On December 8, the Westmoreland Conservation District hosted its annual partner breakfast to thank and acknowledge the people and organizations who helped us complete conservation projects this year. Nearly 60 people attended the event at the District’s office, which is an 1880s-era barn that was decorated for the holiday season. Among the guests were three county commissioners and eight state legislators or their staff members. 

The partner breakfast allowed District staff and board members to discuss with our elected leaders how valuable conservation districts are to county residents. We also requested an increase in the transfer to the conservation district fund in the PA DEP and PA Department of Agriculture lines by 20% in the state budget. As a result, Senator Kim Ward’s office will arrange a meeting next year in Harrisburg to talk with PACD and representatives of various districts about the details of their budget needs.

PACD will hold virtual meetings for all six PACD committees and PACD Executive Council via Zoom this January. Committees will meet between January 5 and 19, followed by PACD Executive Council on January 27.

Registration is open to all conservation district directors, associate directors, and staff, as well as partner agency staff and invited guests. Registration for each meeting is free and required. Registrants will receive a link to the Zoom meeting and instructions to participate. A phone number will also be provided for anyone who wishes to participate via conference call.

Please email the listed contact to request a registration link:

January 5, 2022 | 10-11 a.m.

PACD Conservation Committee Video Conference

Contact mburns@pacd.org for a link to register

 

January 7, 2022 | 10-11 a.m.

PACD District Employees Committee Video Conference

Contact hmiller@pacd.org for a link to register

 

January 11, 2022 | 10-11 a.m.

PACD Education and Outreach Committee Video Conference

Contact swehinger@pacd.org for a link to register

 

January 14, 2022 | 10-11 a.m.

PACD Legislative Committee Video Conference

Contact mburns@pacd.org for a link to register

 

January 18, 2022 | 10-11 a.m.

PACD Ways and Means Committee Video Conference

Contact abrown@pacd.org for a link to register

 

January 19, 2022 | 10-11 a.m.

PACD Operations Committee Video Conference

Contact mburns@pacd.org for a link to register

 

January 27, 2022 | 10-Noon

PACD Executive Council Video Conference

Contact mburns@pacd.org for a link to register

 

Mark your calendars for February 23 & 24 (dates updated 12/14/21) for the 2022 Virtual Conservation District and PA Agency Ag Meeting. The meeting will include information and updates on current programs and what to expect in the future. The first day will provide statewide information, followed by a day focused on the Chesapeake Bay Watershed.

Staff from PA state agencies, USDA-NRCS, and conservation districts are encouraged to attend.

More information to come! Registration will open in January.

Please get in touch with Holly Miller at hmiller@pacd.org with questions.

The Franklin County Conservation District team held an adult education event to address local water quality issues. In partnership with the Izaak Walton League, the staff discussed clean water best management practices suitable for any landowner.

Those who joined the event learned, and had the chance to practice, how to properly plant trees/shrubs with retired service forester Mike Kusko of the Izaak Walton League. They also received a tour of the property and trees planted to date, explored the new educational signs, and learned about funding programs that can assist them with their conservation efforts and collective county clean water goals.

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 November 19, 2021, Montgomery County Conservation District (MCCD), in coordination with Penn State Extension (PSE), hosted a native meadow planting demonstration at Skippack Church. The event was funded through a PA Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Environmental Education Grant. There were approximately 35-40 people in attendance, including DEP staff, township officials, PSE master watershed stewards, community members/homeowners, members of the church where the planting occurred, and members and staff of other local churches. It was a chilly and breezy day, but everyone who made the time to attend was very interested in the topic, asked great questions, and seemed pleased with the event.

Abby Reiter of MCCD presented on meadow site selection, site preparation, species selection, meadow lifecycles, maintenance, and seed mix components. Andrew Frankenfield, Montgomery County PSE  Educator, showcased measuring and mixing meadow seed and demonstrated calibrating the no-till drill for planting. With the assistance of a local farmer, who graciously brought and operated his tractor, the event concluded with a planting demonstration. A third-of-an-acre native meadow area was seeded at Skippack Church utilizing the district-owned no-till planter, which is available for rental to county residents free of charge.

Click here to view photos from the event. 

By: Jennifer A. Brooks, Environmental Education and Outreach Coordinator, Berks County Conservation District

Recently Kent Himelright, Watershed Specialist with the Berks County Conservation District (BCCD), organized a massive live stake planting on the Cacoosing Creek as part of an initiative for the Coldwater Conservation Plan for the Cacoosing Creek Watershed. The project was funded by the PA Fish and Boat Commission. The BCCD, along with an outstanding showing of volunteers, planted 1,000 native live stakes along 4,000 ft. of the stream over two days to enhance the riparian area to provide shade and habitat for aquatic wildlife, filter pollutants from stormwater runoff, and reduce streambank erosion.

Click here to read the entire article. 

 

Registration is now open for the 2022 Hybrid Staff Conference, scheduled for February 16-17, 2022 at the Wyndham Garden State College AND streaming live via Zoom. This year’s conference features keynotes on Resilience, Stress & the Value of Humor, Dealing with Difficult People & Situations, and Public Attitudes on Conservation Work, as well as sessions on cybersecurity, grant management, outreach, working with rural landowners, and the 2^nd Annual Conservation District Video Awards.

Staff can register individually to attend in-person, and managers can register their districts for virtual access.  For more information, conference agenda, and registration, visit Building for Tomorrow.

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.

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.

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.

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.