We offer reduced-rates on

• seedlings and transplants
• ground covers
• fruits and berries
• wildflower seed mixes

Also supplies such as

• rain barrels
• tree tubes
• marking flags
• fertilizer tablets

Plus, our staff can make soil maps and advise you about what and where to plant!

2024 Tree & Shrub Sale

2024 Winter-Spring Newsletter (with tree and shrub sale info & order form)

• Order by April 1, 2024
• We fill  orders on a first come, first served basis. Order early to guarantee your order
• The first 300 households that place an order will receive a packet of Liatris
  bulbs as part of the District’s Pollinator Initiative Program.
• Anyone who submits an order will have the opportunity for a FREE soil nutrient analysis (one per household). Information about how to request a soil analysis is in the newsletter.
• Order pick-up dates will be April 19 & 20 (additional details on order form)

Feel free to contact the office at (518) 765-7923 or by email at acswcd@gmail.com with any questions.

ORDER DEADLINE: Monday, April 15, 2024

Pickup: Thursday morning, May 2nd. You will receive notification of your time slot.

2024 Spring Fish Sale Order Form

• 4-6" Largemouth Bass*
• 4-6" Rainbow Trout*
• Fathead Minnow*
• Triploid Grass Carp**

*A Farm Fish Pond License is required for any fish stocking in NYS. Learn more and download a Farm Fish Pond license application on the NYSDEC website.

**A Triploid Grass Carp Stocking Permit is required by NYSDEC. You must submit a copy of your license with your order. Start the permitting process ASAP. Learn more and download a Triploid Grass Carp Stocking Permit application on the NYSDEC website.

Feel free to contact us at (518) 765-7923 or by email with any questions.

Farmers have long been regarded as the original stewards of the land because a farm’s livelihood directly depends on the health and vitality of the soil and water resources.

The voluntary Agricultural Environmental Management (AEM) program helps farmers protect  important natural resources. With AEM, farmers can track their environmental stewardship and contribute to a positive image of agriculture in their communities.

Using AEM, farmers can identify and address environmental concerns.

AEM helps direct valuable local, state and federal resources to the farms that need them.

The farmer is always the final decision-maker in cooperation with members of the local AEM team. This helps ensure that farm business objectives are met while also achieving local, state and federal environmental and water quality goals.

The primary goal of AEM is to protect and enhance the environment while supporting agriculture in New York State.  

To participate, please complete the Tier I Inventory Sheet.

•  Albany County AEM 2015-2020 Strategic Plan
• Agricultural Environmental Management Program Brochure

Stormwater management and pollution prevention are emerging issues across New York State, especially in rapidly urbanizing areas such as Albany County.

Stormwater runoff happens when rain or melted snow flow over surfaces and does not percolate into the ground. As the runoff flows over land, paved streets, parking lots and building rooftops, it accumulates debris, chemicals, sediment or other pollutants that could adversely affect water quality.

We are active in grant-funded projects to address stormwater. We provide education and outreach to municipalities and the public. Our projects include demonstration rain gardens; a rain barrel program; the development and distribution of educational materials; and workshops for construction contractors and municipal officials.

Learn more:

• Demonstration rain gardens
• Rain garden maintenance guide
• Rain barrel program
• Home-owners guide to preventing stormwater pollution
• NYS Erosion & Sediment Control Training

For further information,  contact us by phone at (518) 765-SWCD, or by email at acswcd@gmail.com.

 Geographic Information System (GIS)

We have access to a host of geographic data representing natural resources throughout the County. Maps can be created to help landowners, realtors, engineers, or interested citizens make wise land management decisions. GIS brochure

Data available:

• Digital Aerial Photography (1994, 2001, 2011);
• Topography;
• Soils; Streams/Waterbodies;
• FEMA Floodplains;
• Freshwater Wetlands; and
• Real Property Tax Parcels

For further information and assistance, please contact us by phone at (518) 765-7923, or by email at susan.lewis@ny.nacdnet.net.

 Maps and other information

We have a wide variety of maps and information available for review, including:

• Aerial Photos - 1940, 1952, 1960, 1969, 1977, 1982, & 1986
• Geographic Information Services Data - 2013 Imagery
• Topographic Maps
• Flood Insurance Rate Maps
• NYS Freshwater Wetlands Maps
• Albany County Soil Survey
• Ponds - Planning, Design, Construction handbook

Photocopies can be made for a nominal fee.

We help landowners, land managers, local government agencies, and other local interests with a broad range of resource concerns.

Our natural resource management activities include, but are not limited to:

• Streambank protection/maintenance
• Water supply protection/watershed management
• Erosion & sediment control
• Stormwater management
• Drainage assistance
• Aquatic weed management and control

We assist qualified landowners file for agricultural assessments relating to their farmland.

Many acres of our landscape would remain idle or be converted to another form of land use without this important state program.

Agricultural Districts Law allows reduced property tax bills for land in agricultural production by limiting the property tax assessment of such land to its prescribed agricultural assessment value.

As part of a statewide program,  we complete Soil Group Worksheets for farmland owners applying for an agricultural assessment. We plot the boundaries of each farmed parcel on a soil map, determine the acreage in each soil group and categorize the soil. (Each soil group is valued differently for farmland assessment purposes.)

Assessors use the worksheets to calculate a real property assessment based on soil productivity. This allows farmland to be assessed based on its agricultural value, rather than its full market value, keeping land in production. 

These open workable lands provide wildlife habitat, open space, natural resource diversification, employment & economic opportunities.

Please contact us for more information or to set up an appointment for a Soil Group Worksheet.

Assessment application procedure and soil group worksheet request form

Through our soil sampling program, we will sample your fields or lawn, fill out the paperwork and send out the sample for testing (fee involved).

In return, you will receive pH and nutrient levels along with fertilizer and lime recommendation.

Just call or email us for more information!

By phone at (518) 765-7923, or by email at susan.lewis@ny.nacdnet.net.

We offer numerous conservation items for sale, including:

• bluebird boxes;
• bat houses;
• wood duck boxes;
• bird feeders; and
• bat houses.

Just call or email us for more information! (518) 765-7923 or acswcd@gmail.com.

An outdoor, hands-on environmental competition for high school students!

The Envirothon tests your knowledge on five topics:

• soils,
• aquatics,
• forestry,
• wildlife, and
• current environmental issues.

Regional Envirothons organized by local Soil and Water Conservation Districts are held across New York State each spring.

Local teams compete against each other in a regional meeting for the opportunity to represent their county at the New York State competition.

Want to compete with a team from your school? This is a great way to get involved with the environment around you.

Contact our office for help getting started!

Capital Region Envirothon Brochure

Our Board of Directors meets the third Tuesday of each month at 2:00pm.

Edward Kleinke III
Chair/Farm Bureau Representative

Douglas LaGrange
Vice Chair/Member At Large

Jo A. Downey
Grange Representative

William Reinhardt
Legislative Representative

Matthew Miller
Legislative Representative