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Conservation Districts in the News
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| Upcoming Events |
October 2, 2014
Franconia Heritage, Telford, PA
Conservation District Watershed Specialist Meeting
October 8-10, 2014
(October 8 is for new watershed specialists only)
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
Erie County Conservation District, Erie, PA
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
Manure Management Manual Train-the-Trainer Workshop
October 31, 2014
(9 a.m. - 3 p.m.)
Columbia County Conservation District Office, Bloomsburg, PA
Manure Management Manual Train-the-Trainer Workshop
November 13, 2014
(9 a.m. - 3 p.m.)
Salsa's Mexican Grille, Bedford, PA
PACD/SCC Winter Meeting
February 10-11, 2015
Ramada Conference Center, State College, PA
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
Intro to Conservation Planning
March 17-19, 2015
Holiday Inn Harrisburg-Hershey, Grantville, PA
Basic/Refresher Erosion and Sediment Control Technical Training
March 23-26, 2015
Keystone Conference Center, Fort Indiantown Gap, Annville, PA (Lebanon County)
Agricultural Conservation Technical Training - Basic Level
March 30-April 3, 2015
Keystone Conference Center, Ft. Indiantown Gap, Annville, PA (Lebanon County)
Advanced/Topic-Based Erosion and Sediment Control Technical Training
April 7-8, 2015
Keystone Conference Center, Fort Indiantown Gap, Annville, PA (Lebanon County)
Agricultural Conservation Technical Training - Level II
April 20-24, 2015
Keystone Conference Center, Ft. Indiantown Gap, Annville, PA (Lebanon County)
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 Did you know that NACD has presentations from conferences and meetings available such as Waking the Sleeping Giant: Leadership and Advocacy Training? This interactive training session was designed for conservation district officials.
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Free Manure Management Manual Train-the-Trainer Workshops in 2014
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 PACD is hosting two, free train-the-trainer events on the Manure Management Manual. The purpose of the training is to provide conservation district, PA Department of Environmental Protection and Penn State Cooperative Extension staff with a strong understanding of the Manure Management Manual and with the ability to train others on how to use the manual. The ultimate goal is to provide information that helps agricultural operators meet Manure Management Manual compliance.
 These workshops are designed for new staff members and those who want a refresher from when this same training took place in the 2011-12 winter season and the fall of 2013.
The first event will be Oct. 31, 2014 at the Columbia County Conservation District Office, 702 Sawmill Road, Suite 204, Bloomsburg, PA 17815. The second event will take place Nov. 13 in Bedford County at Salsa's Mexican Grille, 4407 Business Rt. 220, Bedford, PA 15522. Both sessions will begin at 9 a.m. and conclude at 3 p.m.
While there is no cost to attend; pre-registration is required. These trainings are free, with a light breakfast and lunch included. To register, visit www.pacd.org and click on the event tab, selecting the date and event location you'd like to attend.
Questions can be directed to Terry Fisher at terry-fisher@pacd.org or 717-238-7223.
Financial support for this project is provided by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection through the Chesapeake Bay Implementation Grant and the Clean Water Fund.
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Sustainable Practices Throughout Lancaster County Watershed Demonstrate Connection Between Land, People and Water
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PA Department of Environmental Protection's Deputy Secretary of Water Management Kelly Heffner (left) speaks at the Banta Farm during the Healthy Watershed Tour. Photo taken by Lisa Suhr.
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Conservation district staff, state officials and economic development representatives furthered the discussion regarding citizens and their interactions with the environment while touring several sites in Lancaster County as a part of the Healthy Watersheds tour on September 17. Offered by LandStudies, Inc., the tour was an opportunity to view a half dozen projects currently in practice which incorporate low-impact development in the Lititz Run region of the state.
"PACD coordinated with LandStudies to offer this opportunity," said Brandi Hunter-Davenport, PACD Director of Public Affairs & Education. "Several of the projects visited started off on a smaller scale and then really took off, showing just how much best management practices actually do protect our water resources, thereby protecting the surrounding community and our residents. Any measures we can take to protect and enhance our waterways goes a long way."
Site stops included: Millport Conservancy, Banta Farm, Lititz Run Riparian Park, Rock Lititz, Warwick Municipal Campus and Butterfly Acres. For more information about the Healthy Watersheds tour and LandStudies, Inc., visit www.landstudies.com. Click here to view more photos from the event.
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Save the Dates for Spring Training
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 PACD staff has been busy securing dates and locations for conservation district staff training for spring 2015. Look for registration information in Front Page in January. Mark your calendars for the following:
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
Intro to Conservation Planning
March 17-19, 2015
Holiday Inn Harrisburg-Hershey, Grantville, PA
Basic/Refresher Erosion and Sediment Control Technical Training
March 23-26, 2015
Keystone Conference Center, Fort Indiantown Gap, Annville, PA (Lebanon County)
Agricultural Conservation Technical Training - Basic Level
March 30-April 3, 2015
Keystone Conference Center, Ft. Indiantown Gap, Annville, PA (Lebanon County)
Advanced/Topic-Based Erosion and Sediment Control Technical Training
April 7-8, 2015
Keystone Conference Center, Fort Indiantown Gap, Annville, PA (Lebanon County)
Agricultural Conservation Technical Training - Level II
April 20-24, 2015
Keystone Conference Center, Ft. Indiantown Gap, Annville, PA (Lebanon County)
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Coldwater Heritage Partnership 2015 Grant Program Now Open
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 The Coldwater Heritage Partnership announces the opening of the 2015 Coldwater Conservation Grants Program. Applications are due December 19.
The program provides planning grants and implementation grants which help to protect and conserve the health of Pennsylvania's coldwater ecosystems. The Coldwater Heritage Partnership urges watershed groups, conservation districts, municipalities and local chapters of Trout Unlimited to apply.
Applications can be found on the Coldwater Conservation Grants webpage. For more information, contact Samantha Kutskel, Program Director, at 814-359-5233 or send email to: skutskel@coldwaterheritage.org.
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USDA Announces Conservation Innovation Grant Recipients
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 Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced the award of $15.7 million in Conservation Innovation Grants (CIGs) to 47 organizations that will help develop and demonstrate cutting-edge ideas to accelerate innovation in private lands conservation.
The National Association of Conservation Districts received $750,000 for Soil Health Advocates - Promoting and Documenting the Benefits of Soil Health Management.
Also, the Pennsylvania State University received $290,650 for Vegetative and Riparian Buffers for Environmental Stewardship and Renewable Fuels on Poultry Farms. Click here to see the full list of recipients.
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Free Online Diagnostic Tool for Your Watershed Group
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 The new version of River Network's organizational assessment tool, now available online, is a two-part diagnostic survey for river and watershed groups across the country. It is designed to:
- assist organizations in the identification of priority organizational development needs;
- assess programmatic capacity to effectively engage and support project implementation
- assess the progress over time of the growth in operational capacities.
Click here to access the tool.
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National Drug Take Back Day Scheduled for September 27
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 The next DEA National Drug Take Back Day will be Sept. 27, 2014. The National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day aims to provide a safe, convenient, and responsible means of disposing of prescription drugs (and prevents them from being flushed into local waterways), while also educating the general public about the potential for abuse of medications.
For collection locations in PA, posters, banners, public education tools, and more information , click here.
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