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Conservation Districts in the News
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| Upcoming Events |
Certified Professional in Erosion and Sediment Control (CPESC) Course and Exam
June 25-26, 2014
Civil and Environmental Consultants, Inc., Pittsburgh, PA
PACD/SCC Joint Annual Conference
July 9-10, 2014
Blair County Convention Center, Altoona, PA
Certified Professional in Erosion and Sediment Control (CPESC) Course and Exam
August 27-28, 2014
Holiday Inn, Williamsport, PA
PACD South East Region Meeting
October 2, 2014
Franconia Heritage, Telford, PA
Conservation District Watershed Specialist Meeting
October 9-10, 2014
Ramada Conference Center, State College, PA
PACD North East Region Meeting
October 17, 2014
DEP Northeast Regional Office, Wilkes-Barre, PA
PACD North Central Region Meeting
October 21, 2014
Clinton County Conservation District, Mill Hall, PA
PACD North West Region Meeting
October 22, 2014
Location: TBA (Erie County)
PACD South West Region Meeting
October 23, 2014
Beaver County Conservation District, Aliquippa, PA
PACD South Central Region Meeting
October 27, 2014
Cumberland County Conservation District, Carlisle, PA
Annual 102-105 Meeting
October 28-30, 2014
Ramada Conference Center, State College, PA
PACD/SCC Winter Meeting
February 9-10, 2015
Ramada Conference Center, State College, PAw
Chesapeake Bay Program Conservation District and PA Agency Staff Meeting
March 10, 2015 (snow date March 12)
Elaine Langone Center, 2nd Floor, Bucknell University, Lewisburg, PA
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Working Session on Partnership Building Certain to Further Outreach on Local Level
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Emilio Williams, President of the Koi Group. Photo courtesy of The Koi Group.
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Emilio N. Williams, President of The Koi Group, has more than 25 years of experience in training, group facilitation and human resource development. On July 10, during this year's Joint Annual Conference, he will kick-off the resource sessions with his Building Inclusive - Sustainable Partnerships workshop. This two-hour presentation will engage participants in dialogue that speaks to working with multiple stakeholders as each works to further the overall mission of the conservation movement. Emilio will encourage districts to talk about their perspectives and experiences by region, and lay the groundwork for what it means to be intentionally inclusive, helping everyone building a framework of understanding for next steps beyond the day's discussion.
Emilio has worked with a number of environmental organizations and has served as a leader, facilitator, trainer, staff person and volunteer for a wide variety of organizations and communities including but not limited to serving as the firstPresident of the first National Audubon Chapter in Washington, DC; Consultant to the North American Association for Environmental Education (NAAEE); Chairperson of the Urban and Multicultural Commission; and testified before the Senate Subcommittee on Natural Resources for the Corps Network. The Koi Group, which is based in Maryland, is a select group of training professionals specializing in cultural change initiatives and building multicultural collaborations, staff and organizational development, group/meeting facilitation, and team building. For more information about their work, visit http://koigroup.com.
This is a session you definitely don't want to miss. If you haven't registered for the 2014 JAC yet, visit http://tinyurl.com/2014JAC for full details. The early-bird registration discount expires on June 11. Don't delay!
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Meet JAC Silver Sponsor: The Pennsylvania Council of Trout Unlimited!
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 The Pennsylvania Council of Trout Unlimited (PATU) is a conservation organization dedicated to protecting, conserving and restoring Pennsylvania's cold water streams. The Council consists of 48 chapters with over 13,000 members. For more information, visit www.patrout.org.
The Coldwater Heritage Partnership (CHP) and Trout in the Classroom (TIC) are two priority programs of PATU. The CHP program is a collaborative effort between the Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC), the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Foundation for Pennsylvania Watersheds and PATU. The program provides leadership, coordination, technical assistance and funding for the conservation and protection of Pennsylvania's cold water streams. The program provides two grant opportunities. The planning grant provides funding for the creation of a Coldwater Conservation Plan. The implementation grant provides funding to complete recommendations listed in completed plans. For more information, visit www.coldwaterheritage.org.
TIC introduces students across the state to cold water conservation by raising brook trout from eggs to fingerlings. TIC is a partnership between PATU and PFBC. Each classroom is partnered with a conservation organization (TU chapter, conservation district, watershed organization, etc.) to provide a community connection to the local watershed. For more information, visit www.patroutintheclassroom.org.
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PACD Welcomes Summer Intern!
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Photo taken by
Shannon Wehinger.
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A message from Tracy Raymond:
Hello Everyone!
My name is Tracy Raymond and I will be spending this summer interning with PACD.
