Twenty-one workshop participants learned about the link between water quality and nonpoint source pollution at the Beaver County Conservation District “Managing Stormwater at Your Home” workshop. Participants mapped their property and decided where to place the best management practices. After a program on watersheds, nonpoint source pollution, and stormwater best management practices, the district demonstrated how to build a rain barrel. Those attending received a rain barrel kit and Southwestern Pennsylvania’s Homeowners Guide to Stormwater.

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 September 14, 2019, Keep Huntingdon County Beautiful (KHCB) volunteers collected 1,962 tires as part of the 14th Annual Tire War Challenge! The collection includes 1,852 car/truck tires, 74 tractor-trailer tires, and 36 tractor tires. To put this in perspective, they filled two 53′ long tractor-trailers from top to bottom! We await the results from the other participating counties to determine if KHCB retains the Gold Rim Award for most tires collected.

Instead of polluting our land and streams, these tires go to Mahantango Enterprises in Liverpool, PA. The tires are then reclaimed and recycled into usable products such as rubber mulch for playgrounds or athletic tracks. This event was made possible by a grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection’s Household/Small Business Hazardous Waste Collection Program.

On August 23, 2019, Clearfield and Jefferson County Conservation Districts held a cover crop field day in partnership with USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, Local Seed Company, and PA No-till Alliance. There were 49 participants at the workshop. As part of the event, two acres of cover crops were planted for a demonstration of their effectiveness against erosion control and water infiltration.

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 Berks County Conservation District’s grant program to combat the spotted lanternfly was featured on the local news. Click here to see the video. 

 

In March, Eric Konzelmann, Assistant District Manager at the Montgomery County Conservation District presented at the 2019 Watershed Congress. Eric spoke about best practices and construction techniques for building rain gardens. The presentation is available on YouTube at https://youtu.be/5ma_QIv5UDc.

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 Perry County Conservation District hosted a Grazing Field Day on August 2 at the farm of Darryl Eberly and family in Loysville, PA. This field day was focused on discussing helpful information with livestock grazers and how to achieve greater soil health in pastures. Ninety individuals attended the event.

Click here to read the entire press release.

On August 2, 2019, PACD Executive Director Brenda Shambaugh traveled to Lancaster for a legislative banquet.

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.