The Pennsylvania State Senate and the House of Representatives declared April 23-30, 2017 as “Conservation District Week.”
During Conservation District Week, offices across the state will hold events. These events will showcase the projects conservation districts work on every day that control pollution. PACD made fact sheets, a press release, and social media images available for conservation districts to use and share with their news outlets.
Click here to read the press release.
PA Secretary of Agriculture Russell Redding and PACD Director of Communication and Education Shannon Wehinger at the Cornucopia reception.
On April 18, 2017 agricultural organizations gathered in the Capitol’s East Rotunda for the annual “Taste of Pennsylvania” reception. The event showcased Pennsylvania’s agricultural products for the legislators in attendance. The reception is sponsored by the Pennsylvania State Council of Farm Organizations.
The Susquehanna County Conservation District (SCCD) hosted its annual Contractor Workshop on March 23rd at the Montrose Bible Conference. Over 70 people came to attend the workshop.
Speakers included: Mike Sames (PA Department of Environmental Protection) on Water Obstruction and Encroachment Permits for Culvert and Bridge Installation, Jim Garner (SCCD) on Understanding National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Permit Conditions, Stephen Watson (Cabot Oil and Gas) on Work Place Safety, and Justin Challenger (State Conservation Commission) who spoke about the positive biological impacts of the Dirt and Gravel Road program.
Click here to read more.
The deadline of April 30th is fast approaching to recognize a fellow conservationist by nominating him or her for a PACD Award. Contact Sandy Austin at saustin@pacd.org or 717-238-7223 with any questions.
Click here for more information and a nomination form.
The Clean Water Farm Award Program recognizes Pennsylvania farmers whose exemplary farm management practices result in improved local and downstream water quality. Pennsylvania’s conservation districts may submit a nomination for a farm in their county. One award will be given in each of PACD’s six regions.
Each district that submits a complete nomination will be entered into a drawing to win a $100 pizza party for their office! Deadline: April 30, 2017.
Award recipients receive a large Clean Water Farm Award sign to hang at their farm, a signed certificate, and an invitation to the PACD/SCC Awards Luncheon in July.
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Financial support for this award is provided by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection through the Chesapeake Bay Regulatory and Accountability Program and the Pennsylvania Chesapeake Bay Education Office (administered by the Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts, Inc.). |
During the week of April 10, thirty conservation professionals gathered at the Keystone Conference Center in Lebanon County, PA for the Agricultural Conservation Technical Training – Level 2. This week-long training was attended by staff from USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and affiliates, conservation districts, PACD, and farmland preservation agencies.
This annual training balances field experience and classroom instruction. It is sponsored by NRCS, the PA State Conservation Commission, and PACD.
Nathan Crawford, Permits Section Chief for the Waterways and Wetlands Program, DEP South-central Office, presents on PCSM on April 5 in State College, PA.
This year’s Spring 102/105 Topic-based Training welcomed 75 participants from 43 conservation districts and the PA Department of Environmental Protection. The event took place April 5-6, 2017, at the Ramada Conference Center in State College, PA. Participants received in-depth training on Post Construction Stormwater Management (PCSM) and Chapter 105, both of which support clean, accessible, water for Pennsylvania’s citizens.
This field test kit was created as part of the Perry County Conservation District’s “SCOPE” mini-grant project. Photo taken by Kristie Smith, PCCD Watershed Specialist.
Pennsylvania’s County Conservation Districts were recently awarded more than $69,840 for 37 projects in 31 counties. The projects promote water pollution prevention activities through the Nonpoint Source (NPS) Pollution Prevention Educational Mini-Grant Program. The projects will take place over the next 13 months.
Click here to see a list of projects funded as part of the 2017-18 NPS Pollution Prevention Educational Mini-grant round.
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Funding for the grants, up to $2,000 each, is provided through the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection under Section 319 of the Clean Water Act, administered by the US Environmental Protection Agency. |
Tabletop stormwater best management practices demonstration given by Katy DeMent, Pittsburgh Center for Creative Reuse; Mandi Lyon, Carnegie Museum of Natural History; and Mary Ann Steiner, Steiner Learning Design. Photo by Brittney Coleman.
PACD awarded seven scholarships for conservation district environmental educators to attend the PA Association of Environmental Educators (PAEE) Conference March 13-14, 2017, at the McKeever Environmental Learning Center in Sandy Lake, PA.
“It was terrific to participate in a program that included so much diversity in terms of ages of participants/ideas/activities. The conference was well rounded, creative and comprehensive” said Jolie Chylack, the Lehigh County Conservation District’s Environmental Education and Outreach Coordinator.
The annual two-day conference featured respected speakers, seminars, workshops, and learning experiences covering a wide range of environmental topics. The scholarships gave district educators the opportunity to learn new techniques, discover the latest tools and materials available to them, and to network with other environmental educators from across the state.
The scholarships were made possible through an Environmental Education Grant from the PA Department of Environmental Protection.
There were 28 attendees of the Agricultural Conservation Technical Boot Camp Training – Basic Level held March 20-24, 2017 at Fort Indiantown Gap, Lebanon County. Attendees included staff from conservation districts, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service and affiliates, Farmland Preservation, Department of Environmental Protection, and PACD’s engineering assistance program.