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Conservation Districts in the News
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| Upcoming Events |
PACD/SCC Winter Meeting
January 28-29, 2014
Ramada Conference Center, State College, PA
Intro to Conservation Planning
March 4-6, 2014
Holiday Inn Harrisburg-Hershey, Grantville, PA
Chesapeake Bay Program Conservation District and PA Agency Staff Meeting
March 10
(snow date March 13)
Bucknell University, Lewisburg, PA
PACD South Central Region Meeting
March 12, 2014
Cumberland County Conservation District, Carlisle, PA
Basic/Refresher Erosion & Sediment Control Technical Training
March 24-27, 2014
Keystone Conference Center, Fort Indiantown Gap, Annville PA
Agricultural Conservation Technical Training - Basic Level
March 31-April 4, 2014
Keystone Conference Center, Fort Indiantown Gap, Annville, PA (Lebanon County)
Advanced/Topic-Based Erosion & Sediment Control Technical Training
April 1-3, 2014
Farm & Home Center, Lancaster PA
PACD North Central Region Meeting
April 2, 2014
Clinton County Conservation District, Mill Hall, PA
PACD South East Region Meeting
April 3, 2014
Location: TBA
PACD North East Region Meeting
April 4, 2014
DEP Northeast Regional Office, Wilkes-Barre, PA
PACD North West Region Meeting
April 10, 2014
Forest County Conservation District, Tionesta, PA
PACD South West Region Meeting
April 11, 2014
Westmoreland Conservation District, Greensburg, PA
Agricultural Conservation Technical Training - Level II
April 28-May 2, 2014
Keystone Conference Center, Fort Indiantown Gap, Annville, PA (Lebanon County)
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| Previous Issues of Front Page | |
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Front Page will return Jan. 6, 2014. In case you missed it last week, here is the link to a PACD holiday greeting.
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It Takes a Village...PACD Staff Take Some Time to Help Those in Need this Holiday Season
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 | | PACD staff recently gave back to the community by volunteering at the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank. The staff joined representatives from area Members 1st branches to pack nearly 500 boxes of food for elderly Pennsylvanians. Some 9,000 boxes (5,000 sponsored by the state and 4,000 purchased by the Central PA Food Bank) will be distributed by the end of the month to the state's senior residents in need. Pictured (left to right) are: Lisa Suhr, Brandi Hunter-Davenport, Sandy Austin and Molly Burns. Photo taken by Shannon Wehinger. |
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Applications Being Accepted for 2014 Boot Camp Training
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Applications are now being accepted for the Agricultural Conservation Technical Training ("Boot Camp" Basic level and Level II). Conservation district staffs are encouraged to take advantage of these free, week-long training opportunities which include both classroom learning and experience in the field.
Agricultural Conservation Technical Training - Basic Level
March 31-April 4, 2014
Information and Registration
Agricultural Conservation Technical Training - Level II
April 28-May 2, 2014
Information and Registration
 | | Photo by Holly Hunt. |
Both courses will be at the Keystone Conference Center, Ft. Indiantown Gap, Annville, PA (Lebanon County). The deadline to apply is February 7, 2014. Questions? Contact Shannon Wehinger.
These training opportunities are made possible by the following sponsors: Natural Resources Conservation Service, PA Department of Agriculture/State Conservation Commission, and the Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts, Inc.
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Save the Date: Erosion & Sediment Control Technical Training 2014
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 Registration for the 2014 Erosion & Sediment (E&S) Control Technical trainings will open in January. These are free trainings and are open to conservation district and approved DEP staff. Contact Molly Burns with questions.
Basic/Refresher Erosion & Sediment Control Technical Training
March 24-27, 2014
Keystone Conference Center, Fort Indiantown Gap, Annville PA
Advanced/Topic-Based Erosion & Sediment Control Technical Training
April 1-3, 2014
Farm & Home Center, Lancaster PA
This training is funded through a grant from the PA Department of Environmental Protection, and made possible through the cooperation of the PA Association of Conservation Districts and Pennsylvania's conservation districts.
