Amy Jacobs
Agriculture Program Director
Easton, MD
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Areas of Expertise
agriculture, nutrient management, wetland restoration, community engagement
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Media Contact
Matt Kane
Email: matthew.kane@TNC.ORG
Biography
Amy leads the chapter’s efforts to improve water quality in agricultural landscapes across the Chesapeake Bay watershed, both through large-scale wetland and floodplain restoration projects as well as working with farmers and agribusinesses to implement best practices to keep nutrients on fields and out of waterways.
This work directly supports the Conservancy's global goal of reducing nutrient runoff in agricultural watersheds with the goal of improving water quality and reducing dead zones in our estuaries.
Finding solutions that both benefit water quality and wildlife and support our local agricultural is very rewarding.
Credentials
- M.S., Environmental and Forest Biology, State University of New York and Syracuse University
- B.S., Forestry and Wildlife, Virginia Tech
Program Benefits
We're engaging with Maryland’s largest industry, agriculture, to help keep nutrients on farms and out of our streams and rivers. We do this by working infield with farmers and agribusinesses to implement best practices that increase the amount of nutrients used by crops to grow food and reduce the amount of nutrient run-off.
We also work with landowners and other partners to implement large-scale wetland and floodplain restoration projects to connect corridors of habitat and enhance water quality downstream.
We’ve been able to amplify our efforts through outreach to local farm groups, and by bringing together the agricultural industry, public agencies, conservation organizations and academia through the formation of the Delmarva Conservation Partnership and the Delaware Maryland 4R Alliance. We’ve shared resources on nutrient stewardship and best practices with over 2,600 Delmarva farmers.
Working in partnership with the National Resources Conservation Service and the Delmarva Conservation Partnership, more than 8,000 acres have been enrolled in conservation programs in just two years. Along with an additional 1,500 acres enrolled in conservation by other partners, the conservation and restoration efforts being implemented on this land will keep huge quantities of nutrients and pollutants from flowing into the Chesapeake Bay watershed and increase the amount of wetland and forest habitat for wildlife.
Another practical, low-cost method to improve water quality? Roadside ditches! Contoured ditches and natural plantings slow, filter and gradually absorb rainwater, helping to prevent soil and nutrients from being flushed into bay waterways while maintaining their function of providing drainage for farmfields and roads.