Submitted by Brian Vadino, Watershed Specialist/Envirothon Coordinator, Montgomery County Conservation District

In late September 2019, Montgomery County Conservation District worked alongside Perkiomen Watershed Conservancy staff and 22 volunteers from Scout Pack 17 to plant a “multifunctional riparian buffer” along Macoby Creek (tributary to Perkiomen Creek) in Upper Hanover Township. Funding for the project was provided by the Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts, through a “Multi-functional Riparian Buffer Sub-Grant.” 

Click here to read the entire press release.

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 Conservation and Natural Resources, Bureau of Recreation and Conservation.

Submitted by Barry Spangler, Agricultural Conservation Technician, Snyder County Conservation District

The Snyder County Conservation District held a CREP and Stream Buffer Field Day event on October 16, 2019. Twenty-five farmers, landowners, a newly elected state representative, a county commissioner, and interested persons attended. Conservation agency and non-government staff members participated in leading the event.

At each site, partners offered their expertise regarding the establishment and maintenance of successful riparian (forested and non-forested) buffers as well as warm and cool season grasses for wildlife habitat. 

Click here to read the entire article and to see more photos of the event. 

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.

Potter County Conservation District (PCCD) brought together local producers this summer to demonstrate how rotational grazing can benefit their farm both financially and environmentally. First, the district selected a farm to use rotational grazing equipment to demonstrate the benefits of rotational grazing management.

PCCD then partnered with USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service and Penn State Extension to develop a grazing plan for the selected farm. They took representative soil samples to test the biological activity of continuously grazed and rotationally grazed pastures with the same soil type. This information was presented during the field day.

Essential supplies for a grazing kit were purchased, including temporary fence, reels, posts, and automatic gate (Batt-Latch). The kit was given to the selected beef farmer in early July to install. On August 28, 2019, a field day was held at the farm to showcase the project and to discuss the benefits and challenges of rotational grazing.

In the future, another farmer that has an interest in this management style will be selected to use the grazing kit.

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 Monday, September 23, 2019, the Berks County Conservation District (BCCD) hosted the annual “A Bite of Berks Scholarship Fundraiser.”

Here are a few of the highlights from the evening:

• Deputy Greg Hostetter joined the event and said a few words.
• The district awarded $20,500 in scholarships; partners gave an additional $2,500 in scholarships; there was a special award for the Berks Science Fair winner.
• Several award recipients were recognized, including Farmer of the Year, Conservation Individual of the Year, and others.
• After the scholarship and awards portion of the evening was complete, guests enjoyed food samples made by local restaurants, caterers, bakeries, food trucks, and others who used an ingredient that was grown or produced in Berks County. Guests tasted and then voted for their favorite. Awards were given to the top 3 in each of 4 categories.
• There was a Silent Auction with proceeds benefiting the BCCD Scholarship fund.
• Dave Kline’s Mountain folk Trio provided music.

Click here view the winners. Click here to read about the scholarship winners. 

Submitted by Kristie Smith, Watershed Specialist, Perry County Conservation District

Thank you to the Loysville Community Club and Tyrone Township for hosting this year’s Keep Perry County Beautiful Tire War. We are pleased to announce that Perry County residents successfully dropped off 702 tires that were removed from the landscape that are destined for proper recycling through Mahantango Enterprises of Liverpool, Perry County. (The breakdown: 670 car tires, 20 large truck tires, and 12 tractor tires).

Many thanks to our group of dedicated volunteers who used a lot of muscle to throw all of those tires up into the truck! Thank you to everyone who participated, together we are keeping Perry County a beautiful place to live & work! Since 2009, the Tire War program in Perry County has recycled over 11,000 tires!

The Keystone 10 Million Trees Partnership is a collaborative effort of national, regional, state and local agencies, conservation organizations, outdoors enthusiasts, businesses, and citizens committed to improving Pennsylvania’s communities, economy, and ecology by planting 10 million trees throughout the Commonwealth.

PACD Program Manager Amy Brown and Software Specialist Nick Yeagy joined the Chesapeake Bay Foundation and other Keystone 10 Million Tree Partners on Thursday, September 19, 2019. The group met at the Raub Farm in Duncannon to plant 50 trees and shrubs next to a pasture.

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.