Written by bruntt on October 26, 2016. Posted in Conservation District Project Spotlight

Sullivan County Conservation District Holds Awards Banquet

PACD Executive Director Brenda Shambaugh attended the awards banquet for the Sullivan County Conservation District. The event was held October 18, 2016 in Forksville.

Written by bruntt on October 18, 2016. Posted in Conservation District Project Spotlight, PACD General

Shambaugh Visits McKean County Conservation District

McKean County Conservation District (MCCD) directors and staff show Shambaugh the native plant and pollinator garden adjacent to their office building. The garden was funded by a Lumber Heritage Region grant. https://www.lumberheritage.org/grants1.htm Pictured from left to right are: Cliff Lane, County Commissioner and MCCD Board Director; Kerry Fetter, MCCD Board Chairman; Brenda Shambaugh, PACD Executive Director; Bob Wright, MCCD Board Director; and Sandy Thompson, MCCD District Manager.

PACD Executive Director Brenda Shambaugh visited the McKean County Conservation District (MCCD) office on October 11, 2016. She met with several board members and staff. MCCD manager Sandy Thompson and Director Bob Wright took Brenda on a tour of the property which showcases best management practices and other district projects.

Written by bruntt on October 13, 2016. Posted in Conservation District Project Spotlight

Susquehanna County Conservation District Completes Phase 2 of the DuBois Creek Stream Restoration Project

Submitted by Jim Garner, Susquehanna County Conservation District

A cross vane and root wads used for stream bank protection are pictured. Photo provided by Susquehanna County Conservation District.

Recently the second phase of the DuBois Creek Stream Restoration project was completed. DuBois creek is a direct tributary to the Susquehanna River. The project is taking place in Great Bend Township near Hallstead, PA. Construction went well, with the entire stream channel graded per design. The channel block has been installed near the downstream limits of the project. This structure will aid in stopping debris from moving further downstream under normal stream conditions. Slightly upstream is a rock deflector. The purpose of the deflector is to protect the stream bank from erosion on a very sharp corner. Several other cross vanes have been installed upstream, which will in turn help with fish habitat as well as stream bank stabilization. This phase of the project has been funded by a Grower Greener grant awarded to the Susquehanna County Conservation District to help minimize erosion, and in turn, reduce flooding downstream. The project is being monitored and administered by the District.

Written by bruntt on October 4, 2016. Posted in Conservation District Project Spotlight, Events

Conservation Districts Represented at Dive Deeper Conference

PACD had a display at the Dive Deeper Conference in Harrisburg on September 22, 2016. The conference is held for those who teach youth about water. Special thanks to Teddi Stark with Juniata County Conservation District for setting up the display. Photo provided by Jennifer Fetter, Penn State Extension.

Written by bruntt on September 22, 2016. Posted in Conservation District Project Spotlight, Fundraising

Lebanon County Conservation District to Hold Fundraiser for Farmland Preservation

Lebanon County Conservation District is inviting the public to a “Moo-velous Night of Painting” on October 4, 2016. The event is a fundraiser for their farmland preservation program. Two classes will be held: 1-4pm and 7-9:30pm. The event is being held at Brushstrokes on Canvas, 720 Quentin Rd., Lebanon, PA. The cost is $35/person and includes supplies, drinks, and snacks. Proceeds benefit Lebanon County farmland preservation. Click here to read more about the event.

Written by bruntt on September 20, 2016. Posted in Conservation District Project Spotlight, Mini-grant

Beaver County Conservation District Holds Stormwater Workshop

BCCD Environmental Educator Susan Boser explains how to construct a rain barrel during the June 14 stormwater workshop. Photo provided by Beaver County Conservation District.

The Beaver County Conservation District (BCCD) held a workshop titled, “Managing Stormwater: A plan for your property,” on June 14, 2016. Twenty-six attendees learned about watersheds, nonpoint source pollution, and stormwater best management practices (BMPs). They also saw a demonstration on how to assemble and use a rain barrel and took a tour of BMPs in action at the BCCD Environmental Center in Aliquippa, PA.

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.

Written by bruntt on September 15, 2016. Posted in Conservation District Project Spotlight

Media Day Highlights Project in Northumberland County

It took a joint effort to improve stream conditions and aquatic habitat along this unnamed tributary which discharges directly into the Susquehanna River. Installing fish habitat structures will reduce sediment inputs at the source, stabilize streambanks, and add diversity to the aquatic ecosystem. Photo provided by Northumberland County Conservation District.

