Just in time for Back-to-School! The National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD) has announced the 2018 Poster Contest theme: “Watersheds – Our Water, Our Home.” PACD will be accepting photos of your county’s winning posters until June 30, 2018. We can’t wait to see all of the artistic entries for this year’s theme!
Click here for a flyer on the poster contest and here for more information.
Reflections by Kelly Williams, Clearfield County Conservation District Watershed Specialist and winner of the 2016 CD Watershed Specialist Photo Contest
Registration is now open for the 17th Annual Conservation District Watershed Specialist Meeting. Highlights from this year’s agenda include:
The meeting will be held October 4-6, 2017. Registration for this meeting is open to conservation district watershed specialists and invited guests only. The deadline to register is Friday, September 22. Click here for more information and to register for the meeting. Please contact Molly Burns at mburns@pacd.org with any questions.
Pictured in front of the Mobile Environmental Display are (left to right): Greg Hostetter, PA Department of Agriculture; Gregg Smith, Armstrong Conservation District; Brenda Shambaugh, PACD; Honorable Donna Oberlander, Pennsylvania House of Representatives; and Dave Rupert, Armstrong Conservation District.
PACD Executive Director Brenda Shambaugh traveled to Armstrong County on August 17, 2017 for the dedication of the Armstrong Conservation District’s (ACD) new Mobile Environmental Display (MED).
The MED made it’s debut August 14 at the Great Dayton Fair. The mobile display was made possible through partnership with the Colcom Foundation, the Carnegie Science Center, and EQT Corporation. Together, they built an educational interactive traveling exhibit to promote the importance of conserving of our natural resources.
Click here to read a news article on the display.
Molly Burns at the Bread and Butter Farm, the first stop on the National Association of Conservation District Employees’ tour on August 13.
PACD Executive Assistant & Meeting Planner Molly Burns recently attended the 2017 National Association of Conservation District’s (NACD) Northeast Regional Meeting, August 13-15 in Burlington, Vermont. When asked what she found most valuable, Molly said “Learning about districts in other states – our similarities and differences – is an eye-opening experience. I hope that our members all take advantage of having the regional meeting so close to home next year. There is so much we can learn from each other.”
During the meeting, Molly gained valuable contacts and hands-on information to help coordinate the 2018 NACD Northeast Regional Meeting, which will take place in combination with the PACD/SCC Joint Annual Conference, July 15-18, 2018, at the DoubleTree Resort by Hilton Hotel in Lancaster, PA.
The Geisingers, Conservation Farmer of the Year recipients, after receiving their award.
Submitted by Jennifer Bratthauar, Ag Conservation Technician, Franklin County Conservation District
The Franklin County Conservation District (FCCD) held its second annual Summer Conservation Farm Tour on August 1, 2017, which was made possible through a PACD Nonpoint Source Pollution Prevention Educational Mini-Grant. In addition to recognizing the FCCD’s Conservation Farmer of the Year, this tour also provides attendees with a first-hand look at best management practices that reduce soil and nutrient runoff leaving the farm.
Click here to read more.
Submitted by Kent Himelright, Watershed Coordinator, Berks County Conservation District
In 2016, the Berks County Water & Sewer Association and the Berks County Planning Commission were interested in developing a county-wide program to combine source water protection and stormwater management activities. By working with a number of local water systems, they helped develop a program that would implement management strategies that crossed both watershed and municipality boundaries.
Community water systems use a variety of surface waterways and groundwater wells and springs to provide safe, clean, drinking water to about 70% of Berks County residents. To help protect the drinking water, water systems representatives and volunteers from other local agencies, organizations, and businesses, worked with the Department of Environmental Protection and other partners to develop a source water protection program. This voluntary program will help ensure the quality of the watershed, and will benefit not only the people served by these systems, but also the people living and working in the county. Some management strategies include public education, partnering with the Berks County Department of Emergency Services, and working with local businesses to reduce pollutants entering the watershed.
