10/24-25
11/1
(Advanced)
Centre County
11/2
11/9-10
CD Annual Reports Due
1/15/2017
ESM Training Calendar for 2018 currently under development.
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Q: What should a CD do if an applicant starts a project without notifying the CD?
A:
This is a "local control" decision.
Unfortunately it happens all to often. A grant recipient calls the district saying "Hey, we started (or finished) that project earlier this week." Fortunately CDs have some options in choosing how to handle such a situation. In 2014, the standard contract between the CD and grant recipient was revised and a line was added that reads: "The project participant shall provide the district notice of at least ____ days prior to project commencement". It is up to the CD to fill in the number of days in the contract. Since this is now part of the signed contract, not notifying the CD of starting the project can be considered a breach of the contract, and can even be grounds for canceling the contract and not funding the work.
This is not to say that the contract should be canceled in every situation. CDs are able to honor the contract, in full or in part, despite the lack of notification. If work done without notification is sub-standard, the CD may request that additional remediation work be done to correct any issues (either in-kind or through an amendment).
There are many variables in making these decisions such as: local policies, quality of work, project cost, amount of work done, history with applicant, and more. Center or SCC staff would be happy to advise on particular instances where this happens, but the final decision is up to local CDs.
With more projects hitting the ground each year, many CDs are moving towards
requiring
"contract signing meetings" or "pre-construction meetings" on site with the grant recipient and any contractors to ensure all parties are on the same page and avoid this situation all together.
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Center for Dirt & Gravel
Road Studies;
Larson Transportation Institute
Penn State University
201 Transportation Research Building, PA 16802
Toll-Free 1-866-NO-TO-MUD
(1-866-668-6683)
The Center provides education, outreach, and technical assistance related to PA's Dirt, Gravel, and Low-Volume Road Maintenance Program.
Support provided by:
PA State Conservation Commission
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Attendees visit a fill project on a very steep road in Bradford County.
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2017 Annual Maintenance Workshop
The 2017 Annual Maintenance Workshop was held in Bradford County, PA on September 26th-28th. Approximately 170 attendees enjoyed a rare rain-free workshop that included a variety of guest speakers, field trips to a dozen completed and planned DGLVR Projects, and a celebration of the Program's 20th Anniversary with some of its founders (see below). Thanks again to the Bradford County Conservation District for their assistance and willingness to share their projects.
Workshop Proceedings: All of the proceedings for the 2017 workshop are now available on the Center's website. This includes all handouts and presentations given as part of the workshop, as well as pictures, agenda, and more. You can find the proceedings on the Center's website under "education", then "Annual Workshop", or directly at the link here. All past workshop proceedings are available on the site as well.
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Wayne Kober presented with 6th
"Bud Byron Award"
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| Wayne Kober (center) receives the Bud Byron Award. Pictured with (from left to right): Steve Bloser, CDGRS; Roy Magaragil, Task Force Pioneer; Pete Ryan, Trout Unlimited Task Force Member; and Karl Brown, SCC |
Wayne Kober was the head of PennDOT's Bureau of Environmental Quality throughout the 1990s, and served as chairman of the "Task Force on Dirt and Gravel Roads" when it formed in 1993. This interdisciplinary Task Force was active throughout the 1990s and directly led to the establishment of the Dirt and Gravel Road Program and its non-lapsing funding in 1997 (more Task Force info here).
Wayne founded and led the Task Force in these formative years and remained involved in the administration and implementation of the initial Program through his position at PennDOT. If not for Wayne's leadership with the Task Force, it is uncertain if the DGLVR
Program
would exist today.
It is not only in the distant past that Wayne has helped the DGLVR Program. Throughout recent years, and still today, Wayne
continues to advocate on behalf of the DGLVR Program with legislators, lobbyists, department secretaries, and anyone else who will listen. It is not only for his past contributions, but for his continued support of the Program that Wayne was chosen as the 6th recipient of the Bud Byron Award. The award was presented to Wayne at the 20th Anniversary Banquet at the 2017 Workshop.
Thanks Wayne!
The "Bud Byron Award" is named in honor of the primary founder of the Dirt and Gravel Road Task force from the early 1990s that led to the establishment of the Program. The award is given periodically to honor someone who has made a significant contribution to the DGLVR Program.
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Annual Summary Reports and GIS Trainings
While it may be hard to believe, 2017 is already drawing to a close. As in past years, Conservation Districts must update their GIS system with all contracted and completed projects for 2017. The GIS system must be updated and confirmed by January 15th, 2018. Conservation Districts should be updating their GIS systems on at least a quarterly basis, instead of letting contracts pile up until the end of the year. Center staff are always available for GIS help and will be contacting CDs with more details in the near future.
In order to assist CDs, two GIS trainings have been scheduled for November in State College. The first "standard" GIS training will be a complete walk-through of the GIS system for new staff, or can be taken as a refresher. The second "advanced" GIS training will build off the standard training to include more in depth functionality such as creating layout maps, analyzing data, and advanced reporting. CD staff are welcome to attend one or both. Both will provide opportunity for facilitated data entry after the training. There is no cost, but registration is required.
November 1: Standard GIS Training
November 2: Advanced GIS Training
Resources:
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New Trout Unlimited Position
Trout Unlimited currently has a new position open for a Habitat Coordinator that deals primarily with road stream crossing issues. This new position will be responsible for coordination of TU's efforts on aquatic connectivity with partners across several state and national agencies. Since the position is also funded partially through the PSU Center for Dirt and Gravel Road Studies, duties will also include providing training, technical assistance, and oversight of stream crossing replacement to DGLVR Projects throughout the state. The position is posted until October 25th. A detailed announcement can be found
here. Please forward to anyone who may be interested.
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Materials Calculator
The Center has developed a "Materials Calculator" on its website to assist Districts, Municipalities, Forestry, and others to estimate quantities when developing DGLVR applications and work plans. The interface is relatively simple: after entering proposed dimensions and material for things like road fill, mattresses, or underdrains, it uses built-in densities and compaction ratios to estimate the quantity and cost of material needed. The calculator can be accessed at the "quick links" section at the bottom right of the Center's homepage, or directly here.
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Material calculator results pictured above for shale road fill inputs of: 1,000' long, 18' wide, 1' deep, at $8 a ton.
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In Other News...
This recurring feature highlights related topics outside the Program.
Center Working with "Road Ditch Management" Team Through the Chesapeake Stormwater Network
Since 2014, the Center has been working with various entities in PA, MD, and VA on a "Roadside Ditch Management Team" through the Chesapeake Stormwater Network. The overall goal of this effort is to raise awareness of the impact that roadside ditches have on stormwater, sediment, and nutrient pollution issues.
The Center has been working over the past year with other Team members
in an attempt to evaluate crediting options for roadside ditch BMPs
for inclusion
in the Chesapeake Bay Model. The Center has been assisting this
T
eam by identifying and sharing BMPs and projects completed through the DGLVR Program.
In conjunction with the above effort, the Center has been helping to develop a methodology to calculate sediment reductions for Program projects completed within the Chesapeake Bay watershed. If successful, specific drainage practices used within the program such as ditch elimination and adding drainage features would be applied a sediment reduction credit in the Chesapeake Bay Model to help Pennsylvania meet its Total Maximum Daily Load requirements.
More Details:
2014 Workshop Report
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