Murphy announces funding for a rainy day at Hilltop Hanover

YORKTOWN, NY - A conservation project at Hilltop Hanover Farm & Environmental Education Center is in line to receive funding after officials worked to gain recognition that the abatement of stormwater run-off is crucial to a healthy watershed. State Senator Terrence Murphy today announced that the New York State Soil and Water Conservation Committee awarded the Westchester the Westchester County Soil and Water Conservation District the maximum $6,000 in 2016 Conservation Projects Funding for its vegetative filter strip project at Hilltop Hanover Farm in Yorktown.

"Hilltop Hanover, a valuable and viable environmental education facility in my hometown, will greatly benefit from this funding," Senator Murphy said. "In the upcoming legislative session, I plan to continue working with the soil and water conservation districts in Westchester, Putnam and Dutchess counties and the state committee to increase funding for flood and erosion control, to clean water initiatives, to invasive species management, to keep our environment pristine, healthy and beautiful."
Precipitation falling on approximately nine acres of agricultural fields planted with a variety of vegetables, flowers and a cover crop currently runs off into wetlands and watercourses near the farm. This stormwater runoff becomes part of the drainage in the Croton River or "New York City Water Supply" watershed in Westchester County.

The fields are completely enclosed with wire fencing designed to keep out deer and prevent them from browsing the vegetable and flowering plants. Along the fence is a narrow area of non-agricultural land largely consisting of undesirable weeds, where the new project is expected to help mitigate and clean the stormwater run-off.

Murphy said the project will convert the area of weeds along the fence into a 25-foot-wide wildlife meadow or agricultural vegetative buffer strip consisting of native grasses and wildflowers. The total meadow or buffer area will be approximately 1.5 acres.

"This project will help eliminate and curb the re-growth of undesirable weeds, promote rapid soil stabilization, establish a dense cover of grasses during the first year to promote the filtration and infiltration of stormwater runoff, and establish a community of wildflowers capable of supporting beneficial insects and birds," Senator Murphy said. "In addition, bird houses mounted on posts will be installed at periodic intervals along the edge of the meadow, or buffer strip. This funding is exactly what we need to promote a healthy environment and funding to protect and preserve our natural resources for future generations."