From BCCD’s Fall 2021 Newsletter

The Beaver County Conservation District (BCCD) held an in-person rain barrel workshop in September 2021. Susan Boser from Penn State Extension presented on watersheds, nonpoint source pollution, and stormwater best management practices. Hannah Ward, BCCD’s watershed specialist, showed a video on how to build a rain barrel and explained the tools needed.

Participants received a rain barrel, rain barrel kit, and informational flyers. After the workshop, participants commented that they would make changes to their property to reduce stormwater run-off. For example, they will install the rain barrel using the materials and knowledge they received at the workshop, implement a rain garden or buffer on their property, or implement some of the best management practices discussed.

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 May 2022, Montgomery County Conservation District partnered with volunteers from Perkiomen Valley Trout Unlimited (PVTU), staff from Aqua Pennsylvania, and staff from Stroud Water Research Center to provide interactive environmental education programming to students from Christopher Dock High School and Upper Perkiomen High School.

This programming included two “Trout in the Classroom” (TIC) field trips on May 4, 2022, and May 12, 2022. Jim Coffey, who serves as a Board Member, TIC Coordinator, and Youth Education Coordinator with PVTU, brought project partners together to deliver these unique educational experiences.

Click here to read the entire article and see more photos. 

 

The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture announced more than $2.45 million in federal grants awarded to 23 projects that will grow markets and increase the quality, safety, and sustainability of the state’s vegetable, fruit, nut, and nursery specialty crops.

Indiana County Conservation District received $100,491. The district will demonstrate how to grow specialty crops by creating demonstration test plots at three locations to expand community knowledge of specialty crops and decrease food deserts.

Click here to read the press release. 

In February, the Lehigh County Conservation District and project partners carried out a Virtual Rain Garden Workshop for thirty-three Upper Saucon Township residents. In addition, the workshop participants were invited to an open house rain garden tour in April.

Residents were educated on the importance of reducing stormwater runoff and non-point source pollution through the installation of native plants and rain gardens. The open house included a tour of an existing rain garden at the Upper Saucon Township municipal building.

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 Venango Conservation District held a “Stormwater Awareness in Your Own Backyard: Rain Barrel Workshop” on April 22, 2022. They held a morning and an evening session.

With this project, the district educated 27 people on the importance of water quality and nonpoint source pollution in our local watersheds. The district provided participants with resources and solutions to prevent NPS pollution on their property, including a rain barrel, and explained how to reuse that water in other ways on their property.

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.

Delaware County Conservation District hosted the Delaware County Facility Managers Stormwater Management Training on April 11, 2022. Thirteen county staff were present, including emergency services personnel, parks and recreation managers, conservation district staff, the emergency services training center manager, and the environmental advocate from the Delaware County District Attorney’s office.

Presenters from the Center for Watershed Protection effectively explained watersheds, non-point source pollution, and stormwater management. Presentations covered the importance of proper stormwater management for water quality improvement in Delaware County. County facility managers and other county staff learned about watersheds, identifying and maintaining stormwater features on their properties, illicit discharges, and the appropriate contacts for stormwater-related issues.

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 Lehigh County Conservation District and project partners carried out a stormwater demonstration tour on April 23, 2022. Seventy-five South Whitehall Township residents learned about the importance of reducing stormwater runoff and non-point source pollution. In addition, the tour included information on native plantings, riparian buffers, rain gardens, and rain barrels.

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.

On March 26, 2022, the Clarion Conservation District held a workshop at Clarion Farms titled, “Protecting Water Resources from Pesticides and Fertilizers.”

The district educated gardeners, landowners, and homeowners on the effects of pesticide and fertilizer application on water quality and informed them of natural alternatives to conventional pesticides and fertilizers. Forty-one people attended 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. 

The Monroe County Conservation District recently held a workshop on streamside buffers. Nineteen Monroe County landowners learned about nonpoint source pollution and actions they can take at home to reduce and prevent it. After the classroom portion of the workshop, the participants planted 53 trees and 160 live stakes on the banks of Cherry Creek. The newly planted forested riparian buffer replaces grass along approximately 750 feet of streambank that frequently floods. Once the buffer becomes established, it will significantly reduce the risk of sediment pollution from runoff and streambank failure.

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.

 

On April 1, 2022, Chester County Conservation District gathered with Bucks, Delaware, and Montgomery County Conservation Districts to host a regional Stormwater Management Maintenance Workshop for Landscaping Professionals in Perkiomen Township, Montgomery County, PA. Recognizing that maintenance is one of the most critical and often neglected aspects of post-construction stormwater management, the workshop focused on how to maintain stormwater management practices and landscapes. The workshop targeted businesses contracted by homeowner’s associations (HOAs) and property management companies.

Although many registrants were design professionals and HOA board members, the workshop was well attended. Participants learned about the importance of routine stormwater management maintenance and beneficial and attractive native plants that work well in stormwater basins. They also toured a bioswale and rain garden at the Perkiomen Township Park, while the designers and public works director discussed design, construction, and maintenance. Registrants also left with some maintenance-related educational materials, including a new bilingual rain garden maintenance brochure.