Lehigh County Conservation District Board of Directors is pleased to have recently awarded a $2,000 college scholarship to Building 21 High School Senior Marilyn Reyes. This award is made available annually to all Lehigh County graduating seniors pursuing a degree in conservation or environmental sciences at a college or university within the Commonwealth. Marilyn has been accepted into Penn State Lehigh Valley and will be the first female student from Allentown (in recent history) to enroll in the Agri-Business Program.

Click here to read the entire press release.

Blair County Conservation District’s rain barrel workshops were featured on a local news channel. Watershed Specialist Diane Thomas and Stormwater Coordinator Chelsea Ergler of the Blair Conservation District explained how rain barrels work and promoted upcoming workshops. Click here to watch the video.

PA Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Patrick McDonnell visited community leaders at Lurgan Lions Club Park in Roxbury (Franklin County) to discuss how Restore Pennsylvania could support stream restoration projects to prevent erosion and protect communities across the commonwealth.

Staff from the Franklin County Conservation District and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service outlined their planned project to put in place in-stream stabilization structures and native vegetation to end the erosion. The project would also contribute to Franklin County’s Clean Water Action Plan to help Pennsylvania reduce sediment and nutrients in its part of the Chesapeake Bay Watershed.

Click here to read the entire press release.

Submitted by Jennifer Lauri, Conservation Specialist, Luzerne Conservation District

On Saturday June 8, 2019, The Lands at Hillside Farms held an official unveiling and ribbon cutting ceremony for the new Dr. Doug Ayers Dairy Barn, a two-year project. Amy Brown, formerly with the Luzerne Conservation District (now Program Manager at PACD) originally approached the farm with an idea for a Growing Greener Grant.

The community, donors, conservation district staff, staff from The Lands at Hillside Farms, and members of the press gathered on June 8. Attendees toured the new 15,000 square foot facility.

The Lands at Hillside Farms has worked with the Luzerne Conservation District in the past to plant hundreds of trees along the stream on the farm. The farm has also installed a rain garden, a green parking lot to reduce the amount of impervious surface, and bird boxes all around the property to control the pests.

The total contribution from the Luzerne Conservation District, through a DEP Growing Greener Grant, was $325,000.

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Submitted by Jennifer Bratthauar, Ag Conservation Technician, Franklin County Conservation District

For the sixth year, the Franklin County Conservation District hosted the First Grade Field Trip at Caledonia State Park on April 30, May 1, May 14 and May 15. This year’s field trip included a variety of educational stations including agriculture, wildlife, water quality (macroinvertebrates and runoff), dairy, forestry and a nature trail scavenger hunt. Approximately 712 first graders from 32 classes across 13 different elementary schools attended.

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Submitted by Chester County Conservation District

On the morning of June 5, 2019, Chester County Conservation District board members, employees, and representatives from the American Farmland Trust, Chester County Commissioners’ Office, National Fish and Wildlife Federation, and William Penn Foundation had the opportunity to visit two sites where BMPs have been installed with the assistance of the conservation district.

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Pike County Conservation District (PCCD) hosted a Lunch and Learn workshop for municipalities this spring at the Pike County Training Center. Staff highlighted district services that benefit local townships and boroughs.

Representatives from nine of Pike County’s 13 municipalities attended. PCCD Executive Director Michele Long provided an overview of the district’s mission and core programs such as erosion control, waterways permitting, and the Dirt, Gravel and Low Volume Road Program that funds repairs on local roads to improve stormwater management. Senior Resource Conservationist Ellen Enslin outlined the types of permit-related correspondence that is shared with municipalities, and Administrative Manager Chris Ingulli discussed inspection reports.

Staff from the Lebanon County Conservation District met with local legislators on May 31, 2019. The meeting included staff discussion on conservation programs in Lebanon County. These include agricultural land preservation, erosion and sedimentation, Envirothon, mosquito-borne disease control, and agricultural programs.

PA Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Patrick McDonnell was on hand to discuss the ongoing Chesapeake Bay cleanup efforts. The group also discussed MS4 and the state budget as it relates to conservation efforts.

PACD Executive Director Brenda Shambaugh also attended the event.

Erie County Conservation District held an Enviro-lab week where mobile educational labs were brought to the county for students and legislators to tour. Armstrong Conservation District’s H2Oh! on the GO! mobile lab was part of the event.

Click here to read more and to watch a video.

The Jefferson County Conservation District hosted a Wildlife Conservation Workshop on March 28, 2019, at the district office in Brookville. Thirteen individuals learned about the benefits of the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP), noxious/invasive weed identification and management, riparian buffers, and wildlife in grassland areas. Presenters Mike Kerr, Kimberly Bohn, John Brundege, Tim Hoppe, and Megan Whitlatch provided important information and answered many questions from attendees.

Financial and other support for the CREP Outreach Program Office Mini-grant Program is provided by the Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts, Inc. through a Growing Greener Watershed Protection grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection and with additional support from USDA-NRCS.