In the April 7, 2025, issue of Front Page, we ran a story about Kelly Davidson, PACD Water Resources Trainer, capturing footage for the upcoming Chapter 102 Basic Technical Training using a drone. Just to clarify, Kelly is a licensed drone pilot and uses the drone to take videos of construction practices to use for staff training purposes only through the Clean Water Academy. 

The article was meant to celebrate Kelly getting her pilot’s license and let our members know we are working with the PA Department of Environmental Protection on planning the Chapter 102 Basic Technical Training. The training will be held in Harrisburg from May 19-23, 2025.

Drones are not being used for inspections, and training on using drones is not taught during Chapter 102 Basic Technical Training.

 

PACD Water Resources Trainer Kelly Davidson flew a drone in Cumberland County on March 31, 2025. This was the first site visit with the PA Department of Environmental Protection to prepare for the field portion of the Chapter 102 Basic Technical Training from May 19-23, 2025.

Click here to register for the training (you must be logged in to Clean Water Academy to access the link). 

 

The countdown to the PACD/SCC Joint Annual Conference has begun! The conference will take place in just 100 days at Seven Springs Mountain Resort July 15-17, 2025. Registration will open in a few short weeks, and sponsorships are coming in. If your organization is interested in connecting with conservation district managers and board members from across the state, conference sponsorship may be just the opportunity you’re looking for! Click here to visit the sponsorship website and see what we have to offer. Questions? Contact Molly Burns mburns@pacd.org with PACD.

PACD will hold its summer committee meetings via videoconference in June and July prior to the PACD/SCC Joint Annual Conference. The meetings are open to conservation district directors, associate directors, staff, partner agency staff, and invited guests. Registration for the virtual committee meetings will be free and required. Mark your calendars and look for more information in a future edition of Front Page!

PACD Conservation Committee Video Conference
June 18, 2025 | 10:00 a.m. –11:00 a.m.

PACD District Employees Committee Video Conference
June 20, 2025 | 10:00 a.m.–11:00 a.m.

PACD Education & Outreach Committee Video Conference
June 26, 2025 | 10:00 a.m.–11:00 a.m.

PACD Legislative Committee Video Conference
June 30, 2025 | 10:00 a.m.–11:00 a.m.

PACD Ways & Means Committee Video Conference
July 10, 2025 | 10:00 a.m.–11:00 a.m.

PACD Operations Committee Video Conference
July 11, 2025 | 10:00 a.m.–11:00 a.m.

New for 2025, Leadership Development will post a monthly series of short videos to share information, promote programming, and encourage discussion on board development topics.

The April installment of the series includes a brief overview of Quarterly Reimbursement Submission reporting courtesy of our partners at DEP and the SCC. A reference document is also included in the post.

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.

Submitted by Jen Novak, Education Programs Coordinator, Westmoreland Conservation District

The Westmoreland Conservation District recently hosted its annual Engineers’ Workshop at Saint Vincent College in Latrobe. More than 350 engineers, landscape architects, and other natural resource professionals attended the workshop to learn about regulatory updates, stormwater management, erosion control, abandoned mine drainage treatment, and engineering for agriculture, among other topics.

The workshop draws participants from throughout western Pennsylvania and as far away as Erie. Information about the presentations can be found on the district’s website. 

On March 27, 2025, the Lycoming County Conservation District held a Legislative Breakfast in Williamsport, PA. Twenty-nine people attended the event.

Legislators in attendance included:

• State Representative Joe Hamm
• State Representative Jamie Flick
• County Commissioner Mark Mussina

Legislators represented by their staff included:

• Juliet Harshbarger – Regional Director for U.S. Senator Dave McCormick
• James May – Regional Director for U.S. Congressman Dan Musser
• Ann Kaufman – Deputy District Director for U.S. Congressman Glenn (GT) Thompson
• Elizabeth Vollman – Constituent Specialist for PA Senator Gene Yaw

During the event, the district highlighted the past year’s accomplishments in various programs. Special attention was given to the ongoing Emergency Watershed Protection (EWP) program from Tropical Storm Debby. All in attendance offered their ongoing support for the residents of Lycoming County, and statewide, who were affected by the flooding this storm caused. Lycoming County will have 21 EWP projects due to this storm event.

PACD has $36,000 available in the current riparian buffer grant. If any conservation districts are planting buffers this year, please apply for funding to install riparian forest buffers in conjunction with landowners. Multi-functional riparian forest buffers are encouraged, but conventional buffers are also accepted. This grant is first come, first served. The grant round will stay open until funds are expended or June 30, 2025, whichever comes first. 

Click here for more information or email Holly Miller hmiller@pacd.org.

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.

Thirty individuals attended the Agricultural Conservation Technical Boot Camp Training – Basic Level March 24-27, 2025, at the Union County Government Center in Lewisburg, PA. Attendees included staff from conservation districts, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service and affiliates, the PA State Conservation Commission, county planning offices, and a nonprofit organization.

The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, State Conservation Commission, Penn State Extension, and PACD coordinate the event.

PACD Water Resource Trainer Kelly Davidson staffed a conservation district booth at the

Penn State Earth, Environment, and Sustainability Career Fair. Kelly promoted conservation district careers to the many students attending the fair. The event took place on March 21, 2025.