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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
Agricultural Conservation Technical Training - Basic Level
March 31-April 4, 2014
Ft. Indiantown Gap, Annville, PA (Lebanon County)
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
Ft. Indiantown Gap, Annville, PA (Lebanon County)
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Application Period Opens for 2014-15 Educational Mini-grant Program for Conservation Districts
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 | Erie County Conservation District hosted an interseeding demo as part
of their 2012-13 mini-grant project. |
Grants of up to $2,000 will be available for conservation districts to implement adult educational projects which offer strategies for reducing and preventing Nonpoint Source (NPS) Pollution in 2014. Projects should stimulate a local awareness of water quality issues, promote the theme "We All Live Downstream," and encourage citizen participation in activities to improve water quality in local watersheds. The deadline for applications is March 3, 2014. Click here for the online application and full grant details. Questions should be directed to Shannon Wehinger, PACD Director of Communications.
Financial and other support for the NPS Mini-grant Program 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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Early Bird Deadline for PACD/SCC Winter Meeting Approaching
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 If you haven't already registered for the PACD/SCC Winter Meeting, do so by Jan. 14 to receive the early bird discount. This is a $15 savings over the regular registration rate. The meeting will be Jan. 28-29 at the Ramada Conference Center, State College, PA.
Click here to register. Contact Molly Burns with questions at 717-238-7223.
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| PACD amongst Vendors at 98th Annual PA Farm Show | |
 | | PACD staff set up the conservation district booth at the PA Farm Show on January 2. The conservation jeopardy game was added before the start of the show. |
For the fifth consecutive year, the Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts (PACD) is out and about, interacting with residents from every corner of the commonwealth during the 98th Annual PA Farm Show extravaganza.
Located in the main exhibit hall, the PACD booth is connecting residents with their local conservation districts, while discussing ways we can all work together to conserve natural resources for our future. Be sure and stop by!
The PA Farm Show runs Jan. 4-11, 2014. For more information about all of the events taking place during the week-long event, visit www.farmshow.state.pa.us.
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Listening Sessions on Dirt and Gravel Roads Funding Taking Place during Winter Meeting
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 Coinciding with the upcoming PACD/SCC Winter Meeting in State College, the Center for Dirt and Gravel (D&G) Roads will host several round-table discussion sessions about the Program funding increase and the changes it will bring to the Program with the recent passing of House Bill 1060, the comprehensive Transportation Funding Package.
"Since many Districts will be attending the PACD winter meeting (Jan 28 & 29 in State College), it presents a good opportunity to "piggyback" with some D&G funding discussions," said Steve Blosser, with the Center for Dirt and Gravel Roads Program.
Three listening sessions are currently planned between January 27 and 29:
- Monday, January 27, 5-7:30 p.m. (Ramada Ballroom)
- This is a break-out session which will include a brief program update, a question and answer session and then breakout discussions into topic groups.
- Tuesday, January 28, 9:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. (Ramada Nittany Room)
- This is an informal session with discussion only. Participants can come and go as they please any time between 9:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.
- Wednesday, January 29, 1-3 p.m. (Ramada Atrium)
- This is a structured session (patterned like the Monday evening session) which will include a brief program update, a question and answer session and then breakout into topic groups for discussion.
The purpose in each of these sessions is to:
1) Share information about the funding increase with Conservation Districts;
2) Provide Conservation Districts with the opportunity to ask questions, voice concerns, and provide input in this ongoing process; and
3) Generate discussion and new ideas for moving forward.
Anyone planning to attend the Monday or Wednesday session should contact Kathy at kam16@psu.edu so that plans can be made accordingly.
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Video on the Conewago Creek Initiative Features Familiar Faces
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 | | Mike Hubler (retired, Dauphin County Conservation District) is one of the conservation district staff members featured in the "Conewago Creek Story" video. |
The Conewago Creek Initiative in Dauphin, Lancaster and Lebanon Counties is a locally-led, partnership effort to improve water quality.
Penn State Public Media the created "Conewago Creek Story," a beautiful video that features landowners and partners who have been the driving force of the initiative. The video shows the success of the project and shares lessons learned in the first five years of the project.
Naturally, Dauphin, Lancaster and Lebanon County Conservation Districts are involved in the project and featured throughout the piece. Click here to view the 17-minute video.
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There is Still Time to Participate in the NACD Poster Contest
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 The 2014 theme for the NACD Poster Contest is "Dig Deeper - Mysteries in the Soil." Conservation districts host a contest at the county level and then submit their poster entries to PACD for judging. Posters are due to PACD for the state level contest by June 30. One poster is chosen in each grade category to then move on to the national contest. Click here for rules and resources. Contact Sandy Austin with questions.
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EPA Technical Assistance Grants Available to Protect Water Quality, Build More Sustainable Communities
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 With communities across the country looking to implement green infrastructure to protect water quality, provide ecosystem services, increase resiliency to climate change, create economic opportunities, and support a high quality of life, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will be offering direct assistance to communities interested in implementing green infrastructure. This technical assistance funding will serve both to advance the adoption of green infrastructure programs in selected communities and to develop knowledge and tools that can be transferred to other communities. For more information about the application requirements, click here.
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