The Conservation Technician for the Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts (PACD) provides technical assistance to the Growing Greener program and the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). The area covered includes 17 counties in the South Central and South East Region.

This position will: Provide technical assistance to area partnership Growing Greener personnel and NRCS in the planning, design, and construction of engineering practices; prepare designs of agricultural conservation practices and water quality best management practices (BMPs), which are site-specific and require coordination among various groups and individuals; and provide engineering assistance in conducting preliminary investigations.

Click here for the full job description. In addition, candidates must submit a resume and cover letter to PACD at jobs@pacd.org. All application materials must be received by 4:30 p.m. on March 31, 2022.

PACD recently hired Jake Kennedy as a Conservation Technician in the Clarion, PA office. He recently graduated from Waynesburg University with a degree in environmental science. He was previously the AmeriCorps Member at the Armstrong Conservation District. Jake grew up on his family farm in Butler County with two sisters, where he was an active member of 4-H. Jake resides in Kittanning with his girlfriend and their pet Red-Foot Tortoise, Sheldon.

Jake can be reached at jkennedy@pacd.org.

On September 29, 2021, the Somerset Conservation District (SCD) held the Stonycreek-Conemaugh River Improvement Project’s 30th Anniversary Tour. SCD Manager Len Lichvar kicked off the tour of the Oven Run Watershed Mine Drainage Abatement Site D near Hooversville then handed it over to PACD staff. PACD Conservation Engineer Danielle Kalp, PE, and PACD Conservation Technician Philip Wilson showed attendees how the water is treated. Also, SCD Watershed Specialist Greg Shustrick contributed to the tour.

PACD immediate past President and South West Region Director Mike Price attended on behalf of the PACD Executive Board.

Click here to read an article and view photos of the event. 

Dakota Welkom recently graduated from Cecil College in North East, Maryland, with a Biological and Environmental Science degree. Dakota was previously employed as a Mosquito-borne Disease Control Technician by the Northumberland County Conservation District. She grew up on her family farm with her four sisters in Columbia County. Dakota currently resides with her fiancé, Micah, their four hounds, and a variety of farm animals.

Welcome, Dakota!

On September 30, 2019, PACD Conservation Engineer Danielle Kalp, PE, moved from the Somerset office to the Clarion office. Her new phone number is 814-297-5261.

Danielle joins Conservation Technician Randi Tyler in Clarion.

Click here for more information on the Engineering Assistance Program. 

Ana graduated from Penn State in 2017 with a B.S. in Environmental Resource Management and a minor in Soil Science. Shortly after graduating, she accepted a position as a Soil Conservation Technician in York County, where she cultivated an appreciation for the hard work conservation professionals do across the state. This, in combination with a strong interest in engineering design, is what prompted her to seek this position with PACD.

On a personal note, Ana recently moved to Hummelstown with her boyfriend. She enjoys hiking, camping, cooking, dreaming of DIY home remodeling, and watching Penn State football games. WE ARE…

As the Conservation Engineer for the Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts (PACD) in the Southwest Region, the incumbent will provide engineering assistance to the Growing Greener program and the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS).

As a key member of the organization, this position will work with conservation districts, state government, county officials, NRCS, watershed organizations, and landowners.

Using field survey data and other field information, this position will design and prepare engineering plans and specifications for engineering projects or structures, including drawings, specifications, bills of materials, and cost estimates.

In addition, the Conservation Engineer will review engineering structure design plans and specifications for adherence to design criteria and applicable technical standards.

Click here for more information. 

Welcome our newest PACD Engineering Assistance Program technician, Phillip Wilson! Phillip works out of the Somerset Conservation District office, along with full-time engineer Eric Robertson and part-time technician Phil Gardner. His first day was September 26, 2016. Phillip has a Bachelor of Science in Geology from the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown and a certificate in AutoCAD from the Somerset County Technology Center. He can be reached at pwilson@pacd.org.