Reminder: PACD is accepting sub-grant applications to implement multi-functional riparian buffers. The implementation of these grants will help the commonwealth achieve its goal of planting 95,000 acres of riparian buffers by 2025.

To date, PACD has awarded $158,000 in sub-grants to 10 conservation districts covering 30 acres of multi-functional riparian buffers.

The guidelines and applications for this new statewide sub-grant program for conservation districts are available here. Direct questions to 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.

Conservation district watershed specialists from across the state are registering for the 19th Annual Conservation District Watershed Specialist Meeting, which will take place at Toftrees Golf Resort and Conference Center in State College, PA, October 2-4, 2019. This year’s event features two days of educational sessions, plus an optional third-day tour of watershed restoration and riparian buffer projects hosted by the Penn State Ag and Environment Center.

Registration is open to all conservation district watershed specialists and to staff from the PA Department of Environmental Protection by invitation. Click here for more information or to register.

In March, Eric Konzelmann, Assistant District Manager at the Montgomery County Conservation District presented at the 2019 Watershed Congress. Eric spoke about best practices and construction techniques for building rain gardens. The presentation is available on YouTube at https://youtu.be/5ma_QIv5UDc.

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.

Washington County Conservation District recognized staff for years of service at a monthly board meeting. These individuals have dedicated years to conserving soil and water health in Washington County and were recognized for their duty, dedication, and loyalty to Washington County Conservation District. Congratulations to Matt, Jennifer, Clarice, and Tom!

Ag Progress Days, Pennsylvania’s largest outdoor agricultural exposition, was held August 13-15, 2019, at The Pennsylvania State University’s Research Farms in Rock Springs. PACD and conservation districts from Northumberland, Berks, Union, Cambria, Wyoming, Clinton, Venango, Adams, and Bedford Counties met hundreds of landowners and farmers to discuss local conservation during the three-day event.

Thank you so much to all who volunteered for this great outreach opportunity!

PACD announces the five state-level winners of the National Association of Conservation District’s 2019 “Life in the Soil: Dig Deeper” poster contest.

The winners in each category are:

K-1 Leah Hartman – Carbon County
2-3 Tvisha Jani – Delaware County
4-6 Karlee Dwyer – Delaware County
7-9 Marializ Jordan – Delaware County
10-12 Makenna Bankes – Carbon County

Best wishes to the state level winners in the upcoming national judging competition. For more information about the NACD poster contest, visit https://www.nacdnet.org/general-resources/stewardship-and-education-materials/contests/.

On July 17, 2019, the State Conservation Commission approved the 2019-2020 budget for the Building for Tomorrow Leadership Development Program, including a recommendation from the Leadership Development Committee to increase the amount of funding available for Strategic Planning Grants from $1000 to $1500 (per district) for this fiscal year.

A document outlining the program’s purpose and requirements can be found here. The deadline for submitting a Letter of Intent is November 20, 2019.

For more information on the Strategic Planning Grants program, please contact:
Matt Miller
Leadership Development Coordinator
mmiller@pacd.org
717-238-7223 x107

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 Perry County Conservation District hosted a Grazing Field Day on August 2 at the farm of Darryl Eberly and family in Loysville, PA. This field day was focused on discussing helpful information with livestock grazers and how to achieve greater soil health in pastures. Ninety individuals attended the event.

Click here to read the entire press release.

On August 2, 2019, PACD Executive Director Brenda Shambaugh traveled to Lancaster for a legislative banquet.

Lehigh County Conservation District Board of Directors is pleased to have recently awarded a $2,000 college scholarship to Building 21 High School Senior Marilyn Reyes. This award is made available annually to all Lehigh County graduating seniors pursuing a degree in conservation or environmental sciences at a college or university within the Commonwealth. Marilyn has been accepted into Penn State Lehigh Valley and will be the first female student from Allentown (in recent history) to enroll in the Agri-Business Program.

Click here to read the entire press release.