longer to get those trees in the ground with limited volunteers but take advantage of the excellent weather to get out and plant.

With cooler weather upon us don't forget about draining those rain barrels so freezing weather does not crack your barrel. You can remove our rain barrel over the colder months and reconnect your downspouts or just leave the outlet open on your barrel so the barrel does not accumulate water over the winter months.

Don't look now but we are about a month away from the very popular Lancaster Water Week which our partners the Lancaster County Conservancy throws each year. This year's event will be a little different with virtual tours and self-guided tours but will still have some activities where you can take action and be a part of conservation events. Please visit the new 2020 Water Week website and see the many great events happening throughout the county from August 7-15. We encourage all to participate and be a part of the movement. www.lancasterconservancy.org/water-week/

Here's a great animated video our partner organization, PACD, put together relating to planting native plants in our landscape. Hope you all enjoy it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cy7NPFghxLo&feature=youtu.be

Circle Traps for spotted lanternflies are here, and you now can purchase them or make them yourself! These traps are the new and improved sticky bands: they result in less animals getting stuck, they catch more spotted lanternflies, and they should be reusable for multiple seasons. If you like to craft, check out this article by Penn State Extension on how to make one yourself: https://extension.psu.edu/how-to-build-a-new-type-of-spotte. If you would rather just get some s...hipped to your house, check out Great Lakes IPM’s options: https://www.greatlakesipm.com//glgl401101-spotted-lanternf. Remember, more and more nymphs are hatching and now is the time to start trapping these pests!

With the cold weather now hopefully behind us we have some good news to share. If you are looking for some plants to install this spring the Conservation District has some leftover stock from our annual tree seedling sale. Below is a list of the species and prices of this materials. This material is on a first come first serve basis so if you are interested in materials you need to contact the District by phone (717) 299-5361 or email [email protected]... ASAP. Bare root seedling available for $1.75 each: thornless honneylocust, red oak, river birch, swamp white oak, sycamore, tulip poplar, buttonbush, coralberry, black elderberry, redbud, and spicebush Perennial available for $4.00 each: Achillea (yarrow), Aster, campanula (canterberry bells), Glorisa Daisy, Lavender, monarda (bee balm)

Final Earth Day tip/information. Happy 50th Earth Day.