(Left to right): The PACD team was George Miller, Amy Brown, Chuck Wehinger, Bret Morgan, and Zak Miller.
On September 16, 2022, PACD’s five-person team traveled to York County for the 15th Annual Sporting Clays Fundraiser benefitting the York County Envirothon.
Congratulations to York County Conservation District on a successful event!
As part of the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) Outreach Program Office, the Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts and CREP Program Partners will offer a virtual two-day CREP Partner Training to all partner staff involved in the program, including conservation district staff. Registration is free and required.
CREP Partner Training
November 9-10, 2022 | 9:00am – noon
Audience: New and experienced staff working with the CREP program in Pennsylvania
Please click here to view the draft agenda and here to register for the training.
Contact Holly Miller at hmiller@pacd.org with questions.
Financial and other support for the CREP Partner Training is provided through a Growing Greener Watershed Protection grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection and with additional support from USDA-NRCS.
Photo provided by Brittany Moore.
PACD recently hired Brittany Moore as a Conservation Technician in the Lebanon, PA Technical Center. Brittany graduated from Cornell University with a B.S. in Biology and Animal Science. Brittany has a background in agricultural research and GIS and was the previous Agricultural Program Coordinator at the Schuylkill County Conservation District. In her spare time, Brittany enjoys kayaking, running, and hiking with her dog, Eleanor.
Brittany can be reached at bmoore@pacd.org.
The PACD Engineering Assistance Program, funded through the Pennsylvania Growing Greener Program and the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, provides statewide engineering and soils technical assistance to entities developing or implementing a watershed assessment, watershed restoration plan, or watershed protection plan. Program staff are based out of four regional offices covering all Pennsylvania river basins.
(Right) Bobby Ramsey of Ramsey Excavating LLC receives the J. Roy Houston Conservation Partnership Award from (left to right) Westmoreland Conservation District Board Chairman Ron Rohall, Director Jay Bell, and District Watershed Program Manager Chelsea Walker. Photo provided by Westmoreland Conservation District.
Westmoreland Conservation District recently announced its 2022 awards. Ramsey Excavating LLC was named the J. Roy Houston Conservation Partnership Award. The Lash Family Farm was named Conservation Farmer of the Year.
PACD is now accepting mini-grant applications for up to $3,000 to implement educational and outreach activities that support and extend the work of the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP). Projects should focus on CREP enrollment, re-enrollment and/or CREP maintenance.
Applications are due November 18, 2022.
The guidelines and application for the new grant round are posted here. Questions should be directed to Holly Miller at hmiller@pacd.org.
Financial and other support for the CREP Outreach Program Office Mini-grant Program is provided by the Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts, Inc. through a Growing Greener Watershed Protection grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection and with additional support from USDA-NRCS.
(Top photo) Blair County Conservation District Bramble Workshop, (center photo) Adams County Conservation District Tree Planting Maintenance Workshop, and (bottom photo) Westmoreland Conservation District Ag Stewardship Workshop.
PACD’s Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) funded ten conservation district projects in the 2021-22 round.
The outcomes were impressive:
Financial and other support for the CREP Outreach Program Office Mini-grant Program is provided by the Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts, Inc. through a Growing Greener Watershed Protection grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection and with additional support from USDA-NRCS.
Brian Cooper with his wife Susan and grandson Grayson.
Brian Cooper was recently hired as PACD’s Bookkeeper/Administrative Assistant. Brian resides with his wife Susan in Lower Paxton Township, Harrisburg. He enjoys hunting, golfing, and spending time with his family. He served in the US Army and has retired from the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue. His email address is bcooper@pacd.org.
Rita Graham facilitates a panel discussion on district-partner relations on September 14, 2022. (Pictured: Joe Buczynski, PA Department of Environmental Protection North East Regional Office Acting Regional Director; Dan Ludwig, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service State Resource Conservationist; Lisa Meade, PA Department of Environmental Protection North Central Regional Office Local Government Liaison; Laurel Rush, State Conservation Commission Nutrient Management Program Regional Coordinator; Kate Beats, PA Department of Environmental Protection Chesapeake Bay Program Specialist; and Bobby Hughes, Eastern Pennsylvania Coalition for Abandoned Mine Reclamation Executive Director.)
The 2022 Management Summit was held September 13-15, 2022, at the Wyndham Garden State College. The Tuesday Pre-Con was attended by 30 new assistant managers as well as partner staff. The total Summit attendance was 58. Summit attendees participated in group discussions on strengths-based management, partner relations, and program cost assessment and budgeting.
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.
Harford Farm & Flower Market Owner and Operator Geoff Smeltzer (left) with PA Department of Agriculture Secretary Russell C. Redding during the tour. Photo courtesy of the PA Department of Agriculture.
Forty-eight individuals attended a legislative tour hosted by Susquehanna County Conservation District on September 8, 2022. Participating dignitaries included: Agricultural Secretary Russell Redding, Tom Williams with Senator Lisa Baker’s office, Susquehanna County Commissioner Elizabeth Arnold, Susquehanna County Commissioner Judith Herschel, and Representative Jonathan Fritz. PACD North East Region Director Chuck Gould (Monroe County Conservation District) represented PACD at the event.
Tour stops included Aldrich Homestead, a seventh-generation innovative dairy farm; Harford Farm and Flower Market, a Certified organic vegetable farm with 49 acres of farmland specializing in organic produce and flowers; and a dirt and gravel road project site.
ICCD Legislative Tour attendees learning about the district’s demonstration hop farm project. Photo provided by Emil Bove.
On August 22, 2022, the Indiana County Conservation District (ICCD) held a legislative bus tour. The thirty attendees visited a Community Garden Project, two Low Volume Road Projects, and an acid mine drainage project site. PACD Second Vice President Emil Bove (Westmoreland) represented PACD at the event.