Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts

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

Over $17,500 Awarded to Conservation Districts to Promote CREP in PA

PACD awarded $17,540 to conservation districts for projects in eight counties for the 2021-22 Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) Mini-Grants.

The following conservation districts were awarded up to $3,000 as part of the 2021-22 CREP mini-grant round:

Armstrong     $1,500

Blair               $3,000

Clinton         $1,600

Indiana         $1,985

Jefferson       $1,800

Lancaster     $3,000

Lycoming      $2,255

Potter           $2,400

Click here to read the entire press release. 

The CREP Outreach Program Office Mini-grant Program is provided by PACD through a Growing Greener Watershed Protection grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection. Additional support is provided by the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service.

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Volunteers Needed for Conservation District booth at the 2022 PA Farm Show

PACD will again partner with USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service and host a Conservation District booth at the 2022 PA Farm Show.

We still need volunteers to staff the booth for the following days and times (one or two volunteers per shift):

Sunday, January 9                12:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Monday, January 10              12:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Tuesday, January 11             12:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Wednesday, January 12         12:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Saturday, January 15            12:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Would you please let us know as soon as possible if you would like to fill one of these shifts?   You can contact Diane Young at dyoung@pacd.org with your contact information and the shift you’d like to fill.

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Agricultural Conservation Technical “Boot Camp” Level II Training Application Period Opens

In order to help with logistics and because a large number of applications are expected, applications are now being accepted for the Agricultural Conservation Technical Training Level II only. The application period for Basic will open in January.

Conservation district agricultural staff are encouraged to take advantage of these free training opportunities, including classroom learning and experience in the field.

Please note that there are two sessions of the Level II training for 2022. The first week is for those taking Level II for the first time. The second, 3-day session is for those who took Level II previously and are returning to take the alternative track.

The dates are:

April 25-29, 2022
Agricultural Conservation Technical “Boot Camp” Training – Level II (for those taking Level II the first time)
Keystone Conference Center, Ft. Indiantown Gap, Annville, PA (Lebanon County) and the USDA NRCS State Office, Harrisburg, PA (Tentative)
Note: There is an online pre-requisite for this course. Information will be sent to those that are accepted into the course.

May 2-4, 2022
Agricultural Conservation Technical “Boot Camp” Training – Level II (for those who are returning to Level II for a second year to take the alternative track only)
Lebanon Valley Chamber of Commerce, Lebanon, PA (Tentative)

The deadline to apply is December 17, 2021. If you do not receive confirmation from PACD, you will not be admitted. No walk-ins will be accepted. Questions? Contact Shannon Wehinger at swehinger@pacd.org.

These training opportunities are made possible by the following sponsors: USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, State Conservation Commission, and the Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts, Inc.

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Northampton County Conservation District Holds Stream Workshop for Teachers

Teachers look at macroinvertebrates they collected. Photo provided by Northampton County Conservation District.

Northampton County Conservation District held a workshop for teachers titled “FUNdamentals of Stream Ecology.” The workshop focused on methods to assess the water quality of a stream via visual and biological assessment (kick seines, d-frames, and leaf packs) and identification of nonpoint source pollution issues by comparing two stream types (urban, natural). The attending educators were introduced to the terminology associated with stream ecology and were provided information, literature, and techniques to be applied in their classrooms.

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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Snyder County Conservation District Holds Soil Health Toolbox Field Day

Lisa Blazure Soil Health Coordinator, Stroud Water Research Center, gave a presentation about, until recently, the mostly unrecognized soil biology that works cooperatively with plants to extract soil nutrients and soil matter more effectively. Photo provided by Snyder County Conservation District.

The Snyder County Conservation District (SCCD) held a Soil Health Toolbox Field Day event on BDS Farms in Beaver Springs on November 10, 2021. Thirty-nine farmers, consultants, and conservationists attended this field day.

Farmers learned about:

  • How their farm’s “soil herd” can work for them.
  • Improved soil health can minimize soil and nutrient losses.
  • Various cover crop mixes and establishment practices.
  • How better soil health can improve soil water infiltration and resistance to erosion.

