Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts, Inc.

09/22/2023

The Sullivan County Conservation District offered a workshop about the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP), ponds, permits, and other programs that apply to farmers and landowners. Forty-three people attended the workshop and were provided with CREP resources.

The Sullivan County Conservation District offered a workshop about the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP), ponds, permits, and other programs that apply to farmers and landowners. Forty-three people attended the workshop and were provided with CREP resources.

This CREP education and outreach event was funded through a $1,444.00 CREP mini-grant from PACD. Click here for more information and to apply: https://pacd.org/?page_id=24998

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.

09/21/2023

We are grateful to everyone doing their part to conserve our natural resources.

09/20/2023

Over $80,000 Available for CREP Mini Grants through 2024!

PACD is accepting mini-grant applications from conservation districts for up to $3,000 to implement educational and outreach activities that support and extend the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) work.

Applications will be accepted and approved on a rolling basis until funds are expended. Project Completion & Final Report Deadline: August 31, 2024 More: https://ow.ly/Brxg50PM5na

09/19/2023

09/18/2023

The 2023 Management Summit was held September 12-14, 2023, at the Wyndham Garden State College Conference Center, Boalsburg, PA.

The Tuesday pre-con was attended by 38 new managers and partner staff. The total Summit attendance was 64. Summit attendees participated in sessions on resilience, burnout, leadership derailers, performance reviews, change management, maximizing total compensation, and financial topics.

09/15/2023

Dickinson College Farm received a $250,000 grant from the Cumberland County, PA - Conservation District for a dairy cattle facility as part of significant upgrades for the farm’s innovative biodigester project. More: https://ow.ly/boVs50PJq24

09/14/2023

Earlier this year, the Jefferson County Conservation District held a Farmer Meeting at the conservation district office to share programs, funding, and assistance available to farmers and landowners. Included on the agenda was the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP). More: https://pacd.org/?p=25628

09/13/2023

Cambria County Conservation District held a legislative boat tour of Glendale Lake. The lake is located at Prince Gallitzin State Park. PACD 1st Vice President Emil Bove represented PACD at the event, which highlighted improvements made to the lake over the last thirteen years.

More: https://pacd.org/?p=25634

09/12/2023

Conservation district and DEP staff are invited to register for Verbal Judo and The Art and Science of Deception this October. More: https://pacd.org/?p=25640

09/11/2023

Twenty-eight individuals attended the Agricultural Conservation Technical Boot Camp Training – Basic Level August 28-31, 2023, at the Union County Government Center in Union County. This training marked the fifth week of boot camp training in 2023. The next sessions will be held in April/May 2024.

09/07/2023

Watch a legislative hearing on Invasive Species in Pennsylvania on Friday, September 8 at 9:30 A.M.

Cliff Lane (McKean County Conservation District Commissioner Director and PACD NW Region Director & NACD North East Region Representative) will speak during the hearing.

Link:

Governor’s Invasive Species Council and House Agriculture & Rural Affairs Committee Joint Information Hearing on Invasive Species in Pennsylvania and any oth...

09/07/2023

Berks County Conservation District is holding a sporting clay fundraiser on Oct. 6. All Proceeds Benefit the Berks County Envirothon and Source Water Protection. More: http://berkscd.com/berks-county-sporting-clays-fundraiser-october-6th-2023/

Join us for the 5th Annual Berks County Conservation District Sporting Clay Fundraiser, a thrilling in-person event on October 6, 2023.

09/05/2023

Penn State Extension is holding a workshop on Wetlands for conservation professionals.

This training program is ideal for anyone interested in wetland conservation, restoration, or management and those who want to learn more about these fascinating and important ecosystems. More: https://ow.ly/bJOW50PHQn5

09/01/2023

The Lebanon County Conservation District received a Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) mini-grant for $877.00. Using the grant funds, the district offered a field day that included a riparian buffer planting as part of the CREP education and outreach event. Nineteen volunteers attended to learn about CREP, specifically the installation and maintenance of riparian buffers. More: https://ow.ly/4Fli50PEnLF

08/31/2023

Touch grass and enjoy the outdoors today!

08/31/2023

Conservation districts at work! Check out this Lancaster County Conservation District Low Volume Road funded project which aims to protect public roads and the streams that flow next to them.

Check out this Low Volume Road funded project which aims to protect public roads and the streams that flow next to them. In this picture, Providence Township is building an endwall for a pipe that runs underneath the road. This allows stormwater to stay clean and off the road while reducing road maintenance for the township.

08/30/2023

Union County Conservation District hosted a booth at Hoover Tractor’s Farm Safety and Wildlife Day in July. Attendees who stopped by the district’s booth learned about the dangers associated with liquid manure storage. More: https://pacd.org/?p=25565

08/29/2023

2024 Strategic Planning Funding and Support Available for Conservation Districts

Districts considering updating or creating new strategic plans can apply for a 2024 Strategic Planning Grant. Visit Building for Tomorrow or contact Leadership Development Coordinator Matt Miller at [email protected] for more information.

08/28/2023

Meet Ian Abernethy – PACD Conservation Technician in Bloomsburg Office

Ian graduated from the University of Pittsburgh–Johnstown in 2021 with a dual major in Environmental Studies and Geography and obtained his GIS certificate. He grew up in Sullivan County and enjoys camping, cooking, fishing, music, and painting. He also has two dogs at home, a Corgi named Max and a Doberman named Sophie.