This internship is the final step (and one of the most exciting components) in completing my Masters of Public Administration degree from Shippensburg University. I have spent the past two years engaged in challenging coursework focused on research, policy analysis and management in the public sector. Before returning to school to obtain my graduate degree, I received a Bachelor of Arts in Economics degree from Hood College, which was followed by work in both the retail management and horticulture industries.
I would like to thank everyone here at the PACD for the opportunity to combine this background with my lifelong interest in conservation. I look forward to working with and learning from all of you.
Tracy-raymond@pacd.org
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PACD's Administrative Assistant Recommends QuickBooks Course
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Photo taken by Lisa Suhr.
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This spring our Administrative Assistant, Sandy Austin, enrolled in an on-line QuickBooks course offered by Harrisburg Area Community College. The course ran for six weeks, with two lessons released each week. According to Sandy, "The course's pace was perfect for me, and I was able to work on the lessons at my convenience. As a QuickBooks novice, I was able to gain the understanding I will need to assist with financial tasks I will be assigned in the future."
The courses can be accessed through www.ed2go.com in partnership with many area colleges. A variety of QuickBooks courses are available, including Introduction, Intermediate and Payroll. New sessions start monthly.
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Cameron County Conservation District Honored by PA Wilds
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Photo provided by CCCD.
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The Cameron County Conservation District (CCCD) was recently honored as a PA Wilds Champion in the "Inspiring Youth" category. The CCCD has developed a strong partnership with the school district and other youth and nature-based clubs to help educate kids about the wonders of nature and how to protect it for future generations.
Conservation education has long been a priority with the district and they partner with many to reach young and old alike. A neighboring district manager said, "You guys do more for environmental education than many districts, given your small staff."
"That meant a lot to the district," said CCCD Manager Jan Hampton. Click here to read more about the annual PA Wilds dinner and awards banquet.
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| Clinton County Holds Ribbon Cutting for Interpretive Panels | |
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District Manager Mary Ann Bower (left) stands with board members, staff and partners at the unveiling of the Route 80 interpretive panels. Photo provided by Clinton County Conservation District.
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Just in time to celebrate May as Watershed Awareness Month, the Clinton County Conservation District and PennDOT unveiled new conservation interpretative panels at the I-80 rest areas in Greene Township on May 29th.
The panels were funded through a mini-grant from the Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts (PACD). PACD Director of Communications Shannon Wehinger was on hand to witness the unveiling. "CCCD did a great job with this mini-grant project. They worked with PennDOT and other partners to get the panels installed in time for the busy summer travel season. Congratulations to CCCD staff and board members for installing this educational display which will make a difference for water quality," said Wehinger.
In attendance at the unveiling were representatives from the conservation district, PENNDOT, Clinton County Commissioners, Senator John Wozniak's office, Senator Joe Scarnati's office, Representative Mike Hanna's office, the Clinton County Economic Partnership, and PACD.
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.
Click here to view the panels. Click here to view more photos from the event.
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NACD NEWS
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2015 Annual Meeting: Call for Breakout Session Proposals
 NACD is pleased to invite districts, state associations, conservation partners, and professionals to submit presentation proposals for the 2015 NACD Annual Meeting, February 1-4, 2015 in New Orleans, Louisiana.
NACD offers a number of informational sessions during the meeting, focusing on the work of districts across the country. Sessions address natural resource issues as well as operations, funding, new technologies, and partnerships. Sessions typically run 1-2 hours, and in some cases, showcase several presentations of 20-45 minutes each. These are some of the most popular activities among attendees at the annual meeting!
If you are interested in submitting a proposal, please complete the form and return to Peter Bachmann by email (peter-bachmann@nacdnet.org) or fax (202-547-6450) no later than Friday, August 1. For the latest details on the 2015 NACD Annual Meeting, click here.
NACD Welcomes Rollout of USDA Regional Conservation Partnership Program
Last week, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced details of the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP), a five-year, $2.4 billion program to fund locally designed soil and water conservation projects nationwide. USDA will spend $1.2 billion - including $400 million the first year - and raise an equal amount from participants.
The program establishes three pots of money for grants. Thirty-five percent of total funding will be divided among critical conservation areas (CCAs) including the Great Lakes, the Chesapeake Bay watershed, the Columbia, Colorado and Mississippi river basins, the Longleaf Pine Range, prairie grasslands and the California Bay Delta. Click here for a map of the CCAs. Additionally, 40 percent will go to regional or multi-state projects selected on a competitive basis and 25 percent to state-level projects through a competitive process administered by STCs.
More information on the announcement, including testimonials from NACD members, can be found on the USDA RCPP webpage.
