PACD Software Specialist Nick Yeagy is recording and uploading the PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources’ (DCNR) Riparian Forest webinar series to the Clean Water Academy. To date, the webinars available are:

• Ecology of Streams and Riparian Forests: How Streams Work and the Role of Forests
• Do Hellbenders, Freshwater Mussels, and Native Brook Trout Matter?
• Selling Buffers WITHOUT Financial Incentives
• Reforesting Shallowbrook School
• Pre- and Post-planting Vegetation Management for Establishment

Click here for the Clean Water Academy. 

New dates have been announced for the 102/105 Basic and Topic-based Technical Training sessions. Both sessions are open to the conservation district and PA Department of Environmental Protection staff who work with the Chapter 102 and 105 programs. At this time, we anticipate opening Basic registration in April and Topic-based registration in mid-summer. We thank our registrants for their patience and understanding during this process.

The new dates are:

June 16-19, 2020
102/105 Basic Technical Training
Wyndham State College, Boalsburg, PA

September 16-18, 2020
102/105 Topic-based Technical Training
Wyndham State College, Boalsburg, PA

The Agriculture Conservation Technical “Boot Camp” Training Basic and Level II are rescheduled. Participants in Basic received updated information for the webinar sessions and in-person field days this fall. Level II applicants will receive the rescheduled dates once they are confirmed.

The 2020 102/105 Topic-based Technical Training will take place March 31-April 2 at the Wyndham Garden State College in Boalsburg, PA. The event is open to conservation district and DEP staff with little or no cost to attend. Registration is through the DEP Clean Water Academy. Click here for registration information and a course outline. A full draft agenda will be posted as soon as it is available.

The 2020 102/105 Basic Technical Training session is open to conservation district and DEP staff. The event will take place March 16-19 at the Wyndham State College in Boalsburg, PA, with little or no cost to attend. (See registration information for details.) Registration and the prerequisite coursework are completed through the DEP Clean Water Academy. Click here for registration information and here to view the training agenda.

The PACD/SCC Winter Meeting was held in Boalsburg, PA, from January 22-23, 2020. In addition to the business meetings of PACD and the State Conservation Commission, sessions were held on educational opportunities through the PA Game Commission and effective conservation messaging from the National Wildlife Federation.

A 50/50 raffle was held during the meeting. A total of $134.50 was raised for the PA Envirothon!

Click here to view photos from the event. 

Applications are now being accepted for the Agricultural Conservation Technical Training (“Boot Camp” Basic level and Level II). Conservation district agricultural staff are encouraged to take advantage of these free, week-long training opportunities, which include both classroom learning and experience in the field.

This training is appropriate for agricultural conservation technicians, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service field staff, nutrient management technicians, Chesapeake Bay technicians, and others in agricultural positions with less than one year of professional experience, or less than three years’ experience if the employee did not attend a previously held Level I ACT training.

There is limited space, and conservation district watershed specialists will be cut. Brand new hires will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Existing NRCS and conservation district staff with agriculture-focused positions will get priority for the 30 seats available. Others will be considered as space is available.

Basic Level
April 6-10, 2020

Level II
April 27-May 1, 2020

If you do not receive confirmation from PACD, you will not be admitted. No walk-ins will be accepted. Both courses are held at the Keystone Conference Center, Ft. Indiantown Gap, Annville, PA (Lebanon County). Questions? Contact Shannon Wehinger at swehinger@pacd.org.

These training opportunities are made possible by the following sponsors: USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, State Conservation Commission, and the Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts, Inc.

PACD is hosting a two-day short course on Fluvial Geomorphology and Natural Channel Design Indices and Stream Restoration/Rehabilitation and Streambank Protection. The course will be held on March 24 and 25 at the Clinton County Conservation District. Please add this meeting to your calendar.

Registration and a draft agenda will be shared soon. Questions? Contact Amy Brown at abrown@pacd.org.

Twenty-eight students completed the Intro to Conservation Planning Course in Grantville, PA, November 12-14, 2019. The training was targeted to entry-level conservationists and included classroom and field experience. The students were introduced to the conservation planning process in Pennsylvania.

Participants attended the three-day training free of charge thanks to the generous sponsorship of the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service and the State Conservation Commission. PACD provided administrative support for the course.

Over 80 attendees, including 66 watershed specialists, participated in the 19th Annual Conservation District Watershed Specialist Meeting at Toftrees Golf Resort and Conference Center in State College, PA, October 2-4, 2019.

Sessions included new tools for planting riparian buffers, grants and resources, and updates on Growing Greener. Thursday morning there was a concurrent track for new watershed specialists. The last day was reserved for a watershed restoration and riparian buffer tour. The tour was hosted by the ClearWater Conservancy and the Penn State Agriculture and Environment Center with help from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Partners for Wildlife Program, the Spring Creek Chapter of Trout Unlimited, landowners Stan and Dar Smith, and Native Creations.

Each year, the watershed specialists hold a photo contest. This year, there were over 40 entries (the highest ever)!

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.