From PA Environment Digest Blog, September 25, 2020

On September 25, the PA Association of Environmental Professionals recognized Len Lichvar, Manager of the Somerset Conservation District, with the Walter Lyon Award. The Walter Lyon Award honors an organization, project, or program that made a unique, creative, or significant contribution toward maintenance or restoration of Pennsylvania’s environmental quality or to the field of environmental management.

Somerset County Conservation District Manager Len Lichvar is deeply involved in conservation matters in his county, region, and statewide. Over the past 30 years, the Somerset Conservation District has planned and developed large scale projects to ensure that clean water is available for residents and visitors.

Click here to read the entire article.

2020 has been a year of significant uncertainty, and being prepared to adapt quickly is imperative for all organizations in the “new normal.”  Contingency planning identifies potential crisis scenarios and proactively seeks to mitigate disruption by establishing timely, appropriate, and effective responses to emerging situations.  It is a process in which stakeholders work together to develop a shared agreement and understanding of the risks. This planning style helps establish a common set of principles and mechanisms that would guide organizational decisions during a potential crisis.

Starting in October, Building for Tomorrow Leadership Development offers a webinar workshop series on Adaptive Strategies and Contingency Planning for Conservation Districts.  Hosted by Deb Thompson of Strategy Solutions, this series will examine the lessons learned during the recent crisis and potential opportunities for the future as we identify issues, challenge assumptions, and develop action plans for possible future scenarios.

On Tuesday, October 20, Session 1: Adaptive Strategies & Scenario Planning for Managers will define the parameters of contingency planning as they relate to technology, staff support, program operations, stakeholder advocacy, and fundraising. Managers will discuss the challenges and hazards they have faced during the pandemic and beyond and lessons learned. They will also discuss challenges yet to come and collectively develop an action list to increase awareness with their boards.

On Tuesday, October 27, Session 2: Adaptive Strategies & Scenario Planning for Board Members will introduce the concept of scenario planning and examine the board’s role in helping staff work through a contingency planning exercise based on the discussion from Session 1. Session 3: Finalizing Scenario Plans: Identifying “Must Do” Strategies for Conservation Districts is scheduled for Tuesday, November 17, and will allow Managers and Directors to work together in groups to identify top-priority strategies and share ideas and best practices for implementation.

Managers, please click here to register for the October 20 workshop. 

Directors, please click here to register for the October 27 workshop. 

All participants will receive an invitation to the November 17 combined workshop.  For more information, visit the Building for Tomorrow website or contact Matt Miller, mmiller@pacd.org 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.

The Franklin County Conservation District (FCCD) held a Summer Conservation Farm Tour and Luncheon on August 8, 2020, with approximately 40 people in attendance. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, FCCD had to cancel the original farm tour as there was no way to maintain social distancing on busses to transport attendees from the lunch venue (an outdoor pavilion this year) to the farm. Instead, the district hired a professional photographer to take pictures of the best management practices (BMPs) so attendees could still “see” them up close and personal. The Conservation Farmer of the Year spoke about his experiences with BMPs, as shown in the photos, and how they improved his farm.

Kudos to FCCD for adapting and finding a creative solution to hold their event and educate local farmers about BMPs.

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.

In March 2020, the Berks County Conservation District (BCCD) was awarded a PACD/PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Multi-Functional Riparian Buffer Sub-grant to complete a 1.5-acre riparian forest buffer along Tulpehocken Creek. Two hundred sixty-five native trees and shrubs were planted to create a riparian buffer 35 to 50 feet wide. The native riparian plantings included edible species, like elderberry and highbush blueberry, and seasonal decorates, like winterberry and red osier dogwood.

A video of the project can be viewed on the BCCD Website at https://youtu.be/jys71IcoyNU. Click here to read the press release. 

Click here to read more about PACD’s Buffer Sub-grant program or contact Amy Brown at abrown@pacd.org.

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.

Twenty individuals attended Agricultural Conservation Technical Boot Camp Training – Level II August 31-September 4, 2020. Attendees included staff from conservation districts, PACD, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), and their affiliates. Following recommendations by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the group was divided into two locations to allow for social distancing. The training was rescheduled from April due to COVID-19.

Twenty-four staff attended the Basic level training from September 9-11, 2020. The training was held at a pavilion at Coleman Park in Lebanon, PA. Attendees participated in a series of webinars in April. These three days were the field portion required to complete the training. Participants included staff from PACD, conservation districts, NRCS, and affiliates.

The training is sponsored by the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service and the State Conservation Commission. PACD works with these partners to coordinate the training.

Registration is open for the Building for Tomorrow Fall Leadership series in October and November. The series starts on Wednesday, October 14, with a session on the PA Environmental Rights Amendment presented by Meg Murphy, DEP Counsel for Special Projects. This webinar is open to all conservation district staff, board members, and partners.

Click Here to Register for the 10/14 webinar. 

A three-part workshop on Adaptive Strategies & Contingency Planning for Conservation Districts is scheduled for Tuesdays October 20, October 27, and November 17. Deb Thompson of Strategy Solutions will facilitate a manager workshop on October 20, followed by a director workshop on October 27, to examine contingency planning parameters as they relate to technology, staff support, program operations, stakeholder advocacy, and funding. Both managers and directors will meet together on November 17 to discuss issues identified and assumptions challenged from the previous workshops.

Click Here to Register for Session 1: Adaptive Strategies & Scenario Planning for Managers – October 20 

Click Here to Register for Session 2: Adaptive Strategies & Scenario Planning for Board Members – October 27 

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.

Strategic Planning is an essential activity for conservation districts. Building for Tomorrow encourages districts to reevaluate regularly and update their plans, and supports districts by offering grants to offset costs associated with strategic planning activities. For 2020-2021, the State Conservation Commission has allocated funding for grants to reimburse up to a maximum of $1,500 in expenses related to developing a strategic plan. Priority will be given to conservation districts that did not receive a strategic planning grant in the past five years.

Please visit the Building for Tomorrow website for program eligibility requirements and strategic planning resources.

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 has rescheduled the Fluvial Geomorphology Training due to COVID-19 restrictions. The training will be held as a four-part webinar series on Monday, November 9, Tuesday, November 10, Thursday, November 12, and Friday, November 13, 2020, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

PACD has opened registration to the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, PA Department of Environmental Protection, and any conservation districts that would like to attend and didn’t register before.

Instructor David Williams from the International Erosion Control Association (ICEA) will cover Fluvial Geomorphology and Natural Channel Design Indices on days one and two and stream restoration/rehabilitation and streambank protection on days three and four. The four-part course offers 14 Professional Development Hours, and a certificate will be distributed at the end of the four-day session.

Click here to register. 

Conservation district and DEP staff are invited to take part in two Chapter 105 webinars taking place this week. Details and contact information for the sessions are below.

102/105 – Basic Chapter 105 Overview
September 1, 2020 | 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
This session will provide a basic overview of Chapter 105 for all districts, regardless of delegation-level, and is appropriate for newer technicians.

102/105 – Administrative Program Manual for Processing Chapter 105 General Permits
September 3, 2020 | 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
This session will cover the Administrative Program Manual for Processing Chapter 105 General Permits and is most appropriate for technicians from delegated districts.

Please e-mail PACD’s Nick Yeagy at nyeagy@pacd.org for the link to participate and DEP’s Jay Braund at jbraund@pa.gov with any questions.

Perry County Conservation District Manager Sally Tengeres recently presented Representative Mark Keller (PA 86^th District) with the PACD Legislator Leadership Award in person. The award was announced at the PACD Executive Council Meeting in July.

Click here to read the press release.