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.

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.

For articles on the awards program, click here and here. 

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.

PACD’s Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) funded ten conservation district projects in the 2021-22 round.

The outcomes were impressive:

• 447 Farmers and landowners reached
• 5 Field Days held
• 16 Workshops held
• 27 one-on-one visits held

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Oven Run Acid Mine Drainage (AMD) Project Re-Dedication Ceremony was held on September 1, 2022. The tour highlighted the complete reconstruction of five AMD passive treatment systems on the Stonycreek River that will continue to be responsible for the historic improvement in water quality in the watershed. PACD 2^nd Vice President Emil Bove (Westmoreland) represented PACD at Somerset Conservation District’s recent ceremony.

U.S. Senator Robert Casey, State Senator Patrick Stefano, PA Fish and Boat Commission Executive Director Tim Schaeffer, former Congressman John Murtha’s Chief of Staff John Hugya, representatives from the Department of Environmental Protection, and local conservation groups spoke during the event.

Click here and here to read articles about the event.

Mark your calendars for the Agricultural Conservation Technical Training (“Boot Camp” Basic Level and Level II). Conservation district staff are encouraged to take advantage of these free, week-long training opportunities, including classroom learning and experience in the field.

Agricultural Conservation Technical “Boot Camp” Training – Basic Level
March 27-31, 2023
Keystone Conference Center, Ft. Indiantown Gap, Annville, PA (Lebanon County)

Agricultural Conservation Technical “Boot Camp” Training – Level II
April 17-21, 2023
Keystone Conference Center, Ft. Indiantown Gap, Annville, PA (Lebanon County)

Please note these dates are tentative pending funding.

The application period will open in early January 2023. Being fully vaccinated for COVID-19 is currently required to attend this training. Email Shannon Wehinger at swehinger@pacd.org to receive a notification when the application period opens.

The following sponsors make these training opportunities possible: USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, Pennsylvania State Conservation Commission, and the Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts, Inc.