The Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts, Inc. (PACD) recently submitted the final 2012 Engineering Technical Assistance Program report to the state Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). The DEP provided Growing Greener grant funding to PACD to support each of the projects. Additionally, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) provided a 25 percent match to the state funding received.

The current report, which provides before and after photos and succinct descriptions of each activity, covers work that was completed between June 2010 and March 2012.

“This is the eighth Growing Greener grant PACD has received,” said Robert Maiden, PACD Executive Director. “With the support of DEP and the NRCS this grant round, we were able to provide technical assistance to 144 projects across Pennsylvania. This is a huge accomplishment for the communities in the commonwealth. Together, we are working toward a more sustainable Pennsylvania.”

It is estimated that PACD technical assistance has been involved in $6.1 million of environmental improvement projects during the current Growing Greener grant period. The completed projects include agricultural, abandoned mine drainage and stream corridor restoration work. The scope of work for each of PACD’s Technical Assistance Teams is determined by the particular conditions present in their region of the state.

“Ultimately, we want to make positive contributions to our communities,” added Maiden. “Knowing that were able to assist with projects that might not have otherwise been completed had we not had financial support from DEP as well as the USDA’s NRCS, makes us feel good about the work we get to do day in and day out.”

Since 2001, PACD’s Technical Assistance Teams, which are regionally-based, have provided statewide engineering and soils technical assistance to entities developing or implementing a watershed assessment, watershed restoration plan or watershed protection plan. Their expertise in the development of topographic surveys, design and specifications, technical reviews, construction quality assurance, soil investigation and numerous inventory and evaluation reports has been useful for these projects.

The PACD Engineering Assistance Program is funded by a ‘Growing Greener’ Technical Assistance Grant, provided through the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) as well as the USDA’s NRCS. For more information about Growing Greener, visit www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/growing_greener/13958. For more information about NRCS, visit http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/main/national/home.

A copy of the full 2012 Engineering Technical Assistance Program report can be accessed here. For information about PACD’s Engineering Technical Assistance Program, visit pacd.org/about1/engineering-assistance-program.