Written by bruntt on July 19, 2016. Posted in Conservation District Project Spotlight

Water Quality Improving on Warrior Run

Photo provided by Northumberland County Conservation District.

On June 5, 2016, a local angler caught this 19” trout on a fly rod in Warrior Run in McEwensville, PA. The fish was caught a few hundred yards downstream from a streambank restoration project completed by the Northumberland County Conservation District in May 2010. The project was funded through the PA Department of Environmental Protection’s Growing Greener grant program (Northcentral PA Conservancy was the grant recipient). The angler feels that the stream is cooler and cleaner as a result of the restoration project.

Written by bruntt on July 14, 2016. Posted in Conservation District Project Spotlight

Greene County Holds Rain Barrel Workshop

Conservation District Watershed Specialist, Jared Zinn, assists workshop participants determine an ideal location for the overflow of their rain barrel. Photo provided by Greene County Conservation District.

The Greene County Conservation District, in cooperation with Waynesburg Borough, recently held three workshops on the importance of reducing storm water and best practices for home owners. Thirty rain barrels were constructed during the workshops.

Financial and other support for this project was 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 July 12, 2016. Posted in Conservation District Project Spotlight, PACD General

Pike County Conservation District Celebrates 60 Years

Pictured are Army Corp of Engineers Senior Staff Biologist Mike Leggiero, PACD Executive Director Brenda Shambaugh, Pike County Conservation District (PCCD) Director Bob Engvaldsen, PCCD Executive Director Sally Corrigan, PCCD Vice Chairman John Milliken, PA Department of Environmental Protection Conservation District Field Representative Shane Kleiner, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service District Conservationist Jen Matthews, and PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Assistant District Forester Mike Roche. Photo provided by PCCD.

PACD Executive Director Brenda Shambaugh joined the Pike County Conservation District Board of Directors to celebrate the 60th Anniversary of the District. State legislators, county commissioners, and cooperating agency partners, joined district board members and staff at a picnic hosted by the District on June 24, 2016 at Delaware State Forest at Lily Pond in Milford, PA. Click here for more on the celebration.

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

Susquehanna County Conservation District Hosts Trip to Stroud Water Research Center

Submitted by Susquehanna County Conservation District

Students from Susquehanna County test water quality at the Stroud Water Research Center. Photos provided by Susquehanna County Conservation District.

The Susquehanna County Conservation District hosted a trip to Stroud Water Research Center in Avondale, PA, for the Susquehanna County Envirothon’s first, second, and third place students. Students from Blue Ridge and Susquehanna Community High Schools were given a tour of the research center and hands-on interaction in the outdoor classroom. Students used LaMotte kits to measure nitrogen, pH, water temperature, and velocity in the White Clay Creek where they put their knowledge to work. Students got to see one of the longest monitored streams in the United States, the White Clay Creek. Thank you to everyone who came out and made it a great day for the students. We look forward to next year’s trip!

Written by bruntt on June 29, 2016. Posted in Conservation District Project Spotlight

Lawrence County Conservation District Featured in NACD Publication

In 2015, the National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD) released the findings of its comprehensive survey of conservation district forestry activity. “Friends of the Forest” is a 32-page booklet that highlights the findings and includes a collection of forestry success stories from around the country. Page 23 features a success story from Lawrence County, PA. The district revitalized city lots by planting trees. Click here to download the booklet. LawrenceForestry

Written by bruntt on June 28, 2016. Posted in Conservation District Project Spotlight

Fish Stocking Sale Held in Susquehanna County

Photo provided by Susquehanna County Conservation District.

Susquehanna County Conservation District held its annual Fish Stocking Sale, a youth education fundraiser, last Sunday. This fundraiser has been held for many years. Thirty-four customers purchased over 1,000 fish. They sold over 200 bluegill sunfish, 65 pounds of fathead minnows, 10 koi fish, over 300 largemouth bass, and almost 250 rainbow trout.

Written by bruntt on June 23, 2016. Posted in Conservation District Project Spotlight

Beaver, Indiana, and Westmoreland Districts Head to Clinton County to Learn About Soil Health

Submitted by Beaver County Conservation District

Dan Griffith, Jeff Leindecker, Lisa Blazure, and Jim Harbach examine the soil characteristics in corn planted into rolled rye. Photo taken by Leya Ramer.

On June 9, 2016, Jeff Leindecker, Leya Ramer, and Dan Griffith from Beaver County, Indiana County, and Westmoreland Conservation Districts (respectively) met with Lisa Blazure of Clinton County Conservation District at Schrack Farms in Loganton, Clinton County, to exchange ideas and information, and observe soil health in action. The operation is a 1,000 head dairy with 2,200 crop acres, many of which have been no-tilled for forty years with the addition of cover crops in the last five years. Click here to read more.

Written by bruntt on June 17, 2016. Posted in Conservation District Project Spotlight, Mini-grant

Montgomery Rain Garden

The “before” photo on the left shows the issue of standing water. The “after” photo on the right shows the Perkiomen demonstration rain garden after installation. Left photo taken by Bob Kahley, Aqua PA. Right photo taken by Virginia Vassalotti, Partnership for the Delaware Estuary. Photos provided by the Montgomery County Conservation District.

Montgomery County Conservation District planted a 3,000 square foot demonstration rain garden in Perkiomen Township. The project is part of a larger effort made possible by a nonpoint source mini-grant through PACD as well as a $30,000 grant from the Schuylkill River Restoration Fund. In addition to the rain garden, the district will retrofit a stormwater basin and construct two vegetated swales leading to and from the garden to create a stormwater treatment train. In addition to installing these practices, the district held tours and will install educational signage. Click here to see photos from the project.

Financial and other support for this project is provided by the Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts, Inc. (PACD) 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 June 9, 2016. Posted in Conservation District Project Spotlight, Education, Events

Montgomery County Hosts 2016 Envirothon and BioBlitz

Submitted by Krista Scheirer, Watershed Specialist, Montgomery County Conservation District

Students using a GPS camera unit to record a species during the BioBlitz. Photo Credit: Jen Isett. Photo provided by Montgomery County Conservation District.

The Montgomery County Conservation District hosted three Envirothon events this spring in an effort to provide free environmental education for local students. Approximately 300 students participated in the events, which were held for the high school, middle school, and elementary school levels. The middle school students also took part in a National Geographic BioBlitz, which is an attempt to record all the living species within a designated area. “In about an hour altogether, the students found 34 unique species. Kristin Byers, from the PA Alliance for Geographic Education, led a station at our middle school event, where students used GPS units to take photos of as many species as they could find. In total, they made 242 observations. This exploration was exciting to watch and really engaging for the students. After the event, the photos were uploaded to iNaturalist, an app that helps to identify the species,” said Krista Scheirer, Montgomery County Conservation District Watershed Specialist. Click here for the project page, which includes the results of the BioBlitz. Click here to read the full press release on the event.

Written by bruntt on June 8, 2016. Posted in Conservation District Project Spotlight, Mini-grant

Centre County Showcases Conservation Projects

In May, the Centre County Conservation District held a tour to showcase conservation projects in the county. The stops featured six conservation district projects, including one erosion and sediment control site, two stream restorations, and three farms.

Tour participants look at a conservation district project on a local farm. Photo provided by Centre County Conservation District.

Financial and other support for this project is provided by the Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts, Inc. (PACD) 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.

Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts

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