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Conservation Districts in the News
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Lovegreen to be Honored by the Chesapeake Bay Foundation
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 Please join us in congratulating Mike Lovegreen, Bradford County Conservation District Manager, as he receives the Chesapeake Bay Foundation's (CBF) 2013 Pennsylvania Lifetime Achievement Award! Mike will receive his award on June 25 during a noon luncheon reception in the East Wing Rotunda of the State Capitol Building. Kim Patten, PA Outreach and Advocacy Manager with CBF had this to say about Mike's acknowledgment: "It is our hope that in recognizing Mike for his outstanding contributions, that we also highlight the indispensable work of conservation districts across the commonwealth, as well as the value of investing in this work."
Be sure to reach out to Mike and congratulate him on his efforts in the conservation movement and for a job well done. If anyone is interested in attending the luncheon, please send an email to PAOutreach@cbf.org by June 18.
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Conservation Districts Represented at WREN Meeting
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(Left to right) PA Department of Environmental Protection's Deputy Secretary Kelly Heffner, PACD Executive Director Robert Maiden and League of Women Voters of PA Executive Director Bonita Hoke pause for a photo during the June 11-12, 2013 Water Resources Education Network (WREN) meeting at Dickinson College in Carlisle, PA. Congratulations to Columbia and Montour Conservation Districts! The districts received a 2013-14 Source Water Protection WREN grant for a joint project they are collaborating on. Berks, Cambria, Clearfield, Lancaster, Northampton, Northumberland, and Pike Conservation Districts also received funding for several partner projects they are each participating in. Click here to read more. |
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Elk County Conservation District Completes Stormwater Project
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Elk County Conservation District's (ECCD) Clarion River Stormwater Awareness Project included installing 300 inlet markers throughout the Clarion River corridor. The markers are four-inch round metal disks that depict a fish and read "no dumping, drains to river."
 | | Three hundred stormwater inlet markers were installed throughout the Clarion River corridor. The markers are four-inch round metal disks that depict a fish and read "no dumping, drains to river." |
The second phase of the project was to host a stormwater awareness workshop, which took place May 11. The event was designed to provide community members with important information related to stormwater awareness, water conservation and reducing non-point source pollution. ECCD partnered with the Elk County Planning Department to host the workshop. The Elk County Planning Department had funding available to provide rain barrels to workshop attendees.
Through a survey of the 37 participants, ECCD discovered that many were under the misunderstanding that the water (and pollutants) going into stormwater inlets was ending up at a treatment facility. Many were surprised to learn that most stormwater inlets discharge directly to the stream. Click here to learn more about ECCD.
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.
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District Offers Free Programs to Help Farmers
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 | | This instrument is used by Cumberland County Conservation District to measure nitrates in soil as a free service to farmers. |
Cumberland County Conservation District offers two unique programs that help farmers free of charge. Both services test for harmful contaminants on the farms that could threaten the safety of our food and water.
Pre-Sidedress Nitrogen Testing (PSNT) on corn fields was recently offered to local farmers. The testing is funded by a grant through the Chesapeake Bay Program. In 2012, they completed testing on 136 fields totaling 2,000 acres. The results determine where there is a need for additional nitrogen fertilizer.
"PSNT testing is valuable in that it can save the farmer money and also prevent the excess application of nitrogen on the cornfields which in turn helps protect our natural resources," explains Carl Goshorn, District Manager of Cumberland County Conservation District.
The district also offers monthly water testing. District staff members test for coliform bacteria, e.coli, nitrates, lead, iron, sodium, and other harmful contaminants.
These services not only help local farmers, but also serve the greater community. For more information about these tests, visit www.cumberlandcd.com.
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Lebanon County Elementary Students Take Trip to Delaware Bay
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by Stephanie Harmon, Watershed Specialist, Lebanon County Conservation District
WATERSHEDS & ESTUARIES was the theme for this year's Lebanon County Elementary Envirothon. Students in grades 4-6 across Lebanon County participated in this year's Elementary School Envirothon and were fortunate to participate in a learning adventure to Smyrna, Delaware.
 | | Recent DCNR retiree, Estelle Ruppert, discusses the age and life history of horseshoe crabs to a group of students at Pickering Beach |
On May 17th, 114 students traveled to Smyrna, Delaware and spent the day exploring Delaware's salt marshes and bay habitats. Organized by Estelle Ruppert (recent Department of Conservation and Natural Resources retiree), Palmyra High School Teacher Gina Mason, and the Lebanon County Conservation District, students arrived at the Delaware Aquatic Resources Education Center (AREC) (a division of Fish and Wildlife) for the day-long outing. While there, students explored a 940-foot salt marsh boardwalk and nature trails linking salt marsh, fresh and brackish ponds, swamps and vernal pool wetland habitats. The students rotated through a series of 11 stations which were taught by high school Envirothon students from the varying Lebanon County school districts. The high school Envirothon students had been trained to teach the elementary students in various subjects including:
1. Tides & the Estuary
2. Canoe: Paddle Strokes and Terms
3. Fish & the Estuary
4. Wetland Grasses & Plants
5. Bird Connections in the Wetlands
6. Water Cycle, Saltwater & Freshwater
7. Fiddler Crabs
8. Food Web in the Wetlands
9. What is a Wetland? What is an Estuary?
10. Importance of Wetlands
11. Watersheds and People
Just before high tide, the students traveled to Pickering Beach, Delaware where they were witness to a massive gathering of horseshoe crabs waiting in the shallows of the Delaware Bay for the right moment to crawl ashore and spawn. During full-moon high tides in late April through June, millions of horseshoe crabs will lay and fertilize billions of eggs on Delaware and New Jersey Beaches! Students counted, weighed and measured horseshoe crabs and learned about their connection to the second largest population of migrating shorebirds in North America!
From Pickering Beach, the students traveled to and were provided a guided tour of Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge. Bombay Hook, which hosts hundreds of thousands of migrating ducks, geese, shorebirds, and neotropical songbirds, provided an opportunity for the students to view these species up close and in their natural habitats. After the tour, students returned to AREC where they finished rotating through the learning stations, were treated to dinner, and safely returned home. The bay trip was made possible by a grant from the Lebanon County Commissioners, Rettew Associates Inc., and funding from the participating school districts and Elementary Envirothon Advisors. While the future of this hands-on watershed experience is uncertain due to finances, the students enjoyed a fantastic trip and will certainly remember their time in the Delaware Bay. Check out more photos from the trip here.
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| Nominate a Soybean Farmer for the Conservation Legacy Award | |
 The American Soybean Association is accepting applications for their 2014 Conservation Legacy Award. They are looking for soybean farmers that are dedicated to protecting soil, water and air through conservation practices, while still being able to run a successful and profitable farm.
Winners from three regions (Midwest, Northeast and South) each receive an all-expense-paid trip for two to the Commodity Classic conference and trade show, February 26 - March 1, 2014 in San Antonio, Texas. In addition, the regional winners will be featured in a special insert in Corn & Soybean Digest magazine.
For more information, visit their website: www.soygrowers.com/clap. Applications are due by August 5.
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| Great Outdoors Month | |
 Nature Lovers across the country will celebrate the great outdoors during the month of June. This is a reminder to start off summer on a healthy note. Celebration ideas include hikes, camping, swimming and so much more. If your district is recognizing Great Outdoors Month in any way, please send details to jessica-espenshade@pacd.org.
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