Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts

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

I Scream You Scream…

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! 

Continue Reading

Explore Armstrong Conservation District’s Mobile Exhibit at the July Conference

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. 

Continue Reading

Over 5,000 Adults Reached via 2017-18 Nonpoint Source Mini-Grants

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.

 

Continue Reading

Susquehanna County Conservation District Hosts Legislative Breakfast

SCCD Board Chairman Ray Warriner, SCCD Manager Jim Garner, Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Gregg Hostetter, Tom Yoniski from Senator Lisa Baker’s office, Representative Tina Pickett, Representative Jonathan Fritz, SCCD Associate Director Lillian Theophanis, SCCD Director Bill Bayne, and SCCD Director Curt Hepler. Photo provided by SCCD.

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.

 

Continue Reading

$40,000 Available for 2018-19 Nonpoint Source Pollution Prevention Educational Mini-grant Program for Conservation Districts

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.

 

Continue Reading

Early Bird Rate Ends Friday for the NACD Northeast Regional Meeting and PACD/SCC Joint Annual Conference

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. 

 

Continue Reading

Lebanon County Conservation District Holds Legislative Roundtable

Beth Lutz, Ag Conservation Specialist; Angie Foltz, Program Specialist; Nate Weaver, E&S Pollution Control Technician; Amy Cannistraci, Ag Conservation Specialist; Katie Doster, District Manager; Randall Leisure, Board Chairman; Brenda Shambaugh, PACD Executive Director; Kori Walter, District Director for Congressman Costello; Jill Weister, District Office Manager for Representative Diamond; Teresa Leitner, Legislative Secretary for Representative Helm.
Missing from picture: Representative Frank Ryan, Commissioner Bill Ames, and Commissioner Jo Ellen Litz. Photo provided by LCCD.

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.

Continue Reading

Cumberland County Conservation District Holds Water Quality Monitoring Workshops

Photo provided by Cumberland County Conservation District.

The Cumberland County Conservation District sponsored a series of one-day events for volunteers to learn about Nonpoint Source Pollution and water quality in the Conodoguinet Creek Watershed. Volunteers collected water samples and analyzed the results. Water quality data included pH, conductivity, temperature, and nitrogen and phosphorus rates.

Financial and other support for this project 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.

Click here to read the “Conodoguinet Creek Watershed Snapshot” which includes results of the monitoring.

Continue Reading

Pike County Conservation District Holds Groundwater Series

Photo provided by Pike County Conservation District.

Pike County Conservation District and Penn State Extension conducted a series of three educational workshops titled “Discovering Your Drinking Water: Learn more about protecting the quality of your drinking water!” on August 23, 2017, October 18, 2017, and March 26, 2018. The workshop content was presented by Penn State Extension Educator Peter Wulfhorst. Approximately 40 people attended the three workshops.

Financial and other support for this project 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.

 

Continue Reading