Managing Property Resources

Property Resources

Soils, ponds, lawns, water quality, wildlife damage The location of a piece of property, its soil types, slope, and water sources will impact how the property can be best used to accomplish the goals of its owner. For example properties with southern exposure warm faster in spring compared to properties facing north. Properties closer to the lakes maybe warmer or colder, depending on the season than properties further from the lake. Clayey soils will drain slower than sandy soils.

Soil Types

Knowing the soils located on the property is critical to determine what plants might grow easiest, where to dig a pond, or how to construct a roadway or building. To learn more about the soils on your property click here.

Seneca County Soil and Water Conservation District 

The Seneca County Soil and Water Conservation District can assist property owners with technical assistance to reduce soil erosion and control storm water runoff. The phone number for the SWCD is 315/568-2414.

Ponds

Ponds can enhance the satisfaction derived from owning property. They can be a source of recreation and fire protection. Through time ponds will silt in and need to be dredged. 

• Ponds – Planning, Design, Construction is a USDA publication that describes the requirements for building a pond. It is useful to the landowner for general information and serves as a reference for the engineer, technician, and contractor. 
• NY Fisheries Extension has useful resources in assessing pond habitat, fish management, pond management, aquatic plants and algae, permits and commonly asked questions. 
• Constructing a pond may require NYS Dept. of Environmental Conservation permits. Creating a Pond provides information about pond design and possible permits that may be needed. 
• The Pond Guidebook is an extensive resource about pond construction, management, fish, aquatic plants and weeds, attracting and managing wildlife, recreation and safety.

Water Quality

The individual actions of each of us collectively have an impact on all of us living or visiting Seneca County. Actions that preserve or improve the quality of ground or surface water is important to preserving the quality of water in Seneca and Cayuga Lakes. 

• The Lawn Care and Water Quality Almanac is a useful resource to help maintain a dense healthy lawn without polluting watersheds with pesticides, metals, nutrients, and petroleum. 
• Regional Freshwater Issues: Stormwater Management and Green Infrastructure shows examples of strategies such as rainbarrels, swales, and other mechanisms that can be constructed to reduce runoff in public and private areas. 
• Swimming Pool Maintenance for Water Quality Protection provides information in dealing with draining a swimming pool, cleaning swimming pool filters, and storing chemicals. 
• Pet feces contain nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorous that promote the growth of unwanted algae and aquatic plants. The waste also contains micro-organisms and parasites that can compromise human health. Scoop the Poop shows pet owners how to properly dispose of animal waste. 
• For Rural property owners, How To: Lawn, Garden, and Landscape
• Wildlife Damage Management Factsheets provide information about controlling bats, crows, moles, raccoons, snakes, deer, and black bears.

Cornell Department of Horticulture

The Cornell Department of Horticulture offers an extensive list of garden-based learning, landscape/greenhouse/turf references, sustainable agriculture & agroforestry, and fruit & vegetable production.

Last updated July 26, 2019