The results are in! During the 2017-18 Manure Management Manual and Chapter 102 Compliance Workshops Mini-grant Program, 38 conservation districts reached over 2,800 landowners across the state.

Other outcomes include:

• Full-day workshops held: 37
• Half-day workshops held: 36
• One-on-one sessions held: 181
• Manure management plans written: 426 covering 32,798.9 acres
• Agricultural Erosion & Sedimentation plans written: 78 covering 6,482.73 acres

In addition to completing plans, conservation district staff improved awareness of the revised Manure Management Manual and assisted farmers in understanding manure management and Chapter 102 requirements.

PACD would like to thank the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection for providing the funding for this program as well as supporting conservation districts as they help landowners achieve compliance.

Financial support for this project is provided by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection through the Chesapeake Bay Implementation Grant, the Clean Water Fund and the Chesapeake Bay Regulatory and Accountability Program (CBRAP).

 

Submitted by: Jolie Chylack, Environmental Education & Outreach Coordinator, Lehigh County Conservation District

As many students in the Lehigh Valley area are walking down the aisle to graduate from one of our regions notable secondary, undergraduate, or graduate learning institutions, we would like to highlight a conservation video production project that several senior students from Lehigh Carbon Community College recently completed in partnership with the Lehigh County Conservation District!

• Erosion Education Video: https://youtu.be/bjAYHjG7XvM
• Watershed Education Video: https://youtu.be/eJ_FwTzcy2I
• Environmental Education Video: https://youtu.be/mDkV-I73Wb8

Click here to read more. 

Turkey Hill Dairy is generously donating ice cream novelties and beverages for the “Welcome to Pennsylvania” Ice Cream Social during the NACD Northeast Regional Meeting & PACD/SCC Joint Annual Conference. The event will take place Sunday, July 15, from 7:00pm to 9:00pm at the DoubleTree Resort by Hilton Hotel in Lancaster, PA.

PACD invites you to join us for a friendly, informal, meet-and-greet over some cool, creamy, ice cream treats. To participate, you must be registered for the NACD portion of the conference. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to network with your counterparts from other states in our region.

There is still time to register! Pre-registration closes on July 6. Click here to register today! 

Armstrong Conservation District’s H2Oh! on the GO! mobile exhibit will be parked at the NACD Northeast Regional Meeting & PACD/SCC Joint Annual Conference from July 15-18, 2018. The Armstrong Conservation District is generously making this interactive, educational, traveling exhibit available for our attendees to explore during the conference.

The conference is taking place at the DoubleTree Resort by Hilton Hotel, Lancaster, PA. Click here to register or for more information. 

In the 2017-18 Nonpoint Source Pollution Prevention Educational Mini-grant round, 37 projects were completed by 30 conservation districts, reaching over 5,000 adults. Click here to see the outcomes and here to see a map of projects completed.

Reminder: PACD is currently accepting applications for a second round of the 2018-19 Nonpoint Source Pollution Prevention Educational Mini-grant Program for Conservation Districts. Click here for more information: https://pacd.org/?page_id=16996. The deadline to apply is June 28, 2018.

Financial and other support for the NPS Mini-grant Program 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.

 

Submitted by Jim Garner, District Manager, Susquehanna County Conservation District

Recently the Susquehanna County Conservation District (SCCD) held its 2018 Legislative Breakfast at the Montrose Club. The legislators attending spent time discussing many current topics with directors and staff over breakfast. District Manager Jim Garner gave a presentation highlighting conservation district programs and related funding. Board Chairman Ray Warriner provided closing remarks and thanked our legislators for all of their support.

 

Cumberland County Conservation District Manager Carl Goshorn visited five legislators at their home offices over the last two weeks.

Due to continued support of conservation district projects by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, PACD is able to offer a second round of mini-grants in the 2018-19 program year.

Grants up to $2,000 are awarded to conservation districts for adult educational projects that offer strategies for reducing and preventing Nonpoint Source (NPS) Pollution. Projects should stimulate a local awareness of water quality issues, promote the theme “We All Live Downstream,” and encourage citizen participation in activities to improve water quality in local watersheds.

The deadline for NPS mini-grant applications is June 28, 2018.  Click here for the online application and more information. Please note that a Google Account is required to submit an application. Questions should be directed to Shannon Wehinger. 

Financial and other support for the NPS Mini-grant Program 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.

 

The early bird discount ends Friday, June 15! Be sure to register this week for the NACD Northeast Regional Meeting and PACD/SCC Joint Annual Conference to receive the discounted registration rate.

The meeting location is the DoubleTree Resort by Hilton Hotel in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. NACD events will take place July 15-17, 2018, and PACD/SCC events will take place July 17-18, 2018.

Click here for more information and to register. 

 

On Friday, June 1, PACD Executive Director Brenda Shambaugh joined staff from the Lebanon County Conservation District (LCCD) to meet with local legislators, including Representative Ryan, Commissioner Ames, Commissioner Litz, and representatives from the offices of Congressman Costello, Representative Helm, and Representative Diamond.

During the meeting, LCCD staff highlighted conservation efforts in Lebanon County over the past year. Staff discussed agricultural programs, erosion and sedimentation programs, agricultural land preservation, the Lebanon County Envirothon, and the LCCD Annual Tree Sale. The group also discussed legislative matters important to the Lebanon County community, including the current Farm Bill and the Chesapeake Bay Watershed.