Keeping Farmland Viable Along Sideling Hill Creek
Agriculture has played an important role in the Sideling Hill Creek community. Because agriculture in the watershed tends to be much less intense than in other regions, and because agriculture preserves open spaces, it has played an important role in preserving Sideling Hill Creek’s good condition. Today, many farmers in the watershed are using agricultural Best Management Practices, such as cover crops, to help ensure that farming in the area remains economically viable and environmentally sensitive.
Pictured
above is an example of a "cover crop." According to the Soil
Science Society of America, a cover crop is one planted for the purpose
of covering and protecting the soil.
The Sideling Hill Creek watershed is approximately 104 square miles in size and considered one of the highest quality streams of the Pennsylvania and Maryland Ridge and Valley Province, earning it “Exceptional Value” status by the Pa. Department of Environmental Protection. In all, there are more than 287 stream miles in the watershed, most of which are small perennial and intermittent streams forming nine different subwatersheds within the larger Sideling Hill Creek watershed. These subwatersheds are characterized by fluctuating stream flows, varying from less than 20 cubic feet per second in the precipitation-lean summer months to around 150 cubic feet per second in the early spring.
Protecting
rural livelihoods and land uses like forestry and agriculture is a focus
of WPC as we move forward. We are building ties with private landowners
and community leaders who share our vision of "working landscapes."
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