During a media day on August 12, a site in Northumberland County was highlighted. The Northumberland County Conservation District and partners worked with two landowners to address 4,342 linear feet of stream. The project includes approximately 90 structures, bank regrading, gravel bar removal, stabilized livestock crossing, and streambank fencing. The district worked for 3 weeks in August on the project and will finish in October. This project is part of a larger effort. The PA Department of Environmental Protection’s Growing Greener grant program awarded $354,972 to the Northcentral Pennsylvania Conservancy for project implementation. This is the seventh year of stream restoration work. The partners have completed 85 projects in almost seven miles of agriculturally impaired streams in north-central Pennsylvania and won a Governor’s Award for Environmental Excellence in 2014. Project partners included: Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, Northcentral Pennsylvania Conservancy, Clinton County Conservation District, Columbia County Conservation District, Lycoming County Conservation District, Montour County Conservation District, Northumberland County Conservation District, Snyder County Conservation District, Tioga County Conservation District, and Union County Conservation District. Click here for a press release on the project, here for photos, and here for a short video.

Written by bruntt on August 30, 2016. Posted in Conservation District Project Spotlight, CREP, Education

Indiana County Conservation District Hosts CREP Workshops and Field Day

Photo provided by Indiana County Conservation District.

This summer the Indiana County Conservation District (District) was awarded a CREP mini-grant to work with and educate landowners about stream buffer planting and weed maintenance on local CREP (Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program) land. The ultimate goal is to prevent pollution and improve water quality in our local streams, lakes, and rivers. The District used these grant funds to participate in multiple events as public educational opportunities, in addition to holding two workshops and one field day. These events focused on explaining the financial and environmental benefits of the CREP program. Through this grant, the District reached over 500 landowners with educational materials and hosted nearly 40 attendees at workshop and field day events. Attendees were educated on the identification and maintenance of noxious and invasive weed species, as well as the benefits of stream buffers and how to successfully plant them.

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.

Written by bruntt on August 26, 2016. Posted in Conservation District Project Spotlight, Education

Beaver County Conservation District Holds Soil Health and Cover Crop Event

District Conservationist Andy Gaver digs into a hay field and discusses what healthy soil should look and feel like. Photo submitted by Beaver County Conservation District.

Fourteen farmers spent the evening learning about soil health and cover crops at Fischer’s Windy Ridge Dairy in Fombell, Beaver County, on August 12, 2016. The event was hosted by Andy Gaver, District Conservationist at USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service and Jeff Leindecker, Agriculture Conservationist at Beaver County Conservation District. After a soil health demonstration, attendees were taken to a perennial hay field to see what healthy soil looks like. Several holes were dug and plant/root clumps were passed around for observation. “Healthy soil aggregates should resemble cottage cheese,” commented Andy Gaver. Once attendees had a good feel for healthy soil, the group moved to a 5 acre long-season multi-species cover crop. The field had a history of heavy tillage and the surface soil structure was completely degraded. After two months in cover, improved soil aggregate stability was observed and rainfall infiltration saw an inch of simulated rainfall infiltrate in less than two minutes. Before planting the cover crop, it took more than ten minutes for an inch of simulated rainfall to infiltrate. Financial and other support for this field day provided by: Fischer’s Windy Ridge Dairy, Deerfield Farms Service, Inc., Progressive Dairy Systems, King’s AgriSeeds, Beaver County Conservation District, and USDA – Natural Resources Conservation Service.

Written by bruntt on August 24, 2016. Posted in Conservation District Project Spotlight, CREP

Snyder County Conservation District Holds CREP & Stream Buffer Field Day

Frank Rohrer, Chesapeake Bay Foundation Restoration Specialist (third from right, white shirt, wearing blue hat), points toward a grassed riparian buffer along Susquehecka Creek for the tour group. Photo provided by Snyder County Conservation District.

The Snyder County Conservation District held a Stream Buffer and CREP Field Day event on July 28, 2016, in which thirty-five visiting and host farmers, landowners, a legislative aide, state government officials participated. The event included a tour of three farm sites. Representatives from Pheasants Forever, Chesapeake Bay Foundation, PA DCNR-Bureau of Forestry, USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service, and USDA-Farm Service Agency, relayed information about buffers, weeds, grass plantings, and CREP procedures. Click here to read more about 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.

Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts

We support Pennsylvania’s Conservation Districts who work for clean water and healthy soil every day.