Cumberland County’s cover crop incentive program has become a model for other Pennsylvania counties and farmers looking to improve soil health and reduce polluted agricultural runoff.

The Cumberland County Conservation District’s cover crops program is 15 years old and provides some funding and technical assistance for planting cover crops to roughly 66 farmers. The district has helped farmers plant 8,500 acres of cover crops and estimates there may be at least that many acres not enlisted in its program.

Click here to read the entire article. 

 

Submitted by Lori Glace, Cumberland County Conservation District Watershed Specialist

Fifteen participants joined Upper Allen Township’s Rain Garden Workshop on May 19, 2022, where they learned about “Local Watersheds and Nonpoint Source Pollution,” presented by Lori Glace of the Cumberland County Conservation District, and “How to Build a Rain Garden,” presented by Andy Yencha of Penn State Extension.

Participants helped to plant native plant species in the rain gardens in the parking lot of Upper Allen Township’s Municipal Building. Thank you to Upper Allen Township for their help and preparation to administer the workshop.

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.

 

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.