Along with source water protection, the program will assist participants with some stormwater management solutions required by Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) requirements. Staff from the Berks County Conservation District will provide ongoing leadership for the program, which will be funded through donations and fundraisers from the Berks County Water and Sewer Association.
For more information, please contact Kent Himelright at Kent.Himelright@berkscd.com.
Photo caption (left to right): Carl Goshorn, Cumberland County Conservation District Manager; Damon Kline, Penn Environmental and Remediation, Inc. – 2017 Clean Water Award; BJ Small, Editor of Gettysburg Times and outdoor writer for the Carlisle Sentinel – 2017 Media Conservation Award; Stephen Lockhart, Boiling Springs High School Earth Science Teacher – 2017 Conservation Educator of the Year Award; Jennifer Halpin and Matt Steiman, Dickinson College Farm – 2017 Watershed Protection Award; Joe Jones and Family – 2017 Farmer of the Year Award; and Wilbur Wolf, Chairman of Cumberland County Conservation District Board of Directors.
On August 22, 2017, the Cumberland County Conservation District held their annual conservation district picnic. During the picnic, the district presented several awards.
Rob Shannon (right) and Joe Dietrick staff the conservation district booth at Ag Progress Days on August 17.
Ag Progress Days at Penn State was held August 15-17, 2017. PACD organized a booth for conservation districts to speak with attendees.
Several volunteers made the booth possible: Ann Donovan (Centre), Eric Naguski (Dauphin), Eric Ernst (Union), Shanon Burkland Stamm (Union), Abbe Hamilton (Huntingdon), Pierce Wilson (Fayette), Joe Dietrick (Westmoreland), and Rob Shannon (Centre). Thank you for your time and for helping to make the booth a success!
Brenda Shambaugh testifies in front of (left to right) Rick Ebert, PA Farm Bureau President, Congressman G.T. Thompson, Congressman Dwight Evans, and Secretary of Agriculture Russell Redding on the state of agriculture in Pennsylvania.
As is their custom, the Pennsylvania House and Senate Agriculture and Rural Affairs committees held a joint informational meeting on August 16, 2017 at Ag Progress Days. The session covered the state’s contributions to the multi-state effort to restore the Chesapeake Bay. The second hearing was organized by Congressman Thompson and addressed the state of agriculture in Pennsylvania in front of a panel consisting of the PA Farm Bureau President, two congressmen, and the Secretary of Agriculture.
PACD Executive Director Brenda Shambaugh provided testimony during these two sessions. Click here to read the text of Shambaugh’s testimony titled, “Conservation District Activities within the Chesapeake Bay Watershed” and here for “Barnyard Discussion: Issues Driving the State of Pennsylvania Agriculture.”
Click here to read more about the meeting.
The Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) Outreach Program Office (hosted by PACD) is hosting a series of workshops in the Delaware River Basin (DRB). The purpose of the workshops is to ensure CREP partners, associates, and district staff understand the program and to introduce CREP to landowners and producers. The workshops are focused on introducing CREP in the seven PA DRB counties; however, they are open to partners and producers outside those counties.
CREP Partners and Associates Workshop
Attendees will leave with a basic understanding of CREP, including eligibility, benefits, and responsibilities. They will be able to respond to inquiries about CREP, direct potential applicants to the proper agencies, and identify producers and sites that may be eligible for CREP. Click the link below for more information or to register.
CREP Landowner/Producer Workshops
These workshops are open to all landowners who would like to learn about CREP and see if it is a good fit for their situation. Farmers can register online or by calling the Montgomery or Monroe Conservation District offices. See the links below for more information, district contacts, or to register online.
Please feel free to share this information with interested contacts and partners, and to invite any producers in the DRB who may be interested in the CREP program. Contact Terry Fisher at PACD with any questions or for additional information at 717-238-7223 or tfisher@pacd.org.