On August 23, 2019, Clearfield and Jefferson County Conservation Districts held a cover crop field day in partnership with USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, Local Seed Company, and PA No-till Alliance. There were 49 participants at the workshop. As part of the event, two acres of cover crops were planted for a demonstration of their effectiveness against erosion control and water infiltration.

Financial and other support for this project is provided by the Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts, Inc. through a grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection under Section 319 of the Clean Water Act, administered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

In March, Eric Konzelmann, Assistant District Manager at the Montgomery County Conservation District presented at the 2019 Watershed Congress. Eric spoke about best practices and construction techniques for building rain gardens. The presentation is available on YouTube at https://youtu.be/5ma_QIv5UDc.

Financial and other support for this project is provided by the Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts, Inc. through a grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection under Section 319 of the Clean Water Act, administered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

In June, Columbia County Conservation District held a workshop for local landowners. The workshop encouraged attendees to establish more vegetation on their properties. A second “Establishing a No Mow Zone on Your Property” workshop will be held this week. Participants will learn about the benefits of reduced mowing and the use of cover crops to prevent floods, create wildlife habitat, and promote clean water for their communities.

Financial and other support for this project is provided by the Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts, Inc. through a grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection under Section 319 of the Clean Water Act, administered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Mini-grants were available to all 66 conservation districts to hold local Manure Management Manual and Chapter 102 Compliance seminars/work sessions and one-on-one assistance on a first-come, first-served basis. These sessions assisted farmers in understanding manure management requirements and led to the development of a complete manure management and/or agricultural erosion and sedimentation plan.

Thirty-four conservation districts completed projects. Nineteen full-day and thirty-five half-day workshops were completed.

Additional outcomes include:

Farmers reached: 1,526

Manure management plans developed: 265

Acres covered in the manure plans cover: 2,4628.70

Ag E&S plans developed: 43

Acres covered in the Ag E&S plans:  3,285.50

Click here for the program webpage.

Financial support for this project is provided by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection through the Chesapeake Bay Implementation Grant, the Clean Water Fund and the Chesapeake Bay Regulatory and Accountability Program (CBRAP).

The 2018-19 round of Pennsylvania Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) mini-grants for conservation districts concluded in June.

Some of the outcomes include:

•      14 projects conducted
•      1,472 farmers and landowners reached
•      19 field days/walkabouts held
•      11 workshops held
•      167 one-on-one visits held
•      27 participants indicated they plan to enroll in CREP in the future

Earlier this year, PACD opened the 2019-20 round and awarded 16 mini-grants. Questions about the mini-grant program should be directed to abrown@pacd.org.

Pennsylvania’s county conservation districts were awarded more than $35,000 for projects in fifteen counties for the 2019-20 Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) Mini-Grant Program. Conservation districts will use these grants to work with landowners to prevent pollution in our streams, lakes, and rivers. Projects will take place over the next twelve months.

The following districts were awarded up to $2,500 as part of the 2019-20 CREP mini grant round:

Allegheny & Westmoreland, $2,500
Berks, $2,500
Blair, $2,500
Bradford, $2,500
Butler, $2,310
Clearfield, $2,500
Columbia, $2,500
Chester, $1,650
Indiana, $2,500
Jefferson, $2,500
Juniata, $1,230
Lycoming, $2,500
Snyder, $2,500
Sullivan, $2,500
Tioga, $2,500

Click here for more information on the CREP program.

Pennsylvania’s county conservation districts were awarded over $72,000 for thirty-five pollution reduction projects in thirty-one counties. These projects educate adults on water pollution prevention. Projects are funded through the Non-point Source (NPS) Pollution Prevention Educational Mini-Grant Program. The projects will take place over the next year.

Click here to read the entire press release including the list of funded projects. 

Financial and other support for this project is provided by the Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts, Inc. through a grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection under Section 319 of the Clean Water Act, administered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

In February, Jefferson County Conservation District (JCCD) held a manure management workshop in Brookville, PA. The workshop was part of the district’s Manure Management Manual and Chapter 102 Compliance Mini-grant Program project (administered by PACD). Through the project, JCCD reached thirteen farmers.

Financial support for this project is provided by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection through the Chesapeake Bay Implementation Grant, the Clean Water Fund and the Chesapeake Bay Regulatory and Accountability Program (CBRAP).

Thanks to the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection’s continued support for conservation district educational projects, PACD is ready to open a new round of Nonpoint Source (NPS) Pollution Prevention Educational Mini-grants!

Grants up to $2,000 are awarded to conservation districts for adult educational projects that offer strategies for reducing and preventing Nonpoint Source (NPS) Pollution. Projects should stimulate a local awareness of water quality issues, promote the theme “We All Live Downstream,” and encourage citizen participation in activities to improve water quality in local watersheds.

The deadline for NPS mini-grant applications is April 26, 2019. Click here for the online application and more information. Questions should be directed to Shannon Wehinger.

Financial and other support for the NPS Mini-grant Program is provided by the Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts, Inc. through a grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection under Section 319 of the Clean Water Act, administered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

PACD is now accepting mini-grant applications for up to $2,500 to implement educational and outreach activities that support and extend the work of the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP). Projects should focus on CREP enrollment, re-enrollment, and/or CREP maintenance.

The guidelines and application for the new CREP mini-grant program for conservation districts are posted here. Questions should be directed to Amy Brown at abrown@pacd.org.

Financial and other support for the CREP Outreach Program Office Mini-grant Program is provided by the Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts, Inc. through a Growing Greener Watershed Protection grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection and with additional support from USDA-NRCS.