The Westmoreland Conservation District has been working diligently to install best management practices and green infrastructure in the community. These projects, implemented with the help of local partners including local municipalities, school districts, watershed organizations, farmers, and the Westmoreland County Community College, have made great strides in preventing water and erosion issues.
To showcase the phenomenal work completed, the district created a BMP portfolio that highlights 45 of the many projects. The portfolio organizes the projects within four categories – watershed restoration; stormwater management; agriculture; and dirt, gravel, and low volume roads.
Click here to read the entire article and here for the BMP portfolio.
BCCD District Manager Cathy Yeakel, Senator Gene Yaw, and Shannon Wehinger.
On July 16, 2021, Bradford County Conservation District (BCCD) held its 65th anniversary celebration at Mt. Pisgah State Park. PACD Director of Communications and Education Shannon Wehinger attended the event.
Visit the BCCD Facebook page for more photos of the event. Click here to read a press release.
On May 12, 2021, Jen Linebaugh, Beaver County Conservation District’s Resource Conservationist, discussed with farmers the permits needed for agricultural activities. Photo provided by BCCD.
The Beaver County Conservation District held two agricultural workshops in May. The Agricultural Gathering and Manure Management Plan Writing Workshop were held outside at the district pavilion. Participants learned about grazing and forage management, agricultural erosion and sedimentation, and manure management.
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.
Photo of dry creek provided by Lawrence County Conservation District.
The Lawrence County Conservation District installed a dry creek and rain garden at the South Side Community Garden. The community garden is situated on the site of a demolished elementary school. There are remains of asphalt and concrete just below the grass on a significant portion of the site perimeter. Rain sheet flows much faster than on a typical grassed site and flows over spots that had creosote-soaked railroad tie beds recently removed. The dry creek and rain garden capture that flow and allow it to infiltrate rather than runoff.
The district adapted to COVID-19 restrictions and educated the volunteers and neighbors who help build the dry creek and rain garden with a nonpoint source presentation. The district also created a booklet for homeowners on stormwater management, and an informational sign will be installed at the site.
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.
BCCD staff and directors cleaned up trash along the roadside on earth day.Photo provided by BCCD.
Adopt A Highway
This spring, the Beaver County Conservation District (BCCD) adopted a stretch of State Route 151 in Independence Township. The PA Department of Transportation runs the Adopt A Highway Program to beautify our roads. Twice a year, roadside litter is cleaned up by the organization that adopted the highway. On Earth Day, April 22, 2021, BCCD staff and directors conducted their first clean-up! The district picked up forty bags of trash, some more oversized items, and a few tires along the roadside. These efforts will improve the look of the road. More importantly, this clean-up will prevent all that trash from ending up in Raccoon Creek or its tributaries which flow along the roadside.
Tire Collection
The Beaver County Conservation District’s (BCCD) West Nile program conducted its first tire collection event this May. BCCD was awarded money through the DEP West Nile grant to offer mosquito habitat reduction and public outreach through the collection of tires from residents of Beaver County.
The district collected over 1,150 tires during the collection event. With the help of the grant, BCCD lowered the cost for residents by offering a discount price per tire for the first 600 tires collected. The event was a tremendous success. The 600-tire limit for the discount was met on the first day of the collection!
This year the district accepted light truck and car tires up to 20″ off rim. BCCD collaborated with a tire facility that recycles the tires. The district made information available describing the methods of recycling and products made from the recycled rubber. They distributed mosquito dunks for standing water at residents’ homes with information about West Nile Virus, mosquito habitat, and protection from mosquitoes, and offered mosquito activity books for kids. BCCD is so pleased with this year’s event and hopes to expand the event to additional tire types next year.
Tricia Mazik gives the introduction and plan for the Backyard Conservation workshop to the attendees. Photo provided by Clarion Conservation District.
Clarion Conservation District held a Backyard Conservation workshop on May 6, 2021. The district had to turn away folks after their maximum number of attendees was exceeded. The workshop topics included edible and pollinator rain gardens, rain barrels, and no-till gardening. The event was held outside at the conservation district office.
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.
The McKean County Conservation District board of directors, along with conservation district and McKean County Planning Commission staff, cleaned up litter along their adopted two-mile stretch of Route 6 West of Smethport. Twenty bags, plus a few larger items, were gathered. The district is part of the Adopt-A-Highway program with PennDOT and holds the litter collection every spring and fall.
Westmoreland Conservation District planned to host a workshop/pasture walk for equine owners. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, the project was reimagined as a video series. The conservation district created a three-part video series showing the connection between horse farm practices and water quality and how the use of manure management plans and good pasture management will reduce those impacts.
The first video is an introduction to nonpoint source pollution and how horse farms may impact water quality.
The second video walks the viewer through writing their farm’s manure management plan.
The third video discusses the importance of pasture management.
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.
Attendees listen to one of the presentations during the meeting. Photo provided by SCCD.
The Snyder County Conservation District (SCCD) held its Farmers Spring Thaw Meeting on April 9, 2021, in the Paxtonville United Methodist Church’s roofed picnic pavilion.
Fifty-six people attended the meeting. Topics included better management of farm soils and manure, updates on Snyder County’s Action Plan, USDA program updates, and protecting water resources while mixing and loading.
Guest presenters from the conservation district, Snyder County Commissioners, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA), and Penn State Extension presented either in person or through recordings.
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.
