PACD North West Region Director and National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD) Director Cliff Lane represented Pennsylvania recently. Cliff attended the NACD annual meeting in Orlando, Florida, from February 12-16, 2022.
Do you know a staff person or director who has gone above and beyond the call of duty?
A legislator who champions conservation legislation? A Pennsylvania resident or Pennsylvania-based organization you would like to recognize for their contributions in support of environmental recreation? Consider nominating them for a PACD award!
The categories are:
• Ann Rudd Saxman Conservation District Director or Associate Director Excellence Award
• Conservation District Employee Excellence Award
• Legislator Leadership Award
• Maurice K. Goddard Award for Excellence in Environmental Recreation
Click here for more information. Contact Diane Young at dyoung@pacd.org or 717-794-6109 with any questions.
PA Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Patrick McDonnell speaks during the Clean Water Academy recognitions on February 16, 2022.
During the 2022 Building for Tomorrow Staff Conference, PA Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Patrick McDonnell recognized conservation district staff with exceptionally high achievement in the Clean Water Academy.
The following individuals were recognized for the most courses completed:
Jake Kennedy – PACD (previously interned at Armstrong Conservation District)
Brianna Osborne – Warren
Taylor Lawrence – Berks
Brady Byers – Franklin
Adam Seitz – Lancaster
Steve Beach – Blair
Hank Bradish – Westmoreland
Christina Anders – Adams
Keith Stetsko – Allegheny
Dave Taylor – Wyoming
The Secretary also recognized the following districts for having the highest number of completed courses:
Lancaster
Washington
Wyoming
Allegheny
Berks
Beaver
Armstrong
Blair
York
Chester
Conservation district staff with the most courses completed will receive a signed certificate from Secretary McDonnell.
Jonathan Cleck of Greencastle Consulting presents during the Hybrid Leadership Development Staff Conference on February 16, 2022.
Conservation District Video Awards Announced
The 2022 Hybrid Staff Conference was held February 16 and 17 at the Wyndham Garden State College and streaming via Zoom. Over 180 virtual and in-person attendees participated in sessions on dealing with difficult people, managing stress, and public opinions on conservation work, as well as breakout sessions on working with rural landowners, cybersecurity, grant management, and outreach challenges.
The conference also included recognition for training achievement in Clean Water Academy (see the article below) and the 2nd Annual Conservation District Video Awards.
The videos awarded are:
1st place high score and winner of the General Public category:
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.
Elk County Conservation District held a Cherry Run AMD site tour as part of their NPS mini-grant project in 2021. Photo provided by Elk County Conservation District.
Pennsylvania’s County Conservation Districts were awarded over $60,000 through the Non-point Source (NPS) Pollution Prevention Educational Mini-Grant Program. With this funding, thirty-four pollution reduction projects will take place in twenty-five counties. These projects promote water pollution prevention activities and will take place through May 2023.
Conservation District responsible for grant activities:
Project Title:
Amount Funded:
Allegheny
Municipal Outreach for Prevention of NPS Pollution
$2,000
Armstrong
Backyard Bioswale Demonstration Project
$2,000
Beaver
Agricultural Gathering and Manure Management
$1,356
Beaver
Stormwater Help for Homeowners
$1,170
Berks
Using Cover Crops to Prevent Nonpoint Source Pollution Workshop
$2,000
Bradford
Bradford County Outreach and Education Project
$2,000
Clarion
AMD Treatment System Field Tour
$2,000
Clearfield
Cover Crop and Nutrient Management Field Day
$2,000
Clinton
102/105 E&S Workshops
$1,500
Clinton
Manure Management Plan Workshop
$1,500
Columbia
NPS Pollution Prevention for Homeowners
$2,000
Cumberland
Upper Allen Township Rain Garden, Phase 2
$2,000
Dauphin
Stormwater Management Strategies for Homeowners Workshop
$2,000
Elk
NPS Pollution Prevention Workshop Series
$1,995
Franklin
Ag Education Event- Conservation Farm Tour or Ag BMP Meeting
$2,000
Jefferson
Grazing Field Day
$2,000
Juniata
Dirt to Soil
$1,975
Juniata
What’s At Stake Field Day
$1,215
Lancaster
Erosion & Sediment Control Plan (E&S Plan) for Small Projects Development Guide
$2,000
Lebanon
2023 Rain Barrel Workshop
$2,000
Lebanon
Conservation on the Ground Field Day: Equine Edition
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.
Allegheny County Conservation District completed two multi-functional riparian forest buffer projects. First, they planted 2.7 acres of multi-functional riparian forest buffer at Round Hill Park in Allegheny County. The project cost $17,832. They also planted 0.3 acres of multi-functional riparian forest buffer along Copper Creek in Allegheny County. This project cost $3,215.
Both projects were paid for through PACD’s multi-functional buffer sub-grant program: https://pacd.org/?page_id=17536 Please direct questions about the program to PACD Program Manager Holly Miller hmiller@pacd.org.
Click here to see more before and after photos from these projects.
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.
The Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts (PACD) is disappointed that the Governor’s proposed state budget does not include an increase for conservation districts. This additional conservation district funding is needed to continue our operations and ever-growing responsibilities. We urge legislators to include a $500,000 increase for the Conservation District Fund in both the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Environmental Protection.
“The conservation districts play an important role in protecting the Commonwealth’s resources. By including an increase in the state budget for conservation districts, the legislators would be investing in continuing the conservation district mission of clean water and healthy soil for all Pennsylvanians,” said PACD Executive Director Brenda Shambaugh.
Conservation districts continue to review permits, provide assistance to farmers, assist municipalities in preparing to fix low volume roads and dirt and gravel roads throughout the state, and help control mosquito-borne diseases such as West Nile Virus and Zika Virus.
Conservation district and DEP staff working with Chapters 102 and 105 are invited to register for 102/105 Virtual Topic-based Technical Training. The event will take place via Zoom March 29-31, 2022. There is no cost to participate. Click here for registration and the draft agenda. (Clean Water Academy login is required for access.)
This training is funded through a grant from the PA Department of Environmental Protection and made possible through the cooperation of the PA Association of Conservation Districts and Pennsylvania’s conservation districts.
PACD is accepting applications for a new round of CREP mini-grants until February 25, 2022.
Grants up to $3,000 will be awarded 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.
Please reach out to Holly Miller at hmiller@pacd.org with questions.
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.
Directors, associate directors, and managers – there’s still time to register for the 2022 Director Training workshop on staff retention, the employee lifecycle, and post-COVID policies. This year’s program builds on themes presented in last year’s Management Summit and Fall Leadership webinar series. In addition, it will examine staff retention challenges in the contexts of generational and other workforce changes, focusing on district staffing and employee policies in the wake of COVID-19.
The program is free of charge, and lunch is included for in-person attendees. Visit Building for Tomorrow for more information and to register
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.