Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts

We support Pennsylvania’s Conservation Districts who work for clean water and healthy soil every day.

Columbia County Conservation District’s Good Water = Good Fishing Event Featured in News

WNEP featured Columbia County Conservation District (CCCD) and PA Fish & Boat Commission’s Good Water = Good Fishing event on a PA Outdoor Life segment. CCCD Watershed Specialist Brittney Hartzell is featured in the video. Click here to view the nine-minute segment.

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Columbia County Conservation District Hosts CREP Workshop

Participants learn about the Game Commission’s no-till seed drill that is available for use by landowners. Photo provided by Columbia County Conservation District.

The Columbia County Conservation District used a Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) mini-grant, administered by PACD, to host a CREP Workshop at the Montour Preserve in Danville, PA on March 28, 2019. Forty-five people attended the workshop and heard presentations from the Farm Service Agency, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, and PA Game Commission about the new mid-contract management rules and how landowners can use CREP to improve wildlife habitat and water quality. A demonstration on how to use the Game Commission’s no-till seed drill was also part of the workshop.

Financial support for the CREP Mini-grant Program is provided by the Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts, Inc. through a Growing Greener Watershed Protection grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection and with additional support from USDA-NRCS.

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Lycoming County Conservation District Holds Legislative Breakfast

(Left to right) Representative Jeff Wheeland, Senator Gene Yaw, PACD Executive Director Brenda Shambaugh, PA Department of Environmental Protection Northcentral Region Director Marcus Kohl, and Lycoming County Conservation District Manager Mark Davidson pose for a photo during the legislative breakfast.

On April 11, 2019, the Lycoming County Conservation District held a legislative breakfast at the Genetti Hotel in Williamsport, PA. PACD Executive Director Brenda Shambaugh traveled to Williamsport for the event.

Topics of discussion included stream restoration efforts in the county and the state budget.

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Jefferson County Conservation District Holds Manure Workshop

Robb Meinen of Penn State Extension presents on nutrient cycling and the Commercial Manure Hauler and Broker Certification Program at the workshop. Photo provided by Jefferson County Conservation District.

In February, Jefferson County Conservation District (JCCD) held a manure management workshop in Brookville, PA. The workshop was part of the district’s Manure Management Manual and Chapter 102 Compliance Mini-grant Program project (administered by PACD). Through the project, JCCD reached thirteen farmers.

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).

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PACD Taking Conservation Award Nominations

The April 30 deadline to recognize a fellow conservationist by nominating him or her for a PACD Award is fast approaching.

  • Ann Rudd Saxman Conservation District Director or Associate Director Excellence Award
  • Conservation District Employee Excellence Award
  • Legislator Recognition Award
  • Maurice K. Goddard Award for Excellence in Environmental Recreation

Click here for more information and a nomination form. Contact Jann McNamara at jmcnamara@pacd.org with any questions.

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Thirty-Four Students Attend Agricultural Conservation Technical Training Basic Level

Participants in the Basic Level of Agricultural Conservation Technical Training pose for a group photo on the first day of training.

Thirty-four individuals attended Agricultural Conservation Technical Boot Camp Training – Basic Level April 1-5, 2019, at Fort Indiantown Gap in Lebanon County. Attendees included staff from conservation districts, the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service and affiliates, farmland preservation, and the PA Department of Environmental Protection.

The training is sponsored by the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service and the State Conservation Commission. PACD works with these partners to coordinate the training.

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Technical Training Draws 46 Conservation Districts to Boalsburg, PA

Eric Konzelmann, Assistant Manager for the Montgomery County Conservation District, presents to a full house during Topic-based Technical Training on April 3, 2019.

Close to 130 staff from 46 conservation districts and the PA Department of Environmental Protection attended 102/105 Topic-based Technical Training April 2-4, 2019, at the Wyndham Garden State College in Boalsburg, PA. Participants received training on Chapter 105, erosion and sedimentation control (E&S) on Chapter 105 permitted sites, delegation agreement levels and responsibilities, and a range of compliance and enforcement topics.

This training was funded through a grant from the PA Department of Environmental Protection and made possible through the cooperation of the PA Association of Conservation Districts and Pennsylvania’s conservation districts.

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Mark Your Calendar: Upcoming Leadership Development Training

There are two dates for conservation districts to save for upcoming leadership development training.

  1. The 2019 New Manager Bootcamp Training will be held June 18-20 at Toftrees Golf Resort in State College, PA.
  2. The Building for Tomorrow 2019 Management Summit will be held September 4-5 at the Wyndham Garden in Boalsburg, PA.

More information will be distributed as it becomes available. Contact Matt Miller at mmiller@pacd.org with questions.

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PACD Accepting Award Nominations

Recognize a fellow conservationist by nominating him or her for a PACD Award:

  • Ann Rudd Saxman Conservation District Director or Associate Director Excellence Award
  • Conservation District Employee Excellence Award
  • Legislator Recognition Award
  • Maurice K. Goddard Award for Excellence in Environmental Recreation

Nominations are due by April 30. Click here for more information and a nomination form. Contact Jann McNamara at jmcnamara@pacd.org with any questions.

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