The Venango Conservation District held a “Stormwater Awareness in Your Own Backyard: Rain Barrel Workshop” on April 22, 2022. They held a morning and an evening session.

With this project, the district educated 27 people on the importance of water quality and nonpoint source pollution in our local watersheds. The district provided participants with resources and solutions to prevent NPS pollution on their property, including a rain barrel, and explained how to reuse that water in other ways 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.

Sixty-five participants gathered at the Red Lion Harrisburg Hershey in Harrisburg for 102/105 Basic Technical Training May 3-6, 2022. A total of 52 employees from 31 conservation districts and 13 employees from the PA Department of Environmental Protection participated.

Classroom training topics included an overview and history of Chapter 102, applications and permits, safety considerations for the field, Chapter 105 updates, and key components of both technical and completeness reviews. The event’s highlight was the field training, which incorporated a site under active construction and a completed site. Special thanks to the York County Conservation District, particularly Program Manager/E&S Resource Conservationist Eric Jordan and Resource Conservationist Tiffany Crum, for making this year’s field experience a success.

This training was funded through a grant from the PA Department of Environmental Protection and made possible through the cooperation of the PA Association of Conservation Districts and Pennsylvania’s conservation districts.

The 2022 Spring Leadership Webinar Series has something for almost everyone. On June 1, our quarterly tech roundtable meeting will focus on video production and include a panel of finalists from the 2021 Conservation District Video Awards (CDVA). Deep Dives for Directors sessions on June 2 and June 15 will provide a detailed overview of SCC and DEP programs for newly-appointed directors and an opportunity for all board members to ask questions about partner programs in their districts. Finally, on June 8, district managers and management staff can learn more about the Clifton Strengths for Managers assessment and discuss possibilities for utilizing strengths-based management tools. 

Visit Building for Tomorrow to register.

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.

Delaware County Conservation District hosted the Delaware County Facility Managers Stormwater Management Training on April 11, 2022. Thirteen county staff were present, including emergency services personnel, parks and recreation managers, conservation district staff, the emergency services training center manager, and the environmental advocate from the Delaware County District Attorney’s office.

Presenters from the Center for Watershed Protection effectively explained watersheds, non-point source pollution, and stormwater management. Presentations covered the importance of proper stormwater management for water quality improvement in Delaware County. County facility managers and other county staff learned about watersheds, identifying and maintaining stormwater features on their properties, illicit discharges, and the appropriate contacts for stormwater-related issues.

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.

The Lehigh County Conservation District and project partners carried out a stormwater demonstration tour on April 23, 2022. Seventy-five South Whitehall Township residents learned about the importance of reducing stormwater runoff and non-point source pollution. In addition, the tour included information on native plantings, riparian buffers, rain gardens, and rain barrels.

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.

On March 26, 2022, the Clarion Conservation District held a workshop at Clarion Farms titled, “Protecting Water Resources from Pesticides and Fertilizers.”

The district educated gardeners, landowners, and homeowners on the effects of pesticide and fertilizer application on water quality and informed them of natural alternatives to conventional pesticides and fertilizers. Forty-one people attended the event.

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. 

The Western Pennsylvania Conservancy and PACD are partnering to offer an iMapInvasives Overview and Training for PA Conservation Districts. The free webinar will be held on June 28, 2022, at 10:00 a.m.

iMapInvasives is a comprehensive tool for online invasive species data management. It includes many aspects that appeal to natural resource managers, community scientists, and other interested members of the public. By providing a tool that advances knowledge and understanding of invasive species distributions across Pennsylvania, iMapInvasives promotes strategic decisions for conducting future survey and management work in priority locations across the Commonwealth.

Amy Jewitt, Invasive Species Coordinator at the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy and Lead Administrator of the Pennsylvania iMapInvasives Program, will provide an overview of the iMapInvasives Program for PACD and conservation district staff. Amy will show a variety of visual elements from the database and explain tools offered in the platform that are of value for PACD and conservation district staff regarding understanding species distributions, prioritizing management efforts, and using the platform as a data clearinghouse for conservation districts across the state.

Click here to register.

Conservation district volunteers staffed the conservation district table at this year’s PA State Association of Township Supervisors (PSATS) Conference April 24-26, 2022.

The primary focus of the district exhibit was to share information about conservation district programs and initiatives that affect local townships. In addition, district volunteers helped build new relationships and reinforce existing relationships with township officials.

Many thanks to Wade Jodun (Clinton), Lance Bowes (Venango), and Dean Druckenmiller (Berks) for their help at the conference!

Twenty-seven individuals attended Agricultural Conservation Technical Boot Camp Training – Level II, April 25-29, 2022. Attendees included staff from conservation districts, the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, and affiliates.

The Level II annual training consists of two learning tracks: agronomy and engineering. The two tracks allow participants to focus more deeply on their area of study. The event features a balance of classroom work and fieldwork to give participants hands-on experience.

The training is sponsored by the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service and the State Conservation Commission. PACD works with these partners to coordinate the training.

The Monroe County Conservation District recently held a workshop on streamside buffers. Nineteen Monroe County landowners learned about nonpoint source pollution and actions they can take at home to reduce and prevent it. After the classroom portion of the workshop, the participants planted 53 trees and 160 live stakes on the banks of Cherry Creek. The newly planted forested riparian buffer replaces grass along approximately 750 feet of streambank that frequently floods. Once the buffer becomes established, it will significantly reduce the risk of sediment pollution from runoff and streambank failure.

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.