Agriculture Secretary Russell C. Redding was joined on April 13, 2022, by conservation partners at Welsh Vista Farms in Salisbury Township, Lancaster County, to highlight Wolf Administration investments facilitating on-farm and community conservation management. The Conservation Excellence Grant (CEG) program has invested more than $4 million in 68 conservation projects since 2019, strengthening community-based conservation efforts across six counties in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed.

Click here to read the entire article. 

First Lady Frances Wolf and Pennsylvania agencies held the annual Governor’s Residence Earth Day celebration virtually again this year.

Conservation District Video Award finalists were featured in the Virtual Exhibit Hall! 

For more information, click here.

Governor Tom Wolf announced the investment of $199 million for 13 drinking water, wastewater, stormwater, and non-point source projects across 11 counties through the Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority (PENNVEST).

Two conservation districts received funding for Non-Point Source Projects.

• Luzerne Conservation District – received a $630,000 grant to construct a concrete manure storage tank and associated transfer system and storm drainage components on the Kevin Drasher farm, a beef and dairy operation. The project will implement agricultural Best Management Practices (BMPs) and reduce 4,163 pounds of sediment and 4,937 pounds of nitrogen from the Chesapeake Bay watershed annually.
• Somerset Conservation District – received a $682,638 grant to construct a circular manure storage structure and a roofed, heavy-use manure stacking area at the Joe Walker farm, a dairy operation in Summit Township. The project will eliminate 5,794 pounds of nitrogen annually and associated runoff into a tributary of the Blue Lick Creek and, ultimately, the Ohio River.

Click here to read the entire press release. 

On April 12, 2022, Senator Gene Yaw and Senator Elder Vogel offered remarks in recognition of Conservation District Week in Pennsylvania. Click here to watch the video of Senator Yaw and here for the video of Senator Vogel.  

Thank you to conservation districts that reached out to their legislators and the public last week to share the great work you do!

 

April 30 is the last day to submit a nomination for a PACD Award. Don’t miss this opportunity to recognize a deserving district director, associate director, or employee, or to honor administrative excellence in environmental recreation!

• Ann Rudd Saxman Conservation District Director or Associate Director Excellence Award
• Conservation District Employee Excellence Award
• Legislator Recognition Award
• Maurice K. Goddard Award for Excellence in Environmental Recreation

Click here for more information and a nomination form. Contact Diane Young at dyoung@pacd.org with any questions.

Video and materials from the 2022 Hybrid Staff Conference have been uploaded and posted at Building for Tomorrow.

District managers and other management staff should mark their calendars for the 2022 Management Summit Conference, scheduled September 13–15 at the Wyndham Garden Conference Center in State College. This year’s expanded event includes a dedicated pre-conference meeting on September 13 to focus on leadership fundamentals for new managers and management staff, in addition to the traditional two-day Summit, which will include topics for all managers and management staff on identifying and leveraging management strengths, staff retention, assessing true program costs, and partner relations. Stay tuned for a registration announcement and draft agenda in June.

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.

Secretary Russell Redding held a press conference at the Indiana Conservation District office on April 7, 2022, to discuss spotted lanternfly prevention in the southwestern part of Pennsylvania. Emil Bove (Westmoreland), PACD Second Vice President, represented PACD at the event.

Secretary Redding recognized the work conservation districts are contributing to the control efforts.

Click here to read the press release and here to watch the video. 

 

Snyder County Conservation District hosted an informal training to educate landowners, watershed associations, and conservation groups on the proper techniques for harvesting and planting live stakes. On March 8, 2022, this hands-on training was held at Faylor Lake in Beaver Springs. Participants learned how to identify live stake species, proper harvesting and planting methods, and how cost-effective live stakes are at reducing streambank erosion along local waterways.

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 Saturday, March 26, 2022, the Berks County Conservation District held a “Barrels and Beer” rain barrel workshop at Saucony Creek Brewery in Kutztown. Participants learned about the benefits of installing a rain barrel on their property, along with engaging in clean water trivia throughout the afternoon. The rain barrels were painted and designed by each participating group, while the 20 registered individuals enjoyed a local brew provided by Saucony Creek Brewery.

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.

Submitted by Stephanie Harmon, Watershed Specialist

On March 22, 2022, an unseasonably pleasant day with hints of spring, nearly one hundred energetic middle and high school Envirothon students from Lebanon County school districts, including ELCO, Northern Lebanon, and Palmyra, got their hands dirty at an Envirothon Soils Training held at the Lebanon Expo Center. 

Click here to read the entire article.