Photo provided by Allegheny County Conservation District.
Urban soil is known to contain contaminants, like lead, that harm human health. New research from the University of Pittsburgh and Allegheny County Conservation District links patterns of contamination in Pittsburgh’s soil with historic emissions from the city’s industrial past.
Read click here to read more.
Penn State’s Sjoerd Duiker discusses soil health during the Grazing Field Day. Photo provided by JCCD.
On June 29, 2022, Jefferson County Conservation District held a grazing field day at Sandy Lick Farm in Summerville, PA. Thirty-seven farmers and agency personnel attended the event. Attendees were able to see first-hand the benefits of a rotational grazing system, utilizing a roofed heavy-use area and manure storage for the winter months.
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 Clearfield County Conservation District.
Clearfield County Conservation District held a field day for farmers on July 29, 2022, at a dairy farm in Dubois, PA. Seventy people attended the event. Topics included cover crops and nutrient 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.
Photo provided by Berks County Conservation District.
The “SWAG BUS” Conservation Education on the Move!
The Berks County Conservation District has been secretly working hard on an exciting mobile education unit to increase accessibility to their programs. They can’t keep it a secret any longer!
The SWAG Bus (Soil, Water, and Agricultural Education) will be outfitted with hands-on displays and program materials that build awareness about conserving and valuing our precious natural resources. The SWAG BUS will provide quality hands-on conservation education programs for schools, local organizations, and special events.
They hope to be on the road by the Spring of 2023! Check out the SWAG Bus at the Berks County Fair for a sneak peek.
Chester County Conservation District’s multi-functional riparian buffer project in the White Clay Creek Watershed.
Chester County Conservation District and Warren County Conservation District completed projects through PACD’s multi-functional buffer sub-grant program.
Click here to read more.
The Blair County Conservation District (BCCD) has partnered with the Altoona Curve for the second year to host educational stations at minor league baseball games throughout the summer.
This year the Altoona Curve is paying homage to the history of Blair County and is changing their team’s name to ‘Mountain City’ for every Thursday Home game. To remain in the historical theme, BCCD created station themes for each home game of 2022 as they relate to the history of conservation and natural resources in Blair County.
Organizations and partners such as the Master Gardeners, Western PA Conservancy, Fish & Boat Commission, Game Commission, Trout Unlimited, PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, and local groups were brought together to participate.
The Altoona Curve staff has supplied overwhelming response and support for the events and encourages future partnerships with BCCD. Through these partnerships, BCCD has implemented and highlighted green infrastructure practices at the baseball stadium and neighboring Lakemont Park.
Lancaster County Conservation District Manager Chris Thompson speaks during the banquet.
On June 9, 2022, the Lancaster County Conservation District held its 69th annual banquet. The event was held at the Landis Valley Village and Farm Museum, Lancaster, PA. PACD Executive Director Brenda Shambaugh attended the event.
Several individuals were recognized during the event, including recipients of the Youth Conservation School Service Award, Educator Award, Outstanding Cooperator Award, scholarship recipients, and more.
Did you know that Cumberland County Conservation District has an interactive map showing where all active Chapter 102 NPDES Permitted Sites are located? Click here to check it out!
(Left to right): Taylor Wade, Administrative Assistant; Randall Leisure, Board Chairperson; Jo Ellen Litz, Commissioner; Craig Zemitis, Agricultural Preservation Specialist; Katie Doster, District Manager; Jim Tomanelli, Associate Director; Maranda Smith, CAP Technician; Dan Bost, Representative for Senator Christopher Gebhard; Brenda Shambaugh, PACD Executive Director; Robert Arnold, Director; Karl Kerchner, Assistant Manager; Stephanie Harmon, Watershed Specialist; MaryKate Gallagher, CAP Coordinator; Nate Weaver, Erosion & Sedimentation Technician; and Representative Russ Diamond.
The Lebanon County Conservation District staff met with local legislators on June 3, 2022. The meeting included a staff discussion on conservation programs in Lebanon County. These include agricultural land preservation, erosion and sedimentation control, Envirothon, mosquito-borne disease control, and agricultural programs. Conservation district funding, urban/suburban sprawl in the county, and the countywide Conservation Action Plan (CAP) were also discussed.
PACD Executive Director Brenda Shambaugh also attended the event. Click here to read a news article about the event.
Screenshot from the “The Basics of Agricultural Conservation: In the Field and Around the Barn Part 2” video.
Chester County Conservation District (CCCD) planned to host agricultural field days with farm tours displaying exceptional best management practices (BMPs). However, due to COVID-19 restrictions, the scope of the project was changed, and the district opted to create a series of educational videos highlighting agricultural BMPs.
CCCD filmed and edited a video series featuring barnyard, cropland, pasture, and operational best management practices. This educational video series features the practices implemented at Walmoore Holsteins and includes video footage of daily operations and an interview with the landowner/operator.
Click here to view “The Basics of Agricultural Conservation: In the Field and Around the Barn Part 1” and here to view “The Basics of Agricultural Conservation: In the Field and Around the Barn Part 2.”
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.