(Left to right) District Manager Adam Cotchen, Majority Leader Rep. Dave Reed, County Commissioner Sherene Hess, County Commissioner Chair Michael Baker, Rep. Cris Dush, Jordan Ball (Aide for Sen. Bob Casey), and Joe Pittman (Chief of Staff for Sen. Don White). Photo provided by Indiana County Conservation District.

On February 23, PACD Executive Director Brenda Shambaugh traveled to Indiana County Conservation District for a legislative breakfast. During the event, each district staff person highlighted a project they were working on. They emphasized what the district has done with funding they received.

Close to 4,000 township officials and guests from all over Pennsylvania will attend the annual Pennsylvania State Association of Township Supervisors (PSATS) Conference and Trade Show. Once again there will be a Conservation District Booth at the show.

Trade Show dates and times are

• Sunday 4/23 Noon – 5:00 pm
• Monday 4/24 7:30 am – 4:00 pm
• Tuesday 4/25 7:30 am – 1:30 pm

Please consider volunteering for a morning or afternoon shift at the conservation district booth. It’s a great way for district staff to reinforce existing relationships and start building new ones with local township officials. It’s also an opportunity to promote the districts and explain the type of programs and work they do. Contact Sandy Austin at saustin@pacd.org or 717-238-7223 to volunteer.

Montgomery County Conservation District recently completed their Nonpoint Source Pollution Prevention Educational Mini-grant titled, “Montgomery County Golf Course Environmental Education & Outreach.” As part of the project, Agricultural Conservation Specialist Jessica Moldofsky produced a rack card called “The Green: Golf Course Conservation.” In addition to creating one for her county, she also produced one for PACD which any district may reproduce and use. Email swehinger@pacd.org for the full size document or click here for the online version. 

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.

Columbia County Conservation District recently held a well-attended outreach event called, “Good Water = Good Coffee.” Watershed Specialist Heather Almer brought together a chemistry professor, a coffee brewmaster from a local coffee house, and their conservation district staff to participate in a discussion at the Bloomsburg Public Library. The event explored how water chemistry and quality plays a role in the flavor of coffee. Coffee samples were compared using hard water, soft water, and filtered soft water to learn how these elements affect taste.

Click here to read more. 

The Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) Program Office, housed by PACD, has two new resources available to help promote the CREP program.

They are:

• “The Pennsylvania Riparian Forest Buffer Handbook” This handbook is designed to assist in implementing conservation practices on farms. Visit https://www.creppa.org/about/resources/ to view the publication online.
• The Winter 2017 e-newsletter. Click here to read the latest updates on the CREP program.

The CREP Outreach Program Office Mini-grant Program is provided by PACD through a Growing Greener Watershed Protection grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection. Additional support is provided by the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service.

Teachers were able to construct and take home
a rain barrel with the help of local Penn State
Extension- Master Watershed Stewards. Photo provided by NCCD.

Northampton County Conservation District completed their “Schoolyard and Backyard Conservation” Nonpoint Source Pollution Prevention Educational Mini-grant Project. Through the project, a workshop was held for educators on how to improve water quality and reduce nonpoint source pollution in their homes and schools. The district offered 7 Act 48 continuing education hours to the teachers in attendance.

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.

Click here to see photos from the workshop. 

Photo taken by Krista E. Scheirer. Used with permission.

Montgomery County Conservation District (MCCD) recently partnered with Pottsgrove High School and the nonprofit Partnership for the Delaware Estuary to retrofit a failing rain garden on the high school’s campus. MCCD provided engineering, construction oversight and other assistance to create a successful BMP and improve the look of the garden, which is near the front entrance to the school.

Click here to read more. 

Recognize a fellow conservationist by nominating him or her for a PACD Award. Nominations for the following awards are due by April 30.

• 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 Sandy Austin at saustin@pacd.org with any questions.

Helena Guindon (left) and Kathy Dodge were so happy to see both children and adults of all ages enjoying the mural to ‘seek & find’ flora and fauna throughout the painting! Photo taken by Kelley Stewart during the open house. Photo provided by Wayne Conservation District.

Wayne Conservation District celebrated the opening of their new habitat room on January 13, 2017. The professionally hand-painted mural includes native plants and animals in their habitats throughout the seasons. The conservation district obtained educational grant funds in order to take on this project and purchase educational kits.

Click here to read more.