THE CHESAPEAKE BAY AND ITS AFFECT IN MINERAL COUNTY AGRICULTURE

Where are we going?

The Chesapeake Bay History How it affect agriculture enterprises How does it affect Mineral County Water Runoff Careers related to the Chesapeake Bay

Why is this so important?

Sarah Miller Former FFA member Lives on an integrated poultry farm on

Patterson’s Creek. She must find ways to properly apply the

poultry litter so excess nutrients do not leach into streams.

Was a National Finalist in the Environmental Science & Natural Resources Proficiency Area last year (first from Mineral County).

History of the Bay

The Bay is the largest estuary in the United States.

Its drainage basin covers just under 65,000 square miles.

It is home to many uniquespecies only found in thebay.

* In the 1970’s the Bay began having environmental problems related to plant life.

How it affects agricultural entrprises.

In 2009, the federal government gave the EPA the authority to enforce any regulations they wanted to protect the plant and aquatic life in the Chesapeake Bay.

One of the groups the EPA targeted was agricultural enterprises, partially poultry farms because of its high nutrient content of nitrogen and phosphorous.

How it affects Mineral County

The Chesapeake Bay Drainage System

How it affects Mineral County

100% of all of Mineral County’s runoff water goes to the Chesapeake Bay.

We have integrated poultry, beef cattle, and forestry operations which all can contribute to excess sediment reaching the Bay.

Water Runoff

Water runoff is the biggest source for excess nutrients reaching the Chesapeake Bay

In agricultural enterprises the following is occurring: Poultry operations are now required by law to

write nutrient management plans for how they will apply their poultry litter.

Beef operations are being monitored in concentrated and winter feeding areas for nutrient runoff.

Examples of Poultry and Beef Farms on Patterson’s Creek

Riparian Buffers

Riparian Buffers are now being incorporated to catch excess nutrients.

Forestry

Soil erosion from tree removal is the biggest contributor to excess soil being dumped into the bay.

Excess soil will cause hypoxia which is where

plants do not have enough sunlight to make photosynthesis.

Natural Resources

Excess nutrient and soil runoff from farming and logging operations cause undesirable conditions for fish in Mineral County, esp. trout.

Careers in WV with the Bay

There are numerous careers associated with preserving the Chesapeake Bay watershed in the eastern panhandle of West Virginia including:

Production Agriculture Forestry Natural Resources Career opportunities can be found at

usda.gov, wvda.gov, nrcs.gov, and wvca.gov

Your Assignment

You will do a PowerPoint Presentation on the affects of the Chesapeake Bay in Mineral County.

You need to select from the following which area you want to do. It should relate as close as possible to your career major that you did earlier in the 6 weeks. Agriculture Forestry Natural Resources

Your Assignment

You need to do the history of the bay for your area.

What is currently being done in your area One career you can choose related to the

bay in your area. You will be making class presentations

and the majority of your slides will should include pictures.