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Work with Plain Sect Community Highlighted on Comcast Newsmakers Edition
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Don McNutt, Administrator for the Lancaster County Conservation District, spoke to the district's work with the plain sect community during a Dec. 17, 2013 taping with Comcast Newsmakers. McNutt spoke to the differences between the English and Plain Sect communities and the importance of establishing relationships with both groups to assist them with their agricultural efforts throughout the county. To view a clip, click here.
PACD asked Don to appear on the show as part of PACD's efforts to educate the public on the good work of conservation districts. If you have an idea for a TV segment please contact Brandi Hunter-Davenport.
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| USDA Report Shows Conservation Practices in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed are Preventing Millions of Tons of Soil Erosion Annually while Reducing Harmful Runoff | |
 A record number of voluntary conservation practices adopted by Chesapeake Bay farmers since 2006 have significantly reduced the amount of nitrogen, sediment and phosphorus leaving cultivated croplands, according to a new report released recently. The report, part of the Conservation Effects Assessment Project, or CEAP, by USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service estimates that, since 2006, conservation practices applied by cropland farmers in Pennsylvania and other bay-area states in the past seven years are reducing nitrogen leaving fields, by 48.6 million pounds each year, or 26 percent, and reducing phosphorus by 7.1 million pounds, or 46 percent. Click here to read more. |
| Save the Date:Lancaster, PA Agricultural Financing Workshop: "Show Me the Money" | |
The Environmental Finance Center (EFC) invites you to a FREE event that provides Pennsylvania farmers with information and resources to finance effective agricultural best management practices. The workshop will be held January 30, 2014.
Discover funding opportunities available to implement agricultural best management practices while improving water quality. Funders and financing from private and state resources will be summarized for farmers and farming consultants.
There is no cost to attend but registration is required. Nutrient Management credits will be available for attendees. Lunch will be provided. Registration will open January 2nd. Click here for more information.
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State's New Drug Drop-off Program Will Benefit Water Quality
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 | | Photo from www.medreturn.com |
A new state program to let people drop off unused and expired prescription drugs at police stations and other locations with no questions asked was launched last week.
The aim of the Drug Take-Back Initiative is to dispose of these drugs safely so they don't end up in the hands of addicts or adolescents experimenting with drugs, said Gov. Tom Corbett and state officials.
Another benefit of the drop-off is keeping drugs from being flushed down toilets and polluting waterways, Corbett said. Click here to read more.
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Call for Presenters 2014 PA Groundwater Symposium May 7
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The 2014 Pennsylvania Groundwater Symposium will be at the Ramada Inn Conference Center in State College, PA on May 7, 2014.
The Symposium theme, Building Groundwater Knowledge through Monitoring, will provide a forum for researchers, students, professionals and educators working in the groundwater field to exchange information and promote protection of groundwater resources. Abstracts will be accepted through January 31 for oral or poster presentations on a wide variety of groundwater topics.
To learn more about the symposium and to submit an abstract to be a presenter, visit the Conference website.
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EPA Seeks Environmental Education Grant Applications
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 The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is now accepting applications for environmental education projects under the agency's Environmental Education Grant Program. Applications are due February 4.
Projects in the past have engaged students in stream monitoring, created sustainable mentoring communities, and provided professional development to teachers on subjects including science, technology, engineering and math.
Eligible organizations include local education agencies, colleges or universities, state education or environmental agencies, tribal education agencies, 501(C)(3) nonprofit organizations, and noncommercial educational broadcasting entities working in education.
Each award will be an estimated $75,000 to $200,000. EPA expects to award between 22 and 32 grants nationwide. For more information, visit EPA's Environmental Education Grant webpage.
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Presidential Innovation Award for Environmental Educators Now Accepting Nominations
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 The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, in partnership with the White House Council on Environmental Quality, is currently accepting applications until February 28 for the third annual Presidential Innovation Award for Environmental Educators.
The award recognizes outstanding K-12 teachers and their local education agencies nationwide for excellence in integrating environmental education into their lessons and demonstrating the connection between health and the environment for their students.
Up to 20 teachers nationwide will receive award plaques and a financial award of $2,000 to support their professional development in environmental education. Each teacher's school will also receive a $2,000 award to help fund environmental education activities and programs that support the teacher.
For more information, visit the Presidential Innovation Award for Environmental Educators webpage.
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