The Bucks County Conservation District (BCCD) wrapped up April with an Adopt A Highway cleanup along Ferry Road in Plumstead Township. Through this cleanup and others during April, BCCD staff removed at least 400 pounds of trash that would have otherwise washed into local waterways.
Snyder County Conservation District (SCCD) held four half-day manure management plan writing workshops in October 2020 and March 2021. Thirteen farmers attended.
Barry Spangler, SCCD Agricultural Conservation Technician, gave an overview of the new Manure Management Manual and other agricultural environmental regulations. He gave a step-by-step process of writing manure management plans that meet these new regulations.
Spangler also showed a video demonstrating PAOneStop, a free Penn State-managed website where farmers can create their own maps.
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.
After receiving a tip from a concerned citizen, the Jefferson County Conservation District helped remove material dumped in North Fork Redbank Creek. The district collected 11 bags of trash.
The district is participating in the Elk County Conservation District trash challenge. The deadline to participate in the challenge is July 1, 2021.
Potter County Conservation District planned to bring together local producers for an on-farm field day to demonstrate how rotational gazing can benefit their farm financially and environmentally. However, with COVID-19 restrictions, the format was changed from an in-person field day to a series of rotational grazing videos.
The videos include:
The videos are available on the district YouTube channel.
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.
Cumberland County Conservation District held its annual tree sale on April 22-23, 2021. It was the second-largest sale in Cumberland County.
They had 468 customers buying:
Click here to view photos from the sale.
The Lebanon County Conservation District (LCCD) Watershed Specialist Stephanie Harmon held a virtual workshop on non-point source pollution via a PowerPoint presentation. Participants were introduced to the concepts of water quality, quantity, and how homeowners can help minimize non-point source (NPS) pollution in and around their own homes.
Through this grant, twenty-four rain barrels were purchased and distributed to workshop participants. Rain barrel pick-up was held from April 1-2, 2021, at the Lebanon Valley Agricultural Center. Pick-ups were scheduled in 15-minute intervals to implement proper social distancing due to the Coronavirus and current CDC guidelines.
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 13, 2021, the Lehigh County Conservation District, in partnership with the Penn State Extension and Lehigh County Authority, provided a virtual presentation to 50 homeowners residing in Allentown on rain barrels and the importance of managing stormwater runoff.
Each participant received their FREE rain barrel, accessories, and informational brochures the following week at a contactless pick-up event. Partners will reach out to participants in the next weeks to ensure that barrels have been installed correctly. A gallery of painted barrels will be shared with participants.
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 2021 Erosion Control Workshop, presented by Allegheny, Butler, and Washington County Conservation Districts, includes eight webinars, with one held at 1 p.m. every Tuesday and Thursday in February. The Erosion Control Workshop is an annual event for municipalities, contractors, consultants, developers, engineers, and other land development professionals. The cost is $15 per webinar.
Click here for more information.
The Armstrong Conservation District held a workshop for municipal officials on December 15, 2020. Thirty-nine municipal officials representing fifteen municipalities attended the workshop. Topics included stormwater management ordinances; dirt, gravel, and low volume road program (DGLVR) updates; MS4 permit requirements; and meeting MS4 compliance using environmentally sensitive maintenance practices on DGLVR and watershed restoration efforts.
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 Mercer County Conservation District has an ongoing feature on their Facebook page called “Name that Nature.” The district posts beautiful photos and videos of local nature and asks its followers to guess what it is.
Pictured here, on Day 156 of Name that Nature is “American Witchhazel (Hamamelis virginiana); it is one of the only species that bloom in the winter, hence the little greenish/yellow flower bracts that have been left behind from the petals falling off.”
Kudos to Mercer County Conservation District for finding an interactive, online way to showcase nature in their county!