In the beginning of the program, 67 farms participated. These two actions convinced the City of Syracuse and the farm community that the voluntary cooperation of the farm operator, would be far more beneficial for both water quality protection and the viability of the agricultural industry in the watershed than would adherence to watershed rules and regulations. The City established an Ad Hoc Task Force (1992-1994) and made on-site visits to the New York City Watershed Program. The rules and regulations adopted by the City have purely water quality perspective and called for all farm practices to conform to standards set forth by the USDA NRCS and the NYS DEC in agricultural BMP manuals. Farming is a preferred land use, with significant long-term environmental benefits to the watershed, and the City has taken all appropriate steps to support it. Working with farmers to prepare WFP’s, and implementing those plans Įstablishing a voluntary WFP/BMP Program for the entire farm community within the watershed andĮnsuring proper operation and maintenance of those practices.Īgricultural practice environmental degradation control has been critical for meeting the City’s filtration avoidance criteria under the Federal Surface Water Treatment Rule and the New York State Filtration Rule. Reviewing existing BMPs for their applicability to watershed pollution control objectives Activities undertaken in the program include: Whole Farm Plans (WFP) / Best Management Practices (BMP) program has been implemented with local farm operators to incorporate methodologies for the Whole Farm Planning approach to source protection on farms in the watershed. Farmers in the Skaneateles Lake Watershed voluntarily participate in the City of Syracuse’s (City) Skaneateles Lake Watershed Agricultural Program (SLWAP).
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