Tune in Wednesdays from May 31 through June 28 for a series of lunch & learn webinars open to all district personnel and partners. There is no cost to attend.

May 31, 2023 – Tech Roundtable
The Tech Roundtable series continues on May 31 with an opportunity for district staff to share, discuss, and learn about technology-related topics relevant to conservation district work.

June 7, 2023 – Act 217: Conservation District Law
On June 7, all board members and district personnel are encouraged to attend a refresher presentation that will review the history of conservation districts; PA Act 217; the powers of conservation districts; and the legal, governance, and fiduciary responsibilities of district boards.

June 14, 2023 – CliftonStrengths Wrap-up for Managers
A CliftonStrengths wrap-up for managers is scheduled for June 14, including a review of strengths-based management resources available through Gallup. It will provide managers that participated in the 2023 CliftonStrengths Staff Initiative an opportunity to share and discuss how they use CliftonStrengths with their teams.

June 21, 2023 – State Conservation Commission & PA Department of Environmental Protection Overview
All newly appointed board members and new district personnel are encouraged to attend orientation overviews of SCC and DEP programs for conservation districts on June 21.

June 28, 2023 – Applicable Laws for Conservation Districts
All newly appointed board members and other new district personnel are encouraged to attend this orientation overview of Applicable Laws and Policies for Conservation District Administration, including the Sunshine Law, Ethics Act, and Right to Know Law.

All Spring Leadership Webinars are scheduled for Noon – 1:00 p.m. Visit Building for Tomorrow to register.

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.

 

For the third year, the Elk County Conservation District is challenging other conservation districts to pick up trash throughout April and May.

The district that picks up the most trash in their county is the winner. First, track the number of bags and weight of trash (if possible). Then, share your district’s photos and results on Facebook using the hashtags #ConservationCallout #DistrictTrashTalking.

The winning district will be recognized during the July PACD/SCC Joint Annual Conference and receive the trash talker award (pictured) for the year. The 2022 winning district in Washington County currently holds the trophy, which will be passed on to the 2023 winner.

Clarion and Jefferson Conservation Districts held the 25th Annual Western PA Grazing Conference on March 16, 2023, in Clarion, PA. There was also an evening session on March 15. This conference promotes sustainable grazing practices for Pennsylvania farmers. Troy Bishopp, “The Grass Whisperer,” was the keynote speaker. There were 149 registrants, including producers, grass farmers, agency personnel, vendors, and consultants.

The Clarion and Jefferson Conservation Districts help coordinate this annual conference as Western PA Grazing Conference Committee members. Committee members also include USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, Penn State Extension, Northwest and Southwest Project Grass, and local farmers.

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.

 

Lehigh County Conservation District planted 1.6 acres of multifunctional riparian forest buffer along Fireline Creek at a farm in Lehigh County. The project cost $6,400 and was paid for through PACD’s Multifunctional Riparian Buffer Sub-grant program: https://pacd.org/?page_id=17536

Funding is still available. Click here to learn more about the program. 

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 Conservation and Natural Resources, Bureau of Recreation and Conservation.

Submitted by: Katie Hollen, Watershed Specialist

On March 21, 2023, approximately eighty eager students attended the Lebanon County Envirothon Soils Training. Middle and high school students from ELCO, Northern Lebanon, and Palmyra school districts participated.

The training took place at the Lebanon Expo Center and was hosted by the Lebanon County Conservation District. Special guest instructors were Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) staff – Soil Scientist John Chibirka (Berks) and Technical Resource Conservationist Hana Blumenfeld (Lebanon).

The morning started with John delivering a presentation on soil forming factors, soil color, soil texture, soil horizons, and more. Students viewed a soil map of Pennsylvania and learned about the importance of understanding soils for land use decisions. They were also introduced to our state soil, Hazleton.

After the presentation, students got their hands dirty using the soil textural triangle to classify two different soil samples. John and Hana assisted the students as they practiced making ribbons with soil and estimating the amounts of sand, silt, and clay in each sample. Students also used Munsell Soil Color Books to determine the color of each soil sample.

Twenty-eight individuals attended Agricultural Conservation Technical Boot Camp Training – Basic Level March 27-30, 2023, at Fort Indiantown Gap in Lebanon County. Attendees included staff from conservation districts, PACD, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service and affiliates, Penn State Extension, and the PA Department of Environmental Protection.

The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service and the State Conservation Commission sponsor the training. PACD works with these partners to coordinate the event.

Westmoreland Conservation District held its annual Engineers’ Workshop on March 23 and 24 at the Fred Rogers Center in Latrobe, PA. More than 350 people from several counties throughout southwestern Pennsylvania attended. In addition to learning about regulatory updates, stormwater management, and erosion control, attendees learned about conservation districts’ importance from Emil Bove, Westmoreland Board Member and PACD Executive Board Member.

 

Thank you to the nearly 200 district staff who participated in the 2023 CliftonStrengths Initiative, adding to the 40+ district managers who participated in 2022. Over 100 staff attended CliftonStrengths workshops held at PA State Parks in February and March, and plans are in the works for a second round of workshops for district teams beginning later in the Spring.

Employment Law for Conservation Districts reference material and video from the March 15 follow-up webinar is available at Building for Tomorrow and is highly recommended for all districts to review.

Save the Dates for 2023 Spring Leadership Webinar Series – Wednesdays 12:00 pm -1 pm from May 31 through June 28; Look for the agenda and registration opening soon.

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.

Conservation district technicians are encouraged to attend this year’s Chapter 102 Basic Technical Training as a refresher course. The event will take place May 23-26, 2023, at the Red Lion Harrisburg Hershey in Harrisburg, PA.

There is no cot to register, most meals are provided, and a lodging reimbursement is available. (See registration page for additional details.) There is no virtual attendance option.

Attendance is open to conservation district technicians and DEP employees working with Chapter 102 who are new or relatively new to their position, have never taken a similar training, would like a refresher, or would like guidance and skill enhancement for field inspections. The course curriculum assumes all participants have completed the prerequisite coursework on the Clean Water Academy.

Click here for additional information and to register. You will need to log into the Clean Water Academy (CWA) to access this link. Please contact Christopher Grimsley at cgrimsley@pacd.org if you need assistance accessing the CWA. All other questions may be directed to Molly Burns at mburns@pacd.org.

This training was funded through a grant from the PA Department of Environmental Protection and made possible through the cooperation of the PA Association of Conservation Districts and Pennsylvania’s conservation districts.

With sadness, we report the passing of former PACD President MaryAnn Warren on March 15, 2023.

MaryAnn served on the PACD Executive board for five years, serving as 2nd Vice President in 2007, then 1st Vice President in 2009, before leading the Association as President from 2010 to 2012.

MaryAnn was the Commissioner Director on the Susquehanna County Conservation District board starting in 2004. She served as an officer of the Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts from 2007 to 2012 and as a member of the State Conservation Commission from 2008 to 2014.

She also served as director/treasurer for the Lackawanna/Susquehanna Behavioral Health/Intellectual Disabilities/Early Intervention program to address the issue of suicide, director/secretary for NEPA Community Health Care, a director/vice-chair for Endless Mountains Resource Conservation and Development, and a director for the Pratt Memorial Library.

MaryAnn was a dedicated public servant and leader. She will be missed.

Click here to read her obituary.