The Beaver County Conservation District held two agricultural workshops in May. The Agricultural Gathering and Manure Management Plan Writing Workshop were held outside at the district pavilion. Participants learned about grazing and forage management, agricultural erosion and sedimentation, and manure management.

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.

Leadership Development training returns to an in-person format in September with the 2021 Management Summit. The disruptions of the past 18 months have demonstrated the crucial importance of staff development and retention to district operations, and this year’s Summit focuses on these areas with keynote workshops and interactive group-led activities.

The 2021 Summit is scheduled for September 15 & 16 at the Wyndham Garden State College. The Summit also includes a dedicated New Manager preconference Session day on September 14 for 2021 New Manager Training participants to complete their training course with in-person management leadership workshops. Summit sessions on Wednesday, September 15, and Thursday, September 16, are open to all district managers, assistant managers, team leaders, and agency partners.

For more information and to register visit the Building for Tomorrow website or contact Matt Miller, Leadership Development Coordinator. 

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 created a public service announcement (PSA) to encourage citizens to leave a buffer next to waterways. Please share!

Materials include:

• 120-second video
• 60-second Script
• 30-second Script
• 15-second Script

Click here to view the webpage of materials. Please share the PSA scripts with your local radio stations. Conservation districts and partners are encouraged to share the video on their social media channels.

Thank you to McKean County Conservation District’s Jody Groshek for helping to develop the messages.

 

The 2021 Virtual PACD Annual Conference will take place as a series of video conferences this July, beginning with the PACD Conservation Committee on July 8 and ending with PACD Executive Council on July 29. Registration is open to all conservation district directors, associate directors, and staff; partner agency staff; and invited guests. Registrants will receive a link to the Zoom meeting and instructions to participate online or via phone.

Please email the listed contact for each video conference you’d like to attend to request a registration link.

PACD Conservation Committee Video Conference

July 8, 2021 | 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Contact mburns@pacd.org to request a registration link.

 

PACD District Employees Committee Video Conference

July 9, 2021 | 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Contact hmiller@pacd.org to request a registration link.

 

PACD Education and Outreach Committee Video Conference

July 14, 2021 | 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Contact swehinger@pacd.org to request a registration link.

 

PACD Legislative Committee Video Conference

July 15, 2021 | 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Contact mburns@pacd.org to request a registration link.

 

PACD Ways and Means Committee Video Conference

July 20, 2021 | 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Contact abrown@pacd.org to request a registration link.

 

PACD Operations Committee Video Conference

July 22, 2021 | 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Contact mburns@pacd.org to request a registration link.

 

PACD Executive Council Video Conference

July 29, 2021 | 10:00 a.m. to Noon

Contact mburns@pacd.org to request a registration link.

Monroe County Conservation District and Butler County Conservation District completed buffer projects through PACD’s Multi-functional Buffer Sub-grant Program in May 2021. 

Click here to read the entire article. Contact Holly Miller at hmiller@pacd.org for more information on the buffer sub-grant program.

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 Conservation and Natural Resources, Bureau of Recreation and Conservation. 

PACD Executive Director Brenda Shambaugh traveled to Franklin County Conservation District on June 14, 2021, to celebrate Associate Director Sam Worley’s 100th birthday!

PACD is partnering with the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and the State Conservation Commission (SCC) to deliver a three-day Introduction to Conservation Planning course. This free training is scheduled to take place October 19-21, 2021, at the Holiday Inn Harrisburg (Hershey area) in Grantville, PA.

If you are interested in taking this training, please begin the process to get an AgLearn account NOW!  There is a prerequisite, and it can take months to get an account.

The event is for entry-level employees of all organizations in Pennsylvania delivering conservation planning technical assistance including, but not limited to, NRCS, conservation districts, SCC, farmland preservation entities, and non-profits. The training is free, and lunch will be provided.

To receive information on this training as it becomes available, including the online prerequisite, email Shannon Wehinger at swehinger@pacd.org.

Please consider volunteering at the conservation district exhibit at Penn State’s Ag Progress Days.

Ag Progress Days is held at the Russell E. Larson Agricultural Research Center at Rock Springs, nine miles southwest of State College, PA, and features the latest technology and research exhibits, educational programs, and guided tours.

Over 60% of the 46,000 expected to attend are actively engaged in agriculture or related activities. With so many farming families from across Pennsylvania at this event, it’s an excellent opportunity to call attention to the work and programs done at the districts.

This year’s event will be held from August 10-12, 2021. Volunteers are needed for the shifts listed below. If you have questions or to schedule your shift, send your name, contact information, and preferred shift to dyoung@pacd.org.

Tuesday, August 10:             1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. (2 volunteers needed)

Wednesday, August 11:         9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. (2 volunteers needed)

Wednesday, August 11:         1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. (2 volunteers needed)

Wednesday, August 11:         5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. (2 volunteers needed)

Thursday, August 12:            9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. (1 volunteer needed)

Thursday, August 12:            1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. (1 volunteer needed)

A final volunteer schedule, parking passes, and other show information will be sent to volunteers when available. For more information on Ag Progress Days, go to their website at http://agsci.psu.edu/apd.

The Lawrence County Conservation District installed a dry creek and rain garden at the South Side Community Garden. The community garden is situated on the site of a demolished elementary school. There are remains of asphalt and concrete just below the grass on a significant portion of the site perimeter. Rain sheet flows much faster than on a typical grassed site and flows over spots that had creosote-soaked railroad tie beds recently removed. The dry creek and rain garden capture that flow and allow it to infiltrate rather than runoff.

The district adapted to COVID-19 restrictions and educated the volunteers and neighbors who help build the dry creek and rain garden with a nonpoint source presentation. The district also created a booklet for homeowners on stormwater management, and an informational sign will be installed at the site.

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.

District directors and managers, mark your calendars for the Fall 2021 Leadership Webinar series on Wednesdays: October 27, November 3, and November 10, at noon. Stay tuned for a registration announcement later this month.

The 2021 Board Leadership series recordings and session materials are still available at Building for Tomorrow, and expense reimbursement is available to districts that host watch parties for their board members to review the sessions on ethics, conflict of interest, and planning effectiveness. Contact Leadership Development Coordinator Matt Miller at mmiller@pacd.org for more information.

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.