On March 10, 2026, PACD and the PA Society of Professional Engineers, in conjunction with the PA Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), hosted an Engineers Workshop: Permitting and Compliance Lessons Learned and Best Practices for Chapter 102. One hundred and thirty attendees met in Middletown, PA, for the daylong training.

The presentations will be available on the Clean Water Academy for conservation district access, including:

• Chapter 102 Compliance and Enforcement
  Krista Brown, DEP Bureau of Clean Water, and Linda Mackey, DEP
• E&S Sequence of Construction – Best practices and lessons learned
  Luke Graver, DEP Bureau of Clean Water, Bill Himes, PE DEP Bureau of Clean Water
• ABACT vs. Standard E&S Controls
  Matt Gordon – Allegheny County Conservation District
• PCSM MRC Facilities Design
  Amanda Hess, Villanova, and Len Bradley, PE, NSPE, CSI RGS Associates

 

Highlighting PA conservation district employees who go above and beyond. Conservation district directors, associate directors, and staff may highlight outstanding district employees in our weekly e-newsletter by using this form. 

PACD will randomly spotlight one social media post from a conservation district each week. Don’t forget to share or tag other districts to share good news or something others could learn about.

This week’s feature is Delaware County Conservation District’s Facebook post on monitoring streams for winter salt. Follow the district at https://www.facebook.com/p/Delaware-County-Conservation-District-Pennsylvania-100068132910615.

Stakeholders convened in Gettysburg from March 2-4, 2026, for the Bay in the Balance conference. PACD and several conservation districts attended, including Adams, Blair, Bradford, Cumberland, Dauphin, Franklin, Juniata, Lancaster, Lebanon, and Tioga conservation districts.

The Bay in the Balance conference approach brings together diverse stakeholders to discuss and develop strategies to balance the interests of a vibrant agricultural sector, local water quality, and limited state and federal resources, keeping conservation efforts moving forward.

Penn State University’s College of Agricultural Sciences sponsored the conference in collaboration with the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, the Pennsylvania agricultural industry, and numerous non-governmental organizations.

2026 Director Handbook Now Available

The newly revised and updated 2026 Handbook for Pennsylvania’s Conservation District Directors has launched and is now available at www.PaConservationDirectors.org. This comprehensive resource includes information on statutory responsibilities, governance best practices, operational guidance, legal requirements, and partner relations to help conservation district directors fulfill their public duties effectively and confidently.

The 2026 Director Handbook online edition incorporates modern accessibility features, simple navigation, and rich content, including streamlined reference materials, embedded orientation videos, and links to external resources for self-guided learning. A simplified print edition will be distributed to all districts beginning in April. Whether you are a newly appointed director or a seasoned board member, the Director Handbook serves as a practical guide for informed decision-making, ethical leadership, and sound administration. All directors are encouraged to review the updated edition and retain it as a core governance manual for district boards.

Update: April 1 NW Regional Director Training Relocated

The Back to Basics Director Orientation training scheduled for Wednesday, April 1, at Lawrence County DPS has been moved to the Forest County Conservation District in Tionesta. Click here to register. 

Last Chance to Register for Assertive Communications Staff Training Workshops

Important reminder for all district staff: registration deadlines for the Assertive Communications & Empowered Conflict Management workshops are approaching quickly! The training is designed to help participants navigate difficult situations—and occasionally encounters with difficult people—with confidence, clarity, and purpose.

The workshop will be beneficial to anyone who works with landowners, contractors, or the public. Facilitator Rita Graham brings deep experience working with conservation districts and their various stakeholders, and her training approach is geared toward addressing real-life scenarios for district staff. Don’t miss out on this valuable opportunity. Attendance is free and open to all staff and partners.

Tuesday, March 17 – St. Vincent College, Latrobe 
REGISTRATION DEADLINE: MONDAY 3/9

Thursday, March 19 – Ramada Conference Center, State College 
REGISTRATION DEADLINE: MONDAY 3/9

Wednesday, March 25 – Camp Orchard Hill, Dallas 
REGISTRATION DEADLINE: WEDNESDAY 3/11

Tuesday, March 31 – Wanango Country Club, Reno 
REGISTRATION DEADLINE: TUESDAY 3/17

Financial and other support for the Building for Tomorrow Leadership Development Program is provided through a grant from the Pennsylvania State Conservation Commission. Guidance for the Program is provided through the Pennsylvania Conservation Partnership’s Leadership Development Committee.

PACD will randomly spotlight one social media post from a conservation district each week. Don’t forget to share or tag other districts to share good news or something others could learn about.

This week’s feature item is Venango Conservation District’s Facebook post on a Dirt, Gravel, and Low Volume Road project. Follow the district at https://www.facebook.com/VenangoConservationDistrict.

Highlighting PA conservation district employees who go above and beyond. Conservation district directors, associate directors, and staff may highlight outstanding district employees in our weekly e-newsletter by using this form. 

 

 

On February 26, PACD Executive Director Amy Brown attended Juniata County Conservation District’s Women in Ag “Looking to the Future” event in Mifflintown, PA.

Topics included manure management, native pollinators, invasive plant control, and more.

The Board Development Video Series provides information and review on governance, compliance, and programmatic topics. These short-format videos are intended for viewing and follow-up discussion at your district board meetings. In the March installment, we begin our series of training module videos, starting with the History of the Conservation Movement. These short videos will also be included on the new 2026 Director Handbook website and are being produced as modules for self-guided learning on Clean Water Academy.

Financial and other support for the Building for Tomorrow Leadership Development Program is provided through a grant from the Pennsylvania State Conservation Commission. Guidance for the Program is provided through the Pennsylvania Conservation Partnership’s Leadership Development Committee.

Highlighting PA conservation district employees who go above and beyond. Conservation district directors, associate directors, and staff may highlight outstanding district employees in our weekly e-newsletter by using this form.