t. (845) 429-7085
f. (845) 429-8667
e. rockland@cornell.edu
w. rocklandcce.org

Small Steps, Big Benefits Sessions

Leave the Leaves, Remove the Invasives, Recycle the Grass Leaves in the landscape enrich and build the soil, suppress weeds and are natural fertilizers.
Invasive plants that outcompete and eliminate our native plants create a monoculture. Removing invasives allow native plants to flourish and restore greater biodiversity in the landscape. Cutting the grass and leaving the clippings in place fertilize lawns naturally.
Using battery powered lawn mowers and blowers to mulch and maintain lawns and leaves in the landscape reduce carbon emissions
Native Plants: Benefits of Naturescaping Native Plants, acclimated to local soils and weather conditions, reduce water consumption and the need for fertilizers while providing food, shelter and nesting sites for birds, butterflies, beneficial insects and local wildlife. Naturescaping helps keep our landscapes, rivers and streams healthy.
Our Rivers on Drugs: PPCPs as agents of ecological change in aquatic ecosystems Pharmaceutical and personal care products (PPCPs) are ubiquitous in surface waters and their occurrence will likely continue in the future. Urban aquatic ecosystems in particular contain PPCPs in complex mixtures and these compounds may influence urban ecosystems in complex ways. Although commonly detected, the role of these compounds as drivers of change in aquatic ecosystems is currently not well studied and represents a scientific opportunity for ecological research. I will discuss research frontiers in urban ecology in general and the extent to which novel contaminants may interact with other urban stressors to drive ecological processes. For example, research indicates that PPCPs may be agents of change in aquatic communities, as resistance, community structure and ecosystem functions respond to PPCPs. Our data demonstrate that aquatic organisms from bacteria, to algae to invertebrates are affected by exposure to PPCPs. In addition, aquatic organisms may be developing resistance to PPCPs and widespread occurrence of PPCPs may be leading to altered microbial communities with potential consequences for ecosystem function. PPCPs may be strong drivers of the structure and function in aquatic ecosystems and ignoring the ecological consequences of PPCPs will ultimately limit a thorough understanding of aquatic ecosystems today
Pollinator Friendly Yards Flowering plants, as well as many of our food plants, depend on the services of bees and other pollinators in order to reproduce. We can help pollinators, essential to biological diversity and ecosystem health, do their job by improving habitat with a diversity of nectar and pollen plants to support them.
Rockland Water Task Force Update Nicole will present on District sponsored programsrelated to water resources management, including theCulvert assessments and inventory documents, PEERS and WAVE water quality monitoring, Eel research, Storm Drain Marking , GI Demonstration site network, Wild Oyster Survey as well as Task Force partnered projects including SIT groundwater augmentation feasibility study, Columbia University GI Brochure and GI construction documents at RCC.10-12 minute overview of SWCD sponsored programs and how people can get involved.
Tree/Shrub Care and Maintenance Selecting the right tree or shrub for the location, planting, mulching, watering, pruning, identifying disease and pests, help to create healthy trees & shrubs that aid in carbon sequestration and improve the environment.

Fact Sheets are often shared between counties. Please contact your local Cooperative Extension for more information on this topic.