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.
PACD was awarded a Community Conservation Partnerships Program (C2P2) grant from the PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources to offer sub-grants from 2022-2024.
Applications for riparian forest buffer projects under the new program will be accepted until June 30, 2024. Multi-functional buffers are encouraged, but conventional buffers are also eligible under this grant. The sub-grants will be offered on a first-come, first-served basis.
A 50:50 match is required. Penn State’s Master Watershed Steward Program and the Chesapeake Bay Foundation’s Keystone 10 Million Trees Program will work with conservation districts to provide the match.
There is $95,000 available statewide.
**We still have approximately $100,000 available for multi-functional riparian buffers as well! Applications for the multi-functional buffer program will be accepted until June 30, 2023. No match is required for this grant, but buffers must be multi-functional.
To learn more about both programs, please visit https://pacd.org/?page_id=69. Here you will find guidelines, application forms, and reporting templates.
Please contact Holly Miller at hmiller@pacd.org or 717-794-6105 if you have any questions.
The Blair County Conservation District (BCCD) has partnered with the Altoona Curve for the second year to host educational stations at minor league baseball games throughout the summer.
This year the Altoona Curve is paying homage to the history of Blair County and is changing their team’s name to ‘Mountain City’ for every Thursday Home game. To remain in the historical theme, BCCD created station themes for each home game of 2022 as they relate to the history of conservation and natural resources in Blair County.
Organizations and partners such as the Master Gardeners, Western PA Conservancy, Fish & Boat Commission, Game Commission, Trout Unlimited, PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, and local groups were brought together to participate.
The Altoona Curve staff has supplied overwhelming response and support for the events and encourages future partnerships with BCCD. Through these partnerships, BCCD has implemented and highlighted green infrastructure practices at the baseball stadium and neighboring Lakemont Park.
(Left to right): Tim Ference receives the Mayfly Award from Robert E. Hughes, Executive Director for the Eastern Pennsylvania Coalition for Abandoned Mine Reclamation (EPCAMR).
On June 22, 2022, Timothy Ference, Director Emeritus at Luzerne Conservation District, received the Mayfly Award. The award was presented during the PA Abandoned Mine Reclamation Conference in State College.
The Pennsylvania Abandoned Mine Reclamation Conference’s coveted “Mayfly Award” recognizes individuals who have dedicated a lifetime of knowledge and expertise to the reclamation of abandoned mines in Pennsylvania. The mayfly was selected as the symbol for this award because its presence in a stream signifies clean water.
Congratulations Tim!
Blair County Conservation District Manager Donna Fisher (top photo) and PACD Executive Director Brenda Shambaugh, testify before the House Environmental Resources & Energy Committee.
Donna J. Fisher, District Manager of Blair County Conservation District and in partnership with the Blair County Intergovernmental Stormwater Committee, testified in Harrisburg regarding the MS4 (Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems) program.
Donna testified at the public hearing of the House Environmental Resources & Energy Committee on June 13, 2022. The Committee gathered testimony and input on MS4 compliance and House Bills 2153 and 2331.
Click here to read the full testimony and here to watch the video. (Donna’s testimony starts at 99:00.)
Brenda finished the testimony for Donna by providing the concluding comments.
Russell Redding, NEASDA President and PA Secretary of Agriculture, and Holly Miller, PACD Program Manager, at the PACD table on June 13, 2022.
PACD displayed a booth at the Northeastern Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NEASDA) Annual Meeting where representatives from ten states convened at the Hershey Lodge and Conference Center in Hershey, PA, June 12-15, 2022.
The ten states attending included Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Vermont. The agenda included opportunities for professional development, panel discussions, farm tours, and business meetings.
The PA Department of Agriculture hosted this year’s event and offered partners, including PACD, table space to network with attendees.
Lancaster County Conservation District Manager Chris Thompson speaks during the banquet.
On June 9, 2022, the Lancaster County Conservation District held its 69th annual banquet. The event was held at the Landis Valley Village and Farm Museum, Lancaster, PA. PACD Executive Director Brenda Shambaugh attended the event.
Several individuals were recognized during the event, including recipients of the Youth Conservation School Service Award, Educator Award, Outstanding Cooperator Award, scholarship recipients, and more.
Did you know that Cumberland County Conservation District has an interactive map showing where all active Chapter 102 NPDES Permitted Sites are located? Click here to check it out!
Please mark your calendar and plan to attend your fall PACD region meeting! The meetings will be held both in-person and virtually.
PACD North West Region Meeting
September 21, 2022 | 10:00 a.m. to Noon
Kinzua Bridge State Park, Mount Jewett, PA
PACD South West Region Meeting
September 28, 2022 | 10:00 a.m. to Noon
Westmoreland Conservation District, Greensburg, PA
PACD South East Region Meeting
September 29, 2022 | 9:30 a.m. to Noon
Henning’s Market, Harleysville, PA
PACD South Central Region Meeting
October 5, 2022 | 10:00 a.m. to Noon
Cumberland Conservation District, Carlisle, PA
PACD North Central Region Meeting
October 18, 2022 | 10:00 a.m. to Noon
Clinton Conservation District, Mill Hall, PA
PACD North East Region Meeting
October 25, 2022 | 10:00 a.m. to Noon
Schuylkill Conservation District, Pottsville, PA
Connie Zimmerman is the new Administrative and Program Assistant for our Harrisburg Office. She has worn “many hats” over the years, working in state government and private industry. A Harrisburg native, she holds a bachelor’s degree in Public Policy from Penn State (Go Lions!).
In her free time, she enjoys music, dancing, gardening, and doting on her 4-legged sidekick, Petey. Her downtime also includes spending time with her nephews and niece. Connie said, “I look forward to working with the PACD team!”