By Mary A. Crisafulli
HAMDEN - The Watershed Agricultural Council (WAC) selected to continue with current guidelines regarding the Best Management Practices (BMP) program following a request for timelines.
BMPs are adequate methods for preventing and reducing pollution from operations and enhancing water quality. WACs program is voluntary and involves development of a Whole Farm Plan that outlines an approach for BMPs which could include the reconstruction of facilities, movement of crop fields, and stream buffer installation, among other improvement projects.
The request was received through ongoing litigation where the petitioner, Colm Ryan, is concerned with the fairness and transparency of WA operations. This request asks the WAC administration to provide a timeline for installation of BMPs.
WAC Board Member Jennifer Grossman noted the unanimous decision to stop offering specific BMP dates was made nearly 11 years ago. "Frankly it was not rational to provide dates that we did not have control over," she said, adding that weather, planning, farm strategies, among other things, led to delays. There are too many "uncontrollable factors," Grossman said. "That participant signed three different whole farm plans without date schedule for years," she continued, "It was uniform, a responsibility to the program that allows us to be frank, honest, and open and pivot when needed to supply services to our participants as needed."
"I don't understand why someone would not see this is how we have to run this program with all the variabilities," said WAC Board Member Robert Thomas Huston, "It baffles me we even have to go down this road."
Board Member Paul Gallay asked how information is provided to farmers on where they stand in the BMP priority list.
Agricultural Program Manager Connor Young explained that there is a cumulative list that is prioritized annually where there is an estimate provided over a two-year range. He highlighted that the list is a living document as various items impact it including farmer readiness. "It's difficult to know exactly when something will occur," he said, “It's a very difficult thing to do in a long term sense." Young noted that field staff proactively work with farmers and answer any questions they have.
The vote was unanimous in the council's intent not to assign implementation dates for whole-farm BMPs.
In another discussion, WAC received a clean opinion with fairly reported finances from the audit conducted by RBT. The main finding included late filed forms which could lead to penalties.
Communications Manager Heather Magnan, East of Hudson Forestry Program Coordinator Tyler Van Fleet, and Forestry Program Outreach Specialist Heather Hilson have been diligently working to streamline and improve WAC's brand identity. The three found the majority of WAC work involves outreach and education. Traditionally each program has developed its own branding and promotional materials. The branding initiative seeks to develop uniform materials and ensure recipients see WAC as the provider. In addition, the group has been developing educational bins and training courses, some of which have already been rolled out.
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