Conserving Penn’s Woods Pennsylvania’s Riparian Forest Buffer Initiative DEP Citizens Advisory Council May 17, 2016

Outline 1.DCNR Chesapeake Bay work 2.Chesapeake Bay forest buffer goal 3.Our current ideas

DCNR/Chesapeake Bay Work 1.Recreation and public access 2.Education and outreach 3.Land conservation 4.Urban tree planting (TreeVitalize) 5.Riparian Forest Buffers

What is a riparian forest buffer?

Slide courtesy Nick DiPasquale

Slide courtesy Nick DiPasquale

Slide courtesy Nick DiPasquale

Slide courtesy Nick DiPasquale

PA Success story 54,000 acres of RFBs 24,000 acres established through CREP PA Stream ReLeaf Growing Greener Many partners Accomplished at the local level

PA RFB Accomplishments YearAcres AnnualCumulative , ,129 44, ,848 47, , ,822 54, ,61658, , ,500154,000

Slide courtesy Nick DiPasquale

Slide courtesy Nick DiPasquale

Recent Federal and State Responses 2014 RFB Leadership Summit in D.C. –State Tasks Forces –Heavy focus on CREP –Asked for State RFB Leads 2014 Chesapeake Bay Agreement –Management strategy and 2-year work plans

PA 2-Year Work Plan 1.Leadership and collaboration –RFB Advisory Committee (March 28 and June 2) 2.Funding and resources for new and innovative approaches –Complement existing programs –Flexibility and simplicity –Importance of maintenance

PA 2-Year Work Plan 3.Communication, outreach, and technical assistance –Messaging, DCNR Foresters, social science 4.Planning to prioritize efforts –Technology and partners –Improve efficiency

Conserving Penn’s Woods Multi-use Riparian Forest Buffer Program Concept DEP Citizens Advisory Council May 17, 2016

Purpose Help PA reach Bay goal of 95,000 new acres of RFBs by 2025 Complement, but not duplicate, existing programs – CREP, EQIP Hallmarks include greater flexibility in landowner eligibility, buffer designs, widths, plant species Income-producing opportunities will be explored

Funder

Partner Roles DCNR – Forestry technical assistance, grant administration The Nature Conservancy (pending) – Technical assistance on targeting, mapping, general site characterization Watershed/county partners – Landowner outreach, buffer designs, landowner agreements, oversee implementation and maintenance Penn State Ag. Extension – Social data mining to determine socio-economic and cultural attributes of landowners inclined to participate in buffer programs; also agroforestry technical assistance DEP – verification and reporting

Pilot Program DCNR developing pilot sites to test-run the program –Yellow Breeches watershed in Cumberland/York counties –Lost Creek watershed in Juniata County –3-4 State Park locations –Municipal and county parks

Multi-use Riparian Forest Buffer Design Zones 2 and 3 can be planted with different species and at expanded widths to incorporate perennial crops of fruits, nuts, and floral trees and shrubs.

Costs Covered Tree and shrub plant materials, tree tubes, stakes, trellises, etc. Site prep and buffer installation Maintenance for 3 years NO rental payments to landowners Income-producing plants based on series of approved plant materials with new or established markets 20-year MOUs to participate Separate funding for livestock fencing, if applicable

Potential Funding Sources 1. Grants – direct grants to third parties, no rental payments and no payback requirement –Current and future Growing Greener and Keystone funding –Private foundation funding 2. Revolving fund or investment funded – requires income-generating plants with payback of principal and/or interest –State revolving funds –Third-party investors –Program-related investments (PRIs) – third-party vendor guarantees payback 3. Credits – downstream neighboring states, carbon credits, nutrient credits, stormwater credits

Elderberry Berries: $3/lb retail Juice: $15-17/11 oz jar Syrup: $18/4 oz jar retail Wine: $10-13/bottle retail Cough drops: $2.50/15 retail Concentrate: $25 per 375 ml Cuttings: $ Plants: $5.00 each USDA National Agroforestry Center Farming the Woods, Ken Mudge and Steve Gabriel continuumhealing.com Fairfax County Public Schools

Woody florals Redosier dogwood, pussy willow, etc. –Cuttings: $ /stem retail, some species up to $6/stem –Wreaths: $45+ each retail Willows can generate up to $56K/acre and live 20+ years USDA National Agroforestry Center University of Kentucky gardensofgrowth.com

Pros and Cons Pros: Additional tool in the toolbox Wider landowner applicant pool Landowner motivated by plant-generated income – better care and maintenance “Designer” buffers can be shaped to landowner preference Variable widths adjust to parcel Cons: Contract is voluntary Income and results may vary Payback process may be hard

Questions? Sara Nicholas Policy Director, DCNR Matt Keefer Assistant State Forester, DCNR