Miranda Neville, Ag Resource Specialist
“What’s down time?” said every farmer, ever. Well, that was the world’s shortest article!
Let’s focus on the ‘off season’. When the hay is all cut and baled and the corn is chopped and all that’s left is caring for their livestock and routine daily chores. If they’re not spending all day in the field, what are they doing?  

Lacy Powers, Conservation Technician, BCCD
Wetlands are unique environments that occur in areas where water interacts with the soil, creating conditions that support a wide variety of plant and animal species that have adapted to these moist conditions. These ecosystems are crucial for biodiversity by serving as wildlife habitats and provide essential functional values such as: water filtration, carbon storage, flood control, and improving water quality. Since the beginning of settlement in Pennsylvania, it is estimated we have lost over 56% of our wetlands due to development, agricultural, and damming of waterways. Being able to identify the presence of a wetland is important to preserving our water quality and protecting our communities.

There are three special ingredients that must be present to make a wetland. Just as you can’t make a cake without flour, milk, and eggs, you can’t make a wetland without having hydrology, hydrophytic (water-loving) vegetation, and hydric soils (saturated/inundated soils).  These indicators are known as the “3H’s” of wetland determination. 

Breanna Ameigh, West Nile Virus Coordinator, BCCD
Everyone loves summer and fall and what these gorgeous seasons have to offer. Alas, every year, colder months arrive along with heating bills, heavy coats, and at least one person who says “at least the mosquitoes will be gone” as an optimistic note. Though they will return in the spring, it feels like my battle with mosquitoes has been won – for now. As the West Nile Virus Coordinator, my entire job is a war on mosquitoes that I fight, physically, between April and October. In the off season, I try to prepare for the next season and educate anyone who will listen about what they can do to rid their properties of potential mosquito habitats. Who wouldn’t want less mosquitoes at their house? I’ve never been to a cookout and thought they didn’t have enough biting, disease-ridden mosquitoes. Now that those little monsters are finally starting to leave us alone, let’s go over what we did this mosquito season. 

Kevin Brown, Ag Resource Specialist, BCCD
I don’t think we are in an area where the majority of homeowners go nuts about fertilizing their lawns, but we all know there are places that do.  For those of you that do, listen up.  For those who are in competition with your neighbors on who has the nicest lawn, “they” are finally starting to crack down on you for applying too much fertilizer.  

A reprint from Penn State Extension, Faith Kibuye, Extension Program Specialist, Water Resources: https://extension.psu.edu/septic-system-basics
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The drain field is also known as a leach field or absorption area. This is where the partially treated wastewater or septic effluent is disposed of for further treatment. It comprises of a network of perforated pipes laid on aggregate materials and a suitable soil layer. Once laid, the pipes are covered with additional aggregate material, geotextile material, and backfill soil. These pipes receive septic effluent through the distribution box and uniformly disperse to the underlying aggregate layer allowing it percolate through the suitable soil layers.

A reprint from Penn State Extension.
Faith Kibuye, Extension Program Specialist, Water Resources: https://extension.psu.edu/septic-system-basics
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How the septic tank treats wastewater
Once wastewater flows into the first chamber of the septic tank, the treatment process begins. Solids separate and settle to the bottom of the tank while the oils and greases float to the top. There is no oxygen in septic tanks; therefore, naturally occurring bacteria that function without oxygen (or anaerobic bacteria) break down the solids. This breakdown process is known as anaerobic digestion. Over time, the solids form a layer of sludge at the bottom, the oils and greases form a layer of scum at the top, and partially treated wastewater stays in the middle.

We have all had those conversations- why don’t they teach that in school?  We can fill in the blanks, but one that amazes me that no one teaches is how a septic system works.  This is a fact of life for anyone that lives outside of the city water/sewer system.  At home, you always waited until there was a problem and then dealt with it then.  I think people think that it is something that is self-sufficient (until something actually breaks) and will continue to run on its own indefinitely.  It is NOT!  I say this down here all the time “Everything takes maintenance!”  This is no exception.  If you know how it works, and you maintain it, you can save yourself a LOT of aggravation.  This will take 3 weeks to publish the full article, but here we go.

A reprint from Penn State Extension, Faith Kibuye, Extension Program Specialist, Water Resources: https://extension.psu.edu/septic-system-basics

​Brian Zeidner, Director of Member Services, Claverack Rural Electric Cooperative
This is the seventh and last of a series of articles that inform the public of an ambitious project that will benefit our local communities in many ways. Claverack Rural Electric Cooperative has undertaken a lawn-to-native pollinator habitat transition project on the grounds of their headquarters building, located along Route 6 in Wysox, Pennsylvania. Expected benefits include improved environmental stewardship, evaluating new right-of-way management strategies, educational opportunities for local students and groups, and reduced maintenance costs. Claverack is a rural electric cooperative that is owned by the members we serve.  
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Over the past couple of months, we have shared a lot of information about our native pollinator habitat project. We’ve discussed our planning process and partners, defined what pollinators do, invited you to share and use the site, and discussed how we maintain our rights-of-way. 

Brian Zeidner, Director of Member Services, Claverack Rural Electric Cooperative
This is part six of a series of articles that inform the public of an ambitious project that will benefit our local communities in many ways. Claverack Rural Electric Cooperative has undertaken a lawn-to-native pollinator habitat transition project on the grounds of their headquarters building, located along Route 6 in Wysox, Pennsylvania. Expected benefits include improved environmental stewardship, evaluating new right-of-way management strategies, educational opportunities for local students and groups, and reduced maintenance costs. Claverack is a rural electric cooperative that is owned by the members we serve.  
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An electric utility has an easement for properties where it has poles and wires. Utility easements are required from property owners prior to a utility beginning powerline construction and offering electrical service to customers or members. The easement allows the utility to access and maintain the powerlines to include tree trimming, brush cutting, and ongoing right-of-way maintenance. 

Brian Zeidner, Director of Member Services, Claverack Rural Electric Cooperative
This is part five of a series of articles that inform the public of an ambitious project that will benefit our local communities in many ways. Claverack Rural Electric Cooperative has undertaken a lawn-to-native pollinator habitat transition project on the grounds of their headquarters building, located along Route 6 in Wysox, Pennsylvania. Expected benefits include improved environmental stewardship, evaluating new right-of-way management strategies, educational opportunities for local students and groups, and reduced maintenance costs. Claverack is a rural electric cooperative that is owned by the members we serve.  

Many have asked about our native pollinator habitat program, and I have been sharing information one-on-one, giving formal presentations, and writing about our project in this series of articles. People often ask how we plan to use the site.