Conservation District managers from the South Central Region met at Raystown Lake on July 19, 2021. The managers were joined by PACD Executive Director Brenda Shambaugh and a few retired managers as well.
South Central Region Managers Meet
New Phone Numbers for PACD Harrisburg Staff
The PACD staff in the Harrisburg office updated their phone system. With the new system, staff each got a direct line. The main number (717) 238-7223 will still work, but it will take callers to an automated menu to select the extension they want.
If you want to dial a staff person directly, please use these numbers:
Brenda Shambaugh – 717-794-6103
Amy Brown – 717-794-6104
Holly Miller – 717-794-6105
Nick Yeagy – 717-794-6106
Diane Young – 717-794-6109
Molly Burns – 717-794-6110
Matt Miller – 717-794-6111
Shannon Wehinger – 717-794-6112
If callers use the main number, staff can be reached at their three-digit extension, which is the last three numbers of their direct line. Brenda’s extension is x103; Matt’s is x111, etc.
Last Call to Register for PACD Executive Council Video Conference
Conservation district directors, associate directors, and staff; partner agency staff; and invited guests are encouraged to register for the PACD Executive Council Video Conference, which will take place from 10:00 a.m. to Noon on July 29, 2021. With PACD committee meetings concluded, this will be the final event in the 2021 Virtual PACD Annual Conference video conference series.
Registration is free and required. Registrants will receive a link to the Zoom meeting, instructions to participate, and a phone number for anyone who needs to participate via conference call. To request a registration link, contact mburns@pacd.org.
Registration is Open for QuickBooks Training for Conservation Districts
Register today for the QuickBooks Training Webinar Series! PACD has partnered with SEK CPAs and Advisors to offer free QuickBooks training statewide to conservation districts. August 12 will feature basic training, September 9 will be an advanced training, and September 23 will focus on payroll. All webinars will be held 10:00 a.m.-Noon.
Click here for descriptions of each training and the registration links. Please get in touch with Holly Miller at hmiller@pacd.org with questions.
Fall Leadership Webinar Series to Feature Succession Planning, Environmental Justice
Mark your calendars for the 2021 Building for Tomorrow Fall Leadership Webinar series, scheduled for three Wednesdays, October 27, November 3, and November 10. The Fall Leadership webinar series is intended for directors and managers, but is open to all conservation district personnel and partners. Similar to last year’s series, webinars will begin at noon, and registration is separate for each – please stay tuned for further announcements.
This year’s program features a two-part workshop on Succession Planning & Management, presented by Dennis Gilbert, Appreciative Strategies LLC. Employee turnover, retirements, and labor force issues can cause stress and uncertainty for small organizations. Participants will learn about the importance of succession planning and the true costs of lack of preparedness.
Also presenting will be Justin Dula, Regional Coordinator, DEP Office of Environmental Justice. Building on last year’s PA Environmental Rights Amendment webinar, Justin’s presentation will examine the concept of environmental justice and the ways that disproportionate environmental impacts can affect conservation districts’ work in the communities they serve.
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.
CREP Partner Training Recordings Available
As part of the CREP Outreach Program Office, the Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts and CREP Program Partners offered a CREP Partner Training Webinar Series to all partner staff involved in the program. The trainings took place on May 27, June 3, and June 10, 2021.
The trainings introduced administrative components, highlighted CREP practices, and provided tips for working with landowners.
Recordings of the webinars and a CREP Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) document are available to view on the Pennsylvania Clean Water Academy. New and experienced staff working with the CREP program are encouraged to view the trainings.
CREP Partner Training Webinar Series: https://pacleanwateracademy.remote-learner.net/course/view.php?id=580
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.
Landowner Guide to Buffer Success Available Now
Pennsylvania Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) partners have updated the “Landowner Guide to Buffer Success” that was last published in 2007. Like the previous guide, this one is set up calendar-style with pages for notes. In addition, the guide features key tasks by season, tips to improve outcomes, example photos, summaries of how riparian forest buffers help streams, and links to resources. PACD has 2,500 calendar style guides available for distribution. Contact Holly Miller at hmiller@pacd.org to request copies and to make arrangements for pick-up.
Thank you to all our CREP partners who contributed to the Landowner Guide to Buffer Success!
Financial and other support for the CREP Outreach Program Office 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.
Two Conservation Districts Complete CREP Mini-Grants
This year PACD offered a short round of Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) mini-grants to Pennsylvania conservation districts. PACD awarded $500 to Cameron County Conservation District, and $1,000 to Indiana County Conservation District. The grants were used to implement virtual educational and outreach activities that support and extend the work of the CREP program. For more information about the mini-grant program, please get in touch with 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.
Findings from CREP Farmer Focus Groups
PACD partnered with Water Words That Work to offer farmer focus groups and interviews across Pennsylvania to discuss the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP). The goal was to learn how we can successfully deliver the program and gain more interest in CREP.
On June 24, 2021, a virtual presentation was offered to partners to discuss the results. To view the presentation of the results, click here. Click here for the written report.
Twenty-six Nonpoint Source Mini-Grant Projects Completed
In the 2020-21 Nonpoint Source Pollution mini-grant round, 26 projects were completed by 20 conservation districts, reaching over 1,460 adults. Click here to see the outcomes and here to see a map of projects completed.
Financial and other support for the NPS Mini-grant Program 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.