08/28/2023

PACD is partnering with the Natural Resources Conservation Service and the State Conservation Commission to deliver a three-day Introduction to Conservation Planning course. This training is scheduled for October 31-November 2, 2023, at the Holiday Inn Harrisburg (Hershey area) in Grantville, PA. More: https://ow.ly/ssuE50PEpy7

08/25/2023

Susquehanna River Basic Commission announces the Stream & Watershed Enhancement Grant Program

This new grant program supports local organizations dedicated to the health and wellness of our Basin’s waterways. The Stream & Watershed Enhancement Grant program will provide funding for community-based environmental and water resources projects or events that improve, restore or protect our local watersheds. More:

SRBC is offering a new grant program to project sponsors specifically targeted to support the collection and reporting of water level data in groundwater production wells in the basin.

08/24/2023

On Saturday, July 29, 2023, the Columbia County Conservation District, in conjunction with the four non-profit watershed organizations in the county, hosted the 2nd Annual Susquehanna Valley Watershed Festival at Briar Creek Lake Park in Berwick, PA.

The main goal of the festival is to educate the public, especially kids, on the importance of our watersheds, water quality, and all of our natural resources. Read more here: https://ow.ly/scZN50PANNV

08/23/2023

On August 11, 2023, Indiana County Conservation District held a Legislative Bus Tour. District Manager Doug Beri, Jr. said, “The bus tour was another great success. We toured six project sites, including four DGLVR projects that featured practices including stream crossings, road fill, and cross pipes; and a future rotational grazing system."

08/22/2023

The Union County Conservation District held a Regenerative Dairy Meeting in Lewisburg in June. Dairy farmers and manure handlers were invited to attend.

The meeting intended to introduce operators to newer, regenerative practices that can mainly be implemented on dairy operations and provide the necessary resources to help get all conservation practices on the ground. More: https://ow.ly/ZkNB50PANAq

08/21/2023

Grant Period Opens for North West Pennsylvania PRISM Pilot

PACD was awarded a $210,000 Landscape Scale Restoration grant from the USDA Forest Service to pilot a Partnerships for Regional Invasive Species Management (PRISM) program in the North West region of Pennsylvania. The NW region covers 13 counties: Erie, Warren, McKean, Crawford, Mercer, Venango, Forest, Elk, Lawrence, Butler, Clarion, Jefferson, and Armstrong. More: https://pacd.org/?p=25548

08/19/2023

Today is the day to thank not only bees but also beekeepers!

You can make a difference by:
-Planting bee-friendly flowers and flowering herbs in your garden and yard.
-Reducing or limiting the use of chemicals and pesticides to treat your lawn or garden while plants are in bloom.

08/18/2023

PA Association of Conservation Districts is hiring an Administrative Assistant (Part-time) in the Harrisburg, PA office https://ow.ly/cOv650PARpO

08/18/2023

Conservation Districts at work! Huntingdon County Conservation District is maintaining a successful buffer along a tributary to Shaver’s Creek.

08/16/2023

Conservation districts help protect groundwater for our families.

08/15/2023

Ag Progress Days, Pennsylvania’s largest outdoor agricultural exposition, was held August 8-10, 2023, at The Pennsylvania State University’s Research Farms in Rock Springs. PACD and conservation districts from Berks County Conservation District, Clinton County Conservation District, Fayette County, Pennsylvania, Huntingdon County Conservation District, Indiana County Conservation District, Juniata County Conservation District, Lehigh, and Union County Conservation District met hundreds of landowners and farmers to discuss local conservation during the three-day event.

Thank you so much to all who volunteered to share the great work of conservation districts with the public! Also, a special thank you to Huntingdon County Conservation District for setting up the booth.

08/09/2023

The Butler County Conservation District hosted a Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program/Best Management Practices (CREP/BMP) Field Day on July 28, 2023, at the BGN Farm owned by Jeff Grazier. More: https://ow.ly/iwX750PsN7E

08/08/2023

On July 31, 2023, Berks County Conservation District held its Annual Scholarship and Awards Dinner. The event was held at the Oley Fairgrounds in Oley, PA. During the celebration, the district awarded $24,000 in scholarships and recognized several businesses and individuals. More: https://ow.ly/eo9i50PsNf0

Photo caption: Senator Judy Schwank speaks during the event.

08/07/2023

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 for October 31-November 2, 2023, at the Holiday Inn Harrisburg (Hershey Area) in Grantville, PA. More: https://ow.ly/aYKr50PsN1n

08/06/2023

Farmers markets foster direct relationships between community members and farmers which can work to create a more fair and sustainable food system. Farmers markets are a hub for connection and collective action around shared values.

08/03/2023

Indiana County Conservation District Manager Doug Beri presented at the Association of Illinois Soil and Water Conservation Districts’ 75th Annual Meeting. Doug’s topic was, “Maximizing Total Compensation to Retain and Motivate Talented Employees.” The meeting was held in Springfield, Illinois from July 16 to July 18, 2023.

08/02/2023

It's back to school month. Here are some tips to be more environmentally friendly.

08/01/2023

Even though water makes up over 70% of Earth’s surface area, the total amount of freshwater found on Earth only makes up around 3% of the water supply, 1% of which is easily accessible. This 1% accounts for all of our lakes, rivers, groundwater, aquifers, and streams. Conservation districts work every day to protect this vital resource.

07/31/2023

Mark your calendars for Verbal Judo training October 12-13, 2023, in State College, PA. The spring Verbal Judo series met with such overwhelmingly positive response that PACD and DEP are coordinating another, centrally located, session for conservation district and DEP staff.