Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts

We support Pennsylvania’s Conservation Districts who work for clean water and healthy soil every day.

Tioga County Conservation District Holds Women in Agriculture Event

Photo provided by Tioga County Conservation District.

In December, the Tioga County Conservation District held a Women in Agriculture meeting in Wellsboro. Eighty attendees learned about managing livestock to improve pastures, manure management and agricultural erosion and sedimentation plans, and lawn conversion.

After the workshop, attendees better understood different best management practices and how they can improve their farm and benefit downstream water quality.

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.

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$100,000 Available for CREP Mini-grants!

PACD is now accepting mini-grant applications for up to $3,000 to implement educational and outreach activities that support and extend the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) work. Projects should focus on CREP enrollment, re-enrollment and/or CREP maintenance.

Applications are due February 24, 2023.

Project examples:

-Walkabouts/field days
-Farmer and landowner workshops
-Riparian buffer workshops
-Workshop series with several topics
-Developing educational materials like brochures, flyers, fact sheets, or even billboards
-Hire interns to provide CREP outreach

The guidelines and application for the new CREP mini-grant program for conservation districts are posted here https://pacd.org/?page_id=24534. Questions should be directed to Holly Miller at hmiller@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.

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$60,000 Available for 2023-24 Nonpoint Source Pollution Prevention Educational Mini-grant Program for Conservation Districts

PACD is ready to open a new round of Nonpoint Source (NPS) Pollution Prevention Educational Mini-grants! This funding is possible thanks to the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency continuing to support conservation district educational projects.

Grants up to $2,000 are awarded to conservation districts for adult educational projects that offer strategies for reducing and preventing NPS Pollution. Projects should stimulate 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 January 31, 2023. Projects selected for funding will be announced on February 8. Click here for the online application and more information. Questions should be directed to Shannon Wehinger at swehinger@pacd.org.

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.

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$100,000 Available for CREP Mini-Grants!

PACD is now accepting mini-grant applications for up to $3,000 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.

Applications are due February 24, 2023.

Project examples:

  • Walkabouts/field days
  • Farmer and landowner workshops
  • Riparian buffer workshops
  • Workshop series with several topics
  • Developing educational materials like brochures, flyers, fact sheets, or even billboards
  • Hiring interns to provide CREP outreach

The guidelines and application for the new CREP mini-grant program for conservation districts are posted here. Questions should be directed to Holly Miller at hmiller@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.

Continue Reading

Deadline Approaching for CREP Mini-grant Applications

PACD is accepting mini-grant applications for up to $3,000 to implement educational and outreach activities that support and extend the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) work. Projects should focus on CREP enrollment, re-enrollment, and/or CREP maintenance.

Applications are due November 18, 2022.

Project examples:

-Walkabouts/field days
-Farmer and landowner workshops
-Riparian buffer workshops
-Workshop series with several topics
-Develop educational materials like brochures, flyers, fact sheets, or even billboards
-Hire interns to provide CREP outreach

The guidelines and application for the new grant round are posted here. Questions should be directed to Holly Miller at hmiller@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.

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Lehigh County Conservation District Holds Stormwater Workshop

Workshop photo provided by Lehigh County Conservation District.

On October 20, 2022, the Lehigh County Conservation District and its partners carried out a Sustainable Backyard Workshop at the Lehigh County Water Authority. The workshop educated 26 homeowners on the importance of reducing stormwater runoff and nonpoint source pollution through the use of best management practices. Attendees learned about different types of nonpoint source pollution around their homes. They were given recommendations on best management practices they can install and maintain at home to minimize the impacts of stormwater runoff and nonpoint source pollution.

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.

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Beaver Rain Barrel Workshop

Beaver County Conservation District Watershed Specialist/Finance Administrator/DGLVR Administrator Hannah Ward shows the attendees how to assemble their rain barrels.

On September 15, 2022, the Beaver County Conservation District held a stormwater workshop. Forty-one workshop participants learned about the link between water quality and nonpoint source pollution and how their actions affect the watershed. The district provided participants with information, tools, and a rain barrel kit.

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.

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Clarion, Forest, and Venango Conservation Districts Partner for Grazing Field Day

Matt Havens, Soil Scientist at NRCS in Belmont, NY, demonstrates how to monitor the soil health in a grazing system at the Grazing Field Day held at the Wilson Land & Cattle Co. in Tionesta, PA, on Friday, October 14, 2022.

On October 14, 2022, approximately one hundred people gathered at the Wilson Land & Cattle Co. in Tionesta for a grazing field day, focusing on “improving land while lowering costs.” Clarion Conservation District, Venango Conservation District, and Forest County Conservation District were involved in the event. Russ Wilson, the farm owner, stated, “It was the best field day that we have had on our farm.”

Participants heard presentations on how to monitor the soil health in a grazing system, the ability of silvopasture and alley cropping to make pastures more profitable, soil health as a climate change solution, and how grazing systems help producers adapt to weather extremes. A rainfall simulator demonstration showed how different management affects the soil’s health and performance under intense rainfall events.

Click here to read the entire article. 

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.

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Westmoreland Conservation District Holds Forestry Workshop

Westmoreland Conservation District Assistant Manager and Forester Tony Quadro leads the forestry workshop. Photo provided by Westmoreland Conservation District.

Westmoreland Conservation District Assistant Manager and Forester Tony Quadro led a Forest Best Management Practices Workshop on September 24, 2022. During the event, participants learned the importance of healthy forests and forest management and how they relate to clean water. Twenty-one people attended the workshop, which included classroom-style presentations, an informal question and answer session, and a tour of a forest restoration project.

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.

Continue Reading

Now Accepting Applications for a New Round of CREP Mini-grants

PACD is now accepting mini-grant applications for up to $3,000 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.

Applications are due November 18, 2022.

The guidelines and application for the new grant round are posted here. Questions should be directed to Holly Miller at hmiller@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.

Continue Reading