Screenshot from the WPXI video.
Allegheny County Conservation District Executive Director Heather Manzo sat down recently with WPXI for their Our Region’s Business feature. To tie into Farm Show Week, Heather spoke about farming in Allegheny County and the conservation district’s role in the community.
Click here to view the 6-minute video.
PACD will randomly spotlight one social media post from a conservation district each week. Don’t forget to share or tag other districts to share good news or something others could learn about.
Beaver County Conservation District’s Facebook post. Follow at https://www.facebook.com/BeaverCountyConservationDistrict/.
On October 28, 2025, conservation district managers from the south central region met at the Cumberland County Conservation District office in Carlisle for a breakfast meeting. The meeting also celebrated Carl Goshorn’s retirement (pictured first row, center). PACD Executive Director Amy Brown also attended the event.
Photo by Rhoda Crider.
PACD Project & Event Specialist Molly Burns traveled to Franklin County Conservation District (FCCD) on June 12, 2025. Following their board meeting, the district celebrated Associate Director Sam Worley’s 104th birthday!
Sam has served on the FCCD Board of Directors since 1992 and continues to be an invaluable resource to Franklin County. He also serves on the PACD Ways & Means Committee and was a familiar face at PACD conferences for many years. In 2017, Sam was awarded the PACD Ann Rudd Saxman Conservation District Director Excellence Award. In 2011, he received the President’s Award as part of the PACD Executive Board, where he served as Treasurer.
Pennsylvania Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) has provided $500,000 per super gauge for the U.S. Geological Service to install and monitor super gauge monitoring stations at the following locations: Chiques Creek – Lancaster County, Swatara Creek, and Dauphin County. The newest ones being installed are on Swift Run – Adams County, Towanda Creek – Bradford County, Saucony Creek – Berks County, Fishing Creek – Clinton County, and Conneaut Creek – Crawford County. The real-time, continuous sampling devices contain sensors capable of collecting data on temperature, specific conductance, pH, dissolved oxygen, nitrates, nitrites, and turbidity.
Increments of monitoring will be every 15 minutes. This is a significant departure from monitoring samples that occurred during high flow or on an established date once per month. Other factors are estimated using a surrogate regression model. For instance, suspended sediment is determined via turbidity measurements while total nitrogen is calculated from nitrate and nitrite levels, and total phosphorus is predicted from temperature, specific conductance, and turbidity. This information is useful in determining water quality and provides an indication of the results of conservation efforts higher in the watershed.
The map above shows current National Water Quality Initiative watersheds in the state as well as the location of the USGS Super Gauge sites that NRCS has allocated funds to install. It is anticipated that NRCS will continue to support these super gauge stations for the next ten years.
Close to 4,000 township officials and guests from all over Pennsylvania will attend the annual Pennsylvania State Association of Township Supervisors (PSATS) Conference and Trade Show on May 4-7, 2025. Once again, there will be a conservation district booth at the show from Sunday, May 4, to Tuesday, May 6.
PACD is seeking volunteers for the following shifts:
Please consider volunteering for a shift at the conservation district booth. This is a valuable opportunity to promote the districts and explain the type of work they do, as well as reinforce existing relationships with local township officials.
To volunteer, please contact Shannon Wehinger at swehinger@pacd.org.
This position is remote, with the employer of record being the Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts. The position is a partnership between PACD and the National Association of Conservation Districts on behalf of the National Conservation Planning Partnership.
The incumbent has primary responsibility for providing assistance and coordination support for the NCPP communication efforts. The position is under the technical supervision of the NRCS Natural Resources Specialist located in Benton, PA.
A cover letter and resume package, including 3 examples of communication pieces completed solely by the applicant, should be emailed to personnel@pacd.org by August 26, 2024.
Click here to read more.
The PACD board. Front row (left to right): Sonia Wasco, Kelly Stagen, Emil Bove, Ron Rohall. Back row (left to right): Piper Sherburne, Thomas Herbert, Dr. Robert Shannon, Dennis Beck, Barb Peace, Charles Duritsa, Clifford Lane.
The Association elected officers at the annual Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts (PACD) meeting on July 17, 2024, in State College, PA. Among them was Cambria County Conservation District Director Dennis Beck, who was re-elected President.
The 2024 PACD officers are as follows:
Executive Board Members not up for election and continuing to serve their terms:
The Foundation for PA Watersheds announced grant awards to advance the protection and restoration of our waterways.
Two conservation districts received funding:
Congratulations to Indiana and Westmoreland Conservation Districts!
The Foundation for Pennsylvania Watersheds is a grant-making foundation and non-profit organization dedicated to the conservation and protection of Pennsylvania’s water resources. Founded in 1994, they invest in projects that protect the best and restore the rest of Pennsylvania’s streams.
The PACD water resource trainer or instructional designer works under a technical training grant provided by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). This grant provides technical training on 25 PA Code Chapter 102 (Erosion and Sediment Control) and 25 PA Code Chapter 105 (Dam Safety and Waterway Management). The position may also support other conservation, water resource, and water quality-related training. This is a full-time, salaried position based out of Harrisburg, PA. The position reports to the Executive Director. The salary range is $56,000-64,000/year.
Candidates must submit a resume and cover letter to the PACD via email with the subject heading “Water Resource Trainer” to jobs@pacd.org. The deadline to apply is June 5, 2024.
Click here for the full announcement.