Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts

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

Eighty-six Nonpoint Source Pollution Prevention Educational Mini-grant Projects Completed

In the 2021-22 Nonpoint Source Pollution mini-grant round, 86 projects were completed by 49 conservation districts, reaching over 13,530 adults.

There are currently 33 projects underway in the 2022-23 mini-grant round. The next round will open in January 2023.

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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Berks County Conservation District Teases New SWAG Bus

Photo provided by Berks County Conservation District.

The “SWAG BUS” Conservation Education on the Move!

The Berks County Conservation District has been secretly working hard on an exciting mobile education unit to increase accessibility to their programs. They can’t keep it a secret any longer!

The SWAG Bus (Soil, Water, and Agricultural Education) will be outfitted with hands-on displays and program materials that build awareness about conserving and valuing our precious natural resources. The SWAG BUS will provide quality hands-on conservation education programs for schools, local organizations, and special events.

They hope to be on the road by the Spring of 2023! Check out the SWAG Bus at the Berks County Fair for a sneak peek.

 

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Conservation Districts Grateful for Budget Increase

Pennsylvania’s County Conservation Districts thank the Pennsylvania legislature for supporting conservation districts in the state budget.

Pennsylvania Conservation Districts assist landowners through technical assistance, permit reviews, site inspections, and education in a safe, efficient, and effective manner. The goal of conservation districts is to protect our natural resources, keep food on tables, and ensure public safety. 

Through the efforts of the PA General Assembly, the “Transfer to the Conservation District” lines in the 2022-2023 Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection and Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture budgets were collectively increased by $6.8 million. 

“The conservation districts play an important role in protecting the Commonwealth’s resources. By including an increase in the state budget for conservation districts, the

Pennsylvania General Assembly is investing in the conservation district mission of clean water and healthy soil for all Pennsylvanians,” said Brenda Shambaugh, PACD Executive Director.

As a result of the legislator’s actions, conservation districts will continue to review permits, assist farmers, assist municipalities in preparing to fix low-volume roads and dirt and gravel roads throughout the state and help control mosquito-borne diseases such as West Nile Virus and Zika Virus.  

 

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PACD Hiring Agricultural Conservation Technician in Lebanon Office

The Conservation Technician for the Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts (PACD) provides technical assistance to the Growing Greener program and the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). The area covered includes 17 counties in the South Central and South East Region.

This position will: provide technical assistance to area partnership Growing Greener personnel and NRCS in the planning, design, and construction of engineering practices; prepare designs of agricultural conservation practices and water quality best management practices (BMPs), which are site-specific and require coordination among various groups and individuals; and provide engineering assistance in conducting preliminary investigations.

Click here for the full job description. Candidates must submit a resume and cover letter to PACD at jobs@pacd.org. All application materials must be received by 4:30 p.m. on July 21, 2022.

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Chester and Warren Complete Multi-Functional Riparian Forest Buffers

Chester County Conservation District’s multi-functional riparian buffer project in the White Clay Creek Watershed.

Chester County Conservation District and Warren County Conservation District completed projects through PACD’s multi-functional buffer sub-grant program

  • Chester County Conservation District planted 1.1 acres of multi-functional riparian forest buffer on a dairy farm in Chester County. The project cost $9,850.
  • Chester County Conservation District planted 5.5 acres of multi-functional riparian forest buffer on a farm in the White Clay Creek watershed in Chester County. The project cost $52,289.
  • Warren County Conservation District planted 1.3 acres of multi-functional riparian forest buffer on a farm in the Conewango Creek watershed in Warren County. The project cost $4,252.94.

Click here to read more. 

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Deep Dives for Directors Presentations Available Online

Directors and district personnel are encouraged to watch the Deep Dives for Directors webinar sessions from June 2 (SCC programs) and June 15 (DEP programs) on the Building for Tomorrow website. Click here for links to videos and presentation materials.

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.

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Ag Progress Days 2022 Volunteers Needed

Please consider volunteering at the conservation district exhibit at Penn State’s Ag Progress Days. Ag Progress Days http://agsci.psu.edu/apd is held at the Russell E. Larson Agricultural Research Center at Rock Springs, nine miles southwest of State College, PA.

This year’s event will be held from August 9-11, 2022. Volunteers are needed for the following shifts:

  • Wednesday, August 10: 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. (1 volunteer needed)
  • Thursday, August 11: 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. (1 volunteer needed)

A final volunteer schedule, parking passes, and other show information will be sent to volunteers when available. If you have questions or want to schedule your shift, kindly email swehinger@pacd.org.

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iMapInvasives Overview and Training Wrap-Up

PACD partnered with Amy Jewitt, Invasive Species Coordinator at the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy and Lead Administrator of the Pennsylvania iMapInvasives Program conduct a webinar for conservation districts on June 28, 2022. The webinar provided an overview of the iMapInvasives program. iMapInvasives is a comprehensive tool for online invasive species data management. Forty-three conservation district staff and partners attended the training.

A recording of the webinar is available here

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Joint Annual Conference Deadlines Approaching

You won’t want to miss these deadlines for the 2022 PACD/SCC Joint Annual Conference July 20-21 at the Red Lion Hotel Harrisburg Hershey in Harrisburg:

Conference room rate deadline: Friday, July 1

Early-bird registration deadline: Friday, July 8

Click here to register and for more information.

PACD committees will meet virtually prior to the conference. Committee registration is free, and each committee meeting requires separate registration. Please email the listed contact to request a registration link.

PACD Conservation Committee Video Conference
July 6, 2022 | 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Contact mburns@pacd.org to request a registration link.

PACD District Employees Committee Video Conference
July 8, 2022 | 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Contact hmiller@pacd.org to request a registration link.

PACD Education and Outreach Committee Video Conference
July 11, 2022 | 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Contact swehinger@pacd.org to request a registration link.

PACD Legislative Committee Video Conference
July 12, 2022 | 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Contact mburns@pacd.org to request a registration link.

PACD Ways and Means Committee Video Conference
July 14, 2022 | 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Contact abrown@pacd.org to request a registration link.

PACD Operations Committee Video Conference
July 15, 2022 | 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Contact mburns@pacd.org to request a registration link.

PACD is also offering no-cost virtual access for those who can’t attend the in-person PACD Executive Council Meeting July 21 from 9:45 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. Contact Molly Burns at mburns@pacd.org for a registration link.

 

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Shambaugh and Lane Present in New Webinar Series

The first bi-monthly National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD) Northeast Region Lunch & Learn was held on June 21, 2022. The host and presenters were Brenda Shambaugh, PACD Executive Director, and Cliff Lane, PACD North West Region Director and NACD Director. Brenda and Cliff presented “What PACD Can Do For You.” The topics included training and development.

Click here to watch the webinar.

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