Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts

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

Tioga County Conservation District Holds Legislative Day on May 19

Pictured in the back row – Earl Robbins (Board Director), Matt Baker (State Representative), Mark Hamilton (County Commissioner), Kerry Miller (County Planner), Erick Coolidge (County Commissioner), Chuck Dillon (Representative for Senator Joe Scarnati), Donna Cleveland (Board Director), Mike Glazer (Representative for Congressman Glenn Thompson), Carl Koch (Board Chairperson), Lee Hoar (Board Director) Front – James Neal (Erosion & Sedimentation Technician), Liz Constanzo Kreger (Watershed Specialist), Charlotte Lilley (Resource Conservationist), Jim Weaver (Board Director), Erica Tomlinson (District Manager), Andrea Boyce (Nutrient Management Specialist), Carolyn Kreger Kilburn (Conservation Stewardship). Photo taken by Dianna Townsend (Administrative Assistant).

On May 19, 2017 the Tioga County Conservation District held a Legislative Day. Several legislators and their staff were in attendance. 

 

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Elk County Conservation District Holds “Erosion Control in Our Forests Workshop”

Elk County Conservation District’s (ECCD) Erosion Control in Our Forests Workshop was held in April. Photo provided by ECCD.

On April 20, 2017, the Elk County Conservation District (ECCD) held a forestry workshop. The event was one of three workshops, which ECCD held as part of their “Non-Point Source Pollution Prevention Workshop Series” mini-grant project through the Non-point Source Pollution Prevention Educational Mini-grant Program.

Thirty people attended the workshop in Byrnedale, PA, which included a field session in Force, PA. The workshop was a cooperative effort between Elk, Cameron, McKean, Warren, Potter, and Tioga County Conservation Districts.

The event covered forestry principals, best management practice options, and erosion and sediment control plans.

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.

 

 

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Another Great Year for the PA Envirothon

The 34th Pennsylvania Envirothon state competition was held at the University of Pittsburgh Johnstown on May 23 and 24, 2017. High school students from 64 Pennsylvania counties participated in this year’s event.

Congratulations to the 5-member team from Penncrest High School, Delaware County, which took top honors. The 2017 Pennsylvania Envirothon champions will represent the Commonwealth at the 29th North American competition planned for July 23-29 at Mount St. Mary’s University in Emmitsburg, Maryland. More than 46 states, eight Canadian provinces, and one Canadian territory have initiated Envirothon contests based on the program that was originally developed by Pennsylvania’s conservation districts. Best of luck to the Delaware County team this summer.

Congratulations to the Pennsylvania Envirothon Board of Directors and volunteers for another great year!

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Registration for the 2017 PACD/SCC Joint Annual Conference Opens Today

Help us mark the 70th anniversary of the Joint Annual Conference July 12-13 at the Red Lion Harrisburg Hershey in Harrisburg, PA. With timely informational sessions and a soil health tour at beautiful Hershey Farms, you won’t want to miss this conference! The new conference location is outside of the city and easily accessible. Look for feature articles in upcoming issues of Front Page for more details about the tour and other conference activities. Click here to register, and for more information.

 

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Crawford County Conservation District Holds Successful Lake Initiative

For their 2016-17 Nonpoint Source Pollution Prevention Educational Mini-grant project, Crawford County Conservation District reached out to residents of Canadohta Lake. Through the project, the district provided 21 technical assistance meetings, authorized 14 permits, and saw an increase in interest in best management practice installation.

The district will use this project as a prototype to implement at other lakes in the county.

 

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.

 

 

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Franklin County Conservation District Holds Legislative Breakfast

Jennifer Bratthauar, Franklin County Conservation District Ag Technician, explains the benefits of having and implementing a nutrient management plan or a manure management plan. Photo provided by Franklin County Conservation District.

During Conservation District Week, Franklin County Conservation District held a legislative breakfast. The event was held April 28, 2017, at the district office in Chambersburg. Numerous elected officials attended the event and learned about district programs such as the Dirt, Gravel, and Low Volume Road Program, PA’s Nutrient Management Program, and the Erosion and Sediment Control Program.

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Berks County Conservation District Receives Proclamation

Pictured (left to right) are: Brian Boyer, Treasurer and Public Director; Dean Druckenmiller, District Executive; Christian Leinbach, Commissioner Director; Piper Sherburne, Chair, Public Director, and PACD South East Region Director; and Glenn Seidel, Farmer Director and PACD President. Photo provided by BCCD.

A proclamation for Conservation District Week was presented to the Berks County Conservation District (BCCD) on April 21, 2017 at the Berks County Ag Center. BCCD partners, including the Berks County Department of Agriculture, USDA Farm Service Agency, and USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, took the time to show their support and attend the presentation. The presentation was made during the district’s annual seedling sale and Backyard Basics workshop.

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Intro to Conservation Planning Training Concludes

Photo caption: Duane Miller, Praedium Ventures, instructs the class.

Twenty-two students attended the Intro to Conservation Planning training in Grantville, PA. The training was held May 16-18, 2017. The three days consisted of a mix of classroom learning and field experience.

The training was made possible by USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service and the State Conservation Commission. Administrative support was provided by PACD.

 

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PALTA Honors Union County for Leadership in Conservation

From left to right: PALTA Executive Director Andy Loza; Merrill Linn Land & Waterways Conservancy President Susan Warner Mills; Union County Commissioner John Showers; Union County Conservation District Manager Bill Deitrick; Coordinator for Merrill Linn Land & Waterways Conservancy Geoff Goodenow; and PALTA President Jeff Marshall. Photo used with permission from Pennsylvania Land Trust Association.

The Pennsylvania Land Trust Association honored Union County with the 2017 Government Conservation Leadership Award for demonstrated leadership in the conservation of our special landscapes and critical natural resources.

Union County has provided leadership, support, and guidance for numerous conservation and restoration projects and has served as a true partner to the conservation organizations working within the county.

The award was presented on May 6, 2017, in conjunction with the 2017 Pennsylvania Land Conservation Conference in Lancaster. County commissioner John Showers and conservation district manager Bill Deitrick accepted the award on behalf of the county.

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Mifflin County Holds Watershed Meeting

Photo provided by Mifflin County Conservation District.

Through the 2016-17 Nonpoint Source Pollution Prevention Educational Mini-grant program, the Mifflin County Conservation District held a public watershed meeting on March 28, 2017. The meeting raised public awareness about watershed issues and received public comments on an update to the Watershed Implementation Plan for the impaired Upper Kish Watershed. Collaborating organizations, local residents, municipalities, farmers, and agricultural industry professionals attended this meeting.

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.

 

 

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