April 28-May 4, 2024, is “Conservation District Week” in Pennsylvania. During this week, district offices will hold conference calls and meetings with legislators. Resources such as letters, a press release, and social media images are available from PACD to promote Conservation District Week.
Conservation District Week materials are available here.
Nicole Thompson and John Miller from Penn State Extension lead a session.
Jefferson County Conservation District held a Farmer Workshop on April 18, 2024, in Brookville, PA. Topics included soil and manure management, the importance of setbacks, and weed identification and control.
The PACD Nonpoint Source Pollution Prevention Educational Mini-grant Program funded the 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.
Photo provided by Susquehanna County Conservation District.
The Susquehanna County Conservation District held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for their new ¼ mile interpretive trail around the district office to celebrate Earth Day. The trail includes an area for pollinators and a live-stake garden.
Click here to view a local news report about the project.
Lori Glace, former Cumberland County Conservation District Watershed Specialist shows the sign to participants during the tour. Photo provided by Cumberland County Conservation District.
On April 10, 2024, Cumberland County Conservation District held a tour of Stuart Park in Dickinson Township, showing stream and restoration work. The project was funded through the PACD Nonpoint Source Pollution Prevention Educational Mini-grant Program.
The project also included installing an educational sign that broadcasts the benefits of the stream bank and riparian restoration that took place at Stuart Park. The 2022 restoration project repaired 810 feet of Yellow Breeches Creek. The sign will continue to educate thousands of park visitors for years to come.
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.
Photo provided by WCD.
The Westmoreland Conservation District (WCD) recently held its annual Engineers’ Workshop. It attracted nearly 400 attendees from 18 counties and three states! Participants heard program updates from PA Department of Environmental Protection staff. They also learned about erosion and sediment control, riparian buffers, stream crossings, and other topics from WCD staff and guest speakers.
Click here for presentations from the event.
Check out Season 2 Episode 3 of The Conservation Podcast by Pike County Conservation District, “The Dirt on Clean Fill.” What’s the difference between dirty dirt and clean fill? Kristina Heaney, District Manager at the Monroe County Conservation District, visits the podcast to discuss this issue.
The Form FP-001 Certification of Clean Fill referenced by Kristina can be found here on the PA Department of Environmental Protection’s website.
Click here to listen.
Lancaster County Conservation District Manager Chris Thompson speaks during the banquet. Photo taken by Brenda Shambaugh.
Recently, the Lancaster County Conservation District celebrated its 71st Annual Banquet, honoring conservation efforts in Lancaster County. Recipients were recognized for their contributions to conserving natural resources. The event also included an auction that directly supports the district’s Ann Brown Scholarship for high school seniors. PACD Executive Director Brenda Shambaugh attended the event.
Award recipients included:
Click here to read a press release on the banquet.
Franklin County Conservation District Engineer John High presents to the Spanish crowd with the help of a translator.
On March 18, 2024, the Franklin County Conservation District presented to over 60 local contractors. The presentation was divided into two groups: one in English and one translated into Spanish.
Topics included perimeter E&S controls, temporary/permanent seed mixtures, bonded fiber matrix, soil amendments, and failed Post-Construction Stormwater Management best management practices.
Pictured is the project along Cherry Run. Photo provided by Indiana County Conservation District.
Indiana County Conservation District planted seven multifunctional riparian forest buffers in Indiana County last year. The projects covered almost 13 acres and were paid for through PACD’s Multifunctional Riparian Buffer Sub-grant Program.
1.4 acres along Cheese Run = $2,555.97
0.91 acres along McCarthy Run = $1,972.48
0.74 acres along Cherry Run = $1,407.21
0.72 acres along Weirs Run = $927.30
3.5 acres along Leasure Run = $3,842.59
3.3 acres along Reeds Run = $6,109.69
2.25 acres along Reeds Run = $4,505.87
Click here to see more photos from the 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 Conservation and Natural Resources, Bureau of Recreation and Conservation.
Lauren Cheran, SCCD Program Administrator, showed farmers conservation practices recently installed on Snyder County farms and explained how some SCCD financial programs work. Photo provided by SCCD.
The Snyder County Conservation District (SCCD) held its annual Farmers Winter Meeting outside Selinsgrove on February 16, 2024. Seventy people attended the meeting.
Topics included the district’s soil health bucket program, managing soils for phosphorus, and helping farmers better utilize nitrogen for corn production during the growing season while potentially decreasing nitrogen losses in the environment.
Click here to read the entire article and see more photos from the event.
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.