PACD will hold virtual meetings for all six PACD committees and PACD Executive Council via Zoom this January. Committees will meet between January 8 and 21, followed by PACD Executive Council on January 28.

Registration is open to all conservation district directors, associate directors, and staff, as well as partner agency staff and invited guests. Registration for each meeting is free and required. Registrants will receive a link to the Zoom meeting and instructions to participate. A phone number will also be provided for anyone who wishes to participate via conference call.

Please email the listed contact to request a registration link:

PACD Conservation Committee Video Conference
January 8, 2021 | 10-11 a.m.
Contact mburns@pacd.org to request a registration link

PACD Legislative Committee Video Conference
January 11, 2021 | 10-11 a.m.
Contact mburns@pacd.org to request a registration link

PACD District Employees Committee Video Conference
January 12, 2021 | 10-11 a.m.
Contact abrown@pacd.org to request a registration link

PACD Education and Outreach Committee Video Conference
January 14, 2021 | 10-11 a.m.
Contact swehinger@pacd.org to request a registration link

PACD Ways and Means Committee Video Conference
January 19, 2021 | 10-11 a.m.
Contact lsuhr@pacd.org to request a registration link

PACD Operations Committee Video Conference
January 21, 2021 | 10-11 a.m.
Contact mburns@pacd.org to request a registration link

PACD Executive Council Video Conference
January 28, 2021
Contact mburns@pacd.org to request a registration link

Meet Lauren Brodbar, the new conservation technician in the Lebanon office.

Lauren is the PACD conservation technician based out of the Lebanon office. She recently graduated from Delaware Valley University with a degree in crop science. Previously Lauren worked at an agriculture research farm as well as at the farms at the University. She has completed an independent research project on the forage Sunn Hemp, and has a passion for plants and soil. 

In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her horse, Rudy, teaching and taking dance classes, reading, and cooking. 

Meet Diane Young, the new administrative and program assistant in the Harrisburg office.

By Diane Young

I recently moved back to the beautiful state of Pennsylvania after living out of state for several years, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to be here and to be part of the great team at PACD! While I’ve provided support in many different industries, I’m thrilled to embark on this adventure in a new area: Conservation!

I have two wonderful children and five beautiful grandchildren (who I don’t get to see often enough!). When I’m not working or making improvements on my 96-year-old home, I love to read and spend time outdoors in God’s beautiful Creation.

The foundation for a successful district is built on three components: Team, Tools, and Talent.

Building for Tomorrow’s 2021 Staff Conference February 8 -12 features a look at each of these ingredients with a whole week of online programming dedicated to helping conservation district staff reconnect, learn, and share.

The theme for opening day on Monday, February 8, is Team, featuring workshops on stress management during challenging times and the connections between personal beliefs and team cohesion.

Starting Tuesday, February 9, the focus shifts to Tools, with three days of interactive forum sessions for district staff to share information on topics including local media outreach, productivity and time management apps, drones, and video and meeting technology.

Our two-part Keynote presentation on Wednesday and Thursday is on Conflict Management for Conservation Workers, presented by Rita Coleman Graham, who draws on decades of environmental experience in her work as a consultant on conflict resolution.

The conference wraps up on Friday, February 12, by highlighting the Talent that went into sharing district work and projects in 2020 with the premiere of the CDVAs, our first annual Conservation District Video Awards show.

Click here for agenda and registration for the 2021 Virtual Staff Conference February 8-12, 2021.

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.

 

Pike County Conservation District produced a bi-fold brochure titled “A Homeowner’s Checklist for a Watershed Friendly Home.” The brochure presents information about reducing nonpoint source pollution from private property in the form of a checklist homeowners can use to evaluate their own homes. These brochures have been distributed to the Pike County municipalities and will be handed out at future district events and other locations upon post-pandemic reopening.

To distribute the information more effectively in the current climate, the checklist was also made into an interactive, illustrated webpage (which can be viewed here: https://pikeconservation.org/checklist/, allowing people to access the checklist while remaining socially distanced.

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 November 28, 1945, the Potter County Conservation District became the first district established in Pennsylvania.

Our roots began in the farming community, with the primary goal of helping agriculture thrive while protecting natural resources. From the late 1930s until 1945, three influential local figures spearheaded the establishment of the District – Henry Staiger, an agriculture teacher and involved community member, and Ed Fisher and Roselle Lette, both progressive farmers.

The district’s initial goal was to prevent soil erosion for future farming and to conserve water quality. As Mr. Staiger explained to a then skeptical public, “would you allow a hole to remain in your pocket if you were only losing a dime at a time?” the example being that soil erosion, although often slow, is a steady loss with long term negative effects.

Click here to read the press release and view more photos. 

Slate Ridge Dairy Farm is the 2020 recipient of the Pennsylvania Leopold Conservation Award®.

Given in honor of renowned conservationist Aldo Leopold, the prestigious award recognizes farmers, ranchers and foresters who inspire others with their dedication to land, water and wildlife habitat resources in their care.

In Pennsylvania, the $10,000 award is presented annually by Sand County Foundation, American Farmland Trust, The Heinz Endowments, and Pennsylvania Farm Bureau.

Ben and Sharon Peckman, who own and operate Slate Ridge Dairy Farm near St. Thomas receive $10,000 and a crystal award for being selected. The Franklin County dairy farmers were revealed as the recipients during the Pennsylvania Farm Bureau’s virtual Annual Meeting.

Click here to read more about Slate Ridge Dairy Farm. Click here to view a video on the recipients. 

PACD held a Fluvial Geomorphology Training as a four-part webinar series concluding on November 13, 2020. Ninety-eight conservation district staff and partners attended the training.

Instructor David Williams from the International Erosion Control Association covered fluvial geomorphology and natural channel design indices, stream restoration/rehabilitation, and streambank protection.

On November 5, 2020, Kevin Brown, agricultural resource specialist at the Bradford County Conservation District, shared his experiences with no-till gardens for every size property.

Participants learned how you can spend less time weeding, have a productive garden, and improve water quality and soil health in your backyard!

Click here to view the Better Gardens, Better Soil webinar. 

The Westmoreland Conservation District (WCD) produced two videos to show their 2020 award recipients’ contributions.

They are:

• The Ralph Frye family and their operation, Pleasant Lane Farms of Unity Township – 2020 Conservation Farmer of the Year. Click here to watch the video. 
• The Municipality of Murrysville – 2020 J. Roy Houston Conservation Partner. Click here to watch the video. 

Traditionally, the district presented these awards and celebrated the winners at a reception at their headquarters. But this year, due to COVID-19 restrictions, WCD opted to present them in small, private ceremonies at each winner’s location in October. The videos allow everyone to celebrate the accomplishments of these outstanding conservationists.