WELCOME
TO THE OCEAN COUNTY SOIL CONSERVATION DISTRICT
Ocean
County Soil Conservation District (OCSCD) provides
Ocean County with a wide variety of natural resource
conservation services.
Our success is tied to the goals and policies set by the Board of Supervisors
and implemented by OCSCD staff. It is dependent, however, upon public awareness
of soil health and water quality issues, and upon partnerships formed with groups
and individuals who are committed to this important work of conservation. We
hope that as you read about us on these pages, you will want to learn more about
our effective Chapter 251 program, our progressive education program, our research
in soil health and water quality in the Barnegat Bay watershed, and our role
in farmland preservation.
We welcome your questions and suggestions, and especially your participation.
DIG IT! The Secrets of Soil Poster Contest
DIG IT! The Secrets of Soil is
the theme for the 2009 Conservation Poster Contest
sponsored by the Ocean County Soil Conservation District
and the NJ Association of Conservation Districts. Press
Release | Poster
Contest Brochure |
Soil Painting Information
Press
Release: Ocean County Soil Conservation District
Recognized
as a Statewide Leader in Education
Trout
in the Classroom making a BIG Splash!
Brook
Trout are being raised in Classrooms around Ocean County
The Ocean County Soil Conservation District (OCSCD)
has sponsored an innovative program called “Trout
in the Classroom (TIC)” with four area schools
this year. This program engages students in the raising
of Brook Trout from eggs to eventual release as small
fingerlings in the late spring. It is a program which
encompasses cross-curricular applications, responsibility
and stewardship, in addition to biology, water chemistry
and environmental studies. It is a hands-on opportunity
for students to get connected to real-life water quality,
fish and wildlife issues and inspires them to seek solutions.
The OCSCD works toward healthy soil which makes a healthy
watershed. Brook trout are part of the Barnegat Bay watershed
and can only thrive here if there are healthy waterways.
More information can be found here.
For further reading, here is another article.
Read Article Here
It’s
a Farewell to Fish
"Students
Study Trout Life Cycle"
Backyard Conservation - Whether you have acres in the
country, an average-sized suburban yard, or a tiny
plot in the city, you can help protect the environment
and add beauty and interest to your surroundings. This
colorful publication can get you started.
Printed copies of this colorful 28-page booklet on Backyard Conservation and
tip sheets are available free by calling 1-888-LANDCARE (single copies only).
This campaign is a cooperative project of the National Association of Conservation
Districts (http://www.nacdnet.org/) ,
the Wildlife Habitat Council (http://www.wildlifehc.org/),
and USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service.
You can also download "Backyard Conservation" here.
Soils
Sustain Life ~ Educational Resources for
Teachers
The New Jersey Soil Conservation Districts have a wealth
of educational and
informational resources available for FREE for students,
educators, the
general public related to the environment and conservation. The 15 Soil
Districts and partners, including Natural Resources Conservation
Service
(NRCS) and the State Soil Conservation Committee have a
shared website.
Please visit it at: http://njenvirothon.org/njconed/
Press Release: Rain
Gardens are Making a SPLASH!
Newly
Updated
Barnegat Bay Watershed Educational Resource Guide Available!
This guide is designed to help educators in
locating watershed information and materials that can
be integrated with existing curricula. View
the Barnegat Bay Watershed Educational Resource Guide.
"Low Maintenance Landscaping
for the Barnegat Bay Watershed"
Because You've Got Better Things
to do than Maintain your Yard!
It covers topics ranging
from pruning & fertilizing and also recommends
perennials and grasses suited to our area. This
52- page publication is available for free
download or
by mail by sending $2.00 postage and handling to OCSCD,
Homeowners Guide, 714 Lacey Road, Forked River, NJ
08731. It is available FREE for pick-up at our office
between the hours of 7 AM & 4 PM M-F.
Attention: Engineers & Planners
"Attached is a new engineering
technical bulletin regarding the use of NRCS Soil Surveys.
NRCS has formally announced that the old paper copies
are no longer to be used for soils information. The
web survey contains the updated line work and soil
symbology that is to be used for any soils work, such
as
runoff calculation, soil classification, capability
class etc. The purpose of the soil survey (both the
previous and new versions) is to provide soils information
only and shouldn't be used to verify other geographic
features such as roads, streams, railroads etc. Those
aspects of the landscape should be determined by referring
to USGS maps, recent aerial photography and similar
resources." - Click
here (website) or (Technical
Bulletin) for more
information.
"Get Ready
to Dig In! Extensive Soil Information Now Available!
Click here for
complete information.
"The USDA- NRCS has up-to-date soils
information available through a number of sources.
The "official" data for use is to be found
at the Web
Soil Survey.
New Jersey NRCS has numerous resources on soil avilable.
Click here for an extensive list of resources available, from
searchable data to historic traditional soil surveys
which include soil maps, a manuscript of soil descriptions,
and interpretation tables.
A hard copy of the soil survey for Ocean County is
available for a $5.00 postage and handling charge.
Please make checks payable to OCSCD and mail to 714
Lacey Road, Forked River, NJ 08731 and write Soil Survey
Request. This book can also be picked up at our office
for FREE. This historic publication
is a valuable resource for basic soils information
and is to be utilized for informational purposes only.