Click here to read more. 

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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Perry County Conservation District Hosts Annual Land Judging Competition

The Demo Pit – Kevin Morgan and Samantha DiLorenzo, of the Perry County NRCS field office, welcome the students by sharing some interesting details about their jobs and explaining how soil management is a key component to a successful farming operation (Photo by Larry Gildner). Photo provided by Perry County Conservation District.

Each year, students from all four school districts in Perry County gather to compete in the annual Land Judging Competition. This event is in partnership with the Perry County Conservation District and a local farmer who agrees to host the group for the day.

The contest’s focus is to introduce students in grades 9 through 12 to soil evaluation and its relationship to land use and soil and water quality.

Click here to read the entire press release. 

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Berks Workshop: How to Get Through Completeness Without Really Trying

Jason Rickards, Urban Resource Conservationist with the Berks County Conservation District, speaks to attendees about dam safety and waterway management during the recent workshop held at the Berks County Agricultural Building. Photo provided by Berks County Conservation District.

On Thursday, November 4, 2021, the Berks County Conservation District hosted a workshop for consultants submitting NPDES applications to the District entitled; “How to Get Through Completeness Without Really Trying.”

The workshop was held in the auditorium of the Berks County Agriculture Center. An overwhelming response from the public created the need to develop two sessions.  Almost eighty members of the regulated public attended. The five members of the District’s Urban Team presented the history of the regulations and related laws; common mistakes when completing the District’s application form and calculating fees; NPDES completeness issues and concerns; Non-NPDES application commons problems; and Chapter 105 submissions and concerns.

The above issues prevent applications from moving efficiently through the process and to the Technical Project Review. Thus, delaying approval and the start of construction. All presentations were received well by the attendees, who appreciated the guidance to keep their project moving through the system.

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Blair County Conservation District Hosts Fallfest at NatureWorksPark

Master Gardeners and the Penn State Extension share a tent as they greet visitors at the NatureWorksPark Fallfest. The Master Gardeners sold pumpkins and live plants at the event. Photo taken by Dan Sinal.

The Blair County Conservation District hosted its first annual “NatureWorksPark Fallfest” on October 16, 2021. The event aimed to be an immersive educational experience for the entire family and was planned after receiving a 2021 PA Department of Agriculture – Urban Agriculture Infrastructure Grant. Urban agriculture was the theme for the event, which saw a dozen related vendors meet and greet guests at the district-owned park in Hollidaysburg, PA. Vendors included local businesses and farms such as Innovative Extracts (Portage), specializing in farm-to-table CBD, and Gahagan Farms (Williamsburg), which grows over 50 varieties of flowers.

In addition to vendors, the event also featured pumpkin painting, live animals, and the Blair County Dairy Princess. Retired educators Jean Sinal and Jody Wallace brought reptiles and a chicken to teach guests about native species and raising backyard chickens. The district aims to make this a regular event with an annually rotating theme.

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Centre County Conservation District Holds Homeowner Workshop

(Left to right): Tyler Fox, Centre County Conservation District Chesapeake Bay Technician Allyson Ulsh, and Isaac Nulton. Tyler and Isaac are interns with the Agriculture and Environment Center at Penn State who helped present at the workshop for presentation experience.

Centre County Conservation District held a workshop on November 3, 2021, in Bellefonte, PA. The workshop focused on educating homeowners on local water quality issues. This was an excellent opportunity for the district to have open dialogue and foster relationships within the residential community. Attendees left with a better understanding of local water quality issues, stormwater management practices, and resources to manage stormwater on their property.

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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Westmoreland Completes Multi-Functional Riparian Forest Buffer

Westmoreland Conservation District planted 5.86-acres of multi-functional riparian forest buffer along Stony Run and its tributaries in Westmoreland County. The project cost $12,157.28 and was paid for through PACD’s multi-functional buffer sub-grant program: https://pacd.org/?page_id=17536.

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.

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