NACD June U&C Webinar
The next NACD Urban and Community Conservation Webinar is scheduled for 12 p.m. (ET) on June 19. Following the May webinar's review of the benefits of green spaces, two conservation districts will share Low Impact Development (LID) activities and perspectives.
There is no cost to participate, but space is limited. Registration will be accepted on a first-come, first-serve basis. To register, email Debra Bogar at deb-bogar@nacdnet.org with your name, title, district or business name and email address. Information to access the webinar will be sent by email. Held on the third Thursday of each month, these webinars are sponsored by The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company in partnership with the NACD Urban and Community Resource Policy Group.
Nominations Now Open
Nominations for the NACD Service Awards are now open until August 31. Each year, NACD offers the opportunity for national recognition of an individual, business, agency or organization for outstanding work and leadership in soil and water conservation. Winners of the following two categories will be honored at the NACD Annual Meeting in New Orleans on Feb. 3, 2015.
For nomination forms and more information, visit the NACD website between now and August 31 and nominate your conservation winners today!
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Call for Conservation Legacy Award Applications
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The 2015 Conservation Legacy Awards program is now accepting applications. This worthy program, now in its 14th year, recognizes the good stewardship and conservation practices of farmers.
Award sponsors are looking for soybean farmers who can share their stories of conservation on their farms. This program helps show how U.S. soybean farmers are committed to protecting the soil, water and air through outstanding environmental and conservation practices, while still being able to farm profitably.
Please forward information regarding the award to any eligible recipients. Click here for the program brochure. All applications must be submitted online no later than Aug. 4, 2014.
More information about the awards program and the online application can be found at http://soygrowers.com/award-programs/conservation-legacy The Conservation Legacy Awards program is sponsored by the American Soybean Association, BASF, Monsanto, the United Soybean Board/soybean check-off and Corn & Soybean Digest.
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PA Ground Water Association's Summer Field Conference Registration Available
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The PA Ground Water Association (PGWA) is hosting their Summer Field Conference June 13 in State College.
The location of the event is the same as in the previous year, located next to the Home Depot on the west side of State College at Exit 69 on Interstate Highway I-99.
The program will provide 4.5 Professional Development Hours (PDH's) for licensed Professional Geologists (P.G.'s) and licensed Professional Engineers (P.E.'s). PGWA will provide Certificates of Attendance upon request, noting the 4.5 PDH's for the P.E.'s and P.G.'s who attend.
Complete program details and a location map for the PGWA Summer Field Conference are available at www.pgwa.org.
All registrants will receive an e-mail confirmation of their registration.
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Susquehanna Greenway Mini-Grant Program is Open
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 The Susquehanna Greenway Mini-Grant Program is now OPEN for applications with the theme of Susquehanna Greenway Signage and Interpretation. This is a competitive grant program for interpretative planning and signage projects that will help to improve the experience of people who are using walking and biking trails, water trails, community parks, or visiting river towns within the Susquehanna Greenway.
Funding for the program is provided by the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources' Keystone Fund. Grant guidelines and application forms are available online: www.susquehannagreenway.org/mini-grant-program.
The deadline to submit an application is July 22, 2014. All questions and comments can be directed to Zach Pyle, River Towns Program Coordinator, at 570-522-7339, or zpyle@susquehannagreenway.org.
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June Designated as Both Rivers Month and National Oceans Month
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Photo courtesy of the Northumberland County Conservation District from their 2013 Kayak Excursion.
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June is observed as Rivers Month and National Oceans Month, and is a time to remind ourselves that we should all be taking steps to protect not only the commonwealth's rivers and waterways, but also remembering the connection between our waterways on a global scale.
A few tips to aid with preserving and protecting waterways:
- Install fencing along streambanks to exclude pastured animals. This reduces nutrient and sediment pollution and encourages vegetation growth, which stabilizes the bank and filters runoff.
- Designate no-mow areas. Not mowing adjacent to streams promotes plant growth and water filtration. Plus, it creates excellent wildlife habitat.
- Keep litter, pet wastes, leaves and debris out of street gutters and storm drains. These drain directly to lakes, streams, rivers and wetlands.
For more information and helpful tips, contact your local conservation district by visiting www.pacd.org/CD.
The 2014 River of the Year is the Schuylkill River. For more information about River of the Year events, visit http://www.schuylkillriver.org/2014_riveroftheyear.aspx.
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June is Great Outdoors Month
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 Celebrating all the outdoors and the educational experiences they offer around the country, June is observed as Great Outdoors Month! The designation is a wonderful reminder to Pennsylvanians to take the opportunity to connect or reconnect with the vast outdoor experiences the state has to offer. For more information about the 2014 observance, click here.
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