Jefferson County Conservation District and the local Partnerships for Regional Invasive Species Management (PRISM) pilot program advisory board conducted a pasture walk on a beef operation in September 2024 to spotlight problematic invasive plants on the farm and how to control them. The project cost $1,129.61 in grant funding.

The district’s other PRISM project involved signage and was highlighted in the November 25, 2024, issue of Front Page.

Financial and other support for the PRISM Pilot Program in NW Pennsylvania is provided by the Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts, Inc. through a Landscape Scale Restoration Grant with the Forest Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.

This fall, Mercer County Conservation District, along with partners on the local Partnerships for Regional Invasive Species Management (PRISM) pilot program advisory board offered guided pontoon boat tours of Lake Wilhelm at Maurice K. Goddard State Park.

Advisory members and DCNR staff presented topics on invasive species and how they disrupt lake ecosystems. Past, present, and future projects were also discussed. PA SeaGrant donated 50 PA Field Guides to Aquatic Invasive Species, which were distributed during the tours. The project cost $591.20 in grant funding.

Financial and other support for the PRISM Pilot Program in NW Pennsylvania is provided by the Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts, Inc. through a Landscape Scale Restoration Grant with the Forest Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.

The Jefferson County Conservation District, in coordination with their Partnerships for Regional Invasive Species Management (PRISM) pilot program advisory board and Redbank Valley Trails Association, completed a project to educate folks in the county about the importance of invasive species control. The project included installation of two signs placed along the Redbank Valley Trail, along with a guided trail hike to introduce the signs and discuss invasive species ID, reporting through iMapInvasives, invasive species control measures, and more. The signs are placed in an environmental justice area along a frequently traveled hiking trail. Seven people attended the guided hike, and the signs are expected to reach hundreds more. The project cost $2,195.45 in grant funds.

Financial and other support for the PRISM Pilot Program in NW Pennsylvania is provided by the Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts, Inc. through a Landscape Scale Restoration Grant with the Forest Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.

PACD was awarded a $210,000 Landscape Scale Restoration grant from the USDA Forest Service to pilot a Partnerships for Regional Invasive Species Management (PRISM) program in the North West region of Pennsylvania. The NW region covers 13 counties: Erie, Warren, McKean, Crawford, Mercer, Venango, Forest, Elk, Lawrence, Butler, Clarion, Jefferson, and Armstrong.

The NW conservation districts will form advisory groups consisting of local partner organizations and community members to identify and prioritize projects in their counties. Projects may be educational events and/or treatment projects.

$40,000 of the grant will be used for education & outreach mini-grants. Click here for more information on the Education & Outreach Mini-grant Program.

$149,000 will be used for invasive species treatment and management projects. Click here for more information on the Management Project Sub-grant Program.

Financial and other support for the PRISM Pilot Program in NW Pennsylvania is provided by the Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts, Inc. through a Landscape Scale Restoration Grant from the USDA Forest Service. “This institution is an equal opportunity provider.”