Through the 2016-17 Nonpoint Source Pollution Prevention Educational Mini-grant program, the Mifflin County Conservation District held a public watershed meeting on March 28, 2017. The meeting raised public awareness about watershed issues and received public comments on an update to the Watershed Implementation Plan for the impaired Upper Kish Watershed. Collaborating organizations, local residents, municipalities, farmers, and agricultural industry professionals attended this meeting.

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 Jefferson Conservation District held a Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) Workshop on April 4, 2017. This meeting, coordinated by Megan Whitlatch, Agricultural Conservation Technician/Nutrient Management Specialist, was held at the Jefferson Conservation Center in Brookville, PA.

CREP pays farmers and other landowners to conserve and enhance their land. In this workshop, participants learned about the benefits of CREP, riparian forest buffers, how to identify and control the spread of noxious and invasive weeds on your land, and safe herbicide use.

Financial and other support for the CREP Outreach Program Office Mini-grant Program was 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.

 

 

The Susquehanna County Conservation District (SCCD) hosted its annual Contractor Workshop on March 23rd at the Montrose Bible Conference. Over 70 people came to attend the workshop.

Speakers included: Mike Sames (PA Department of Environmental Protection) on Water Obstruction and Encroachment Permits for Culvert and Bridge Installation, Jim Garner (SCCD) on Understanding National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Permit Conditions, Stephen Watson (Cabot Oil and Gas) on Work Place Safety, and Justin Challenger (State Conservation Commission) who spoke about the positive biological impacts of the Dirt and Gravel Road program.

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Approximately 40 municipal officials attended the Dirt, Gravel & Low Volume Road Municipality Workshop on February 28, 2017 held by the Susquehanna County Conservation District. The workshop focused on the proper way to fill out Dirt and Gravel project applications. Attendees also learned about stream crossing permitsand the district was able to provide large wallmaps to each municipality. The maps showed potential and completed worksites. At the end of the agenda, participants had time to review specific project application questions from their municipality.

On March 3, 2017, PACD Executive Director Brenda Shambaugh traveled to Potter County for the Potter County Conservation District’s Legislative Luncheon. In addition to featuring several local dirt and gravel road, educational, farmland preservation, and erosion projects, other topics of discussion included the 2017-2018 state budget projections, the importance of partnerships, and the district’s role in the restoration of the Chesapeake Bay.

 

 

On February 23, PACD Executive Director Brenda Shambaugh traveled to Indiana County Conservation District for a legislative breakfast. During the event, each district staff person highlighted a project they were working on. They emphasized what the district has done with funding they received.

 

Montgomery County Conservation District recently completed their Nonpoint Source Pollution Prevention Educational Mini-grant titled, “Montgomery County Golf Course Environmental Education & Outreach.” As part of the project, Agricultural Conservation Specialist Jessica Moldofsky produced a rack card called “The Green: Golf Course Conservation.” In addition to creating one for her county, she also produced one for PACD which any district may reproduce and use. Email swehinger@pacd.org for the full size document or click here for the online version. 

Financial and other support for the NPS Mini-grant Program 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.

 

Columbia County Conservation District recently held a well-attended outreach event called, “Good Water = Good Coffee.” Watershed Specialist Heather Almer brought together a chemistry professor, a coffee brewmaster from a local coffee house, and their conservation district staff to participate in a discussion at the Bloomsburg Public Library. The event explored how water chemistry and quality plays a role in the flavor of coffee. Coffee samples were compared using hard water, soft water, and filtered soft water to learn how these elements affect taste.

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Northampton County Conservation District completed their “Schoolyard and Backyard Conservation” Nonpoint Source Pollution Prevention Educational Mini-grant Project. Through the project, a workshop was held for educators on how to improve water quality and reduce nonpoint source pollution in their homes and schools. The district offered 7 Act 48 continuing education hours to the teachers in attendance.

Financial and other support for the NPS Mini-grant Program 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.

Click here to see photos from the workshop. 

 

Montgomery County Conservation District (MCCD) recently partnered with Pottsgrove High School and the nonprofit Partnership for the Delaware Estuary to retrofit a failing rain garden on the high school’s campus. MCCD provided engineering, construction oversight and other assistance to create a successful BMP and improve the look of the garden, which is near the front entrance to the school.

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