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Front Page: Your Weekly News & Updates
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| Mini-grants awarded, conference held, Clean Water Farm Award, new officers elected, volunteers needed for Ag Progress Days, and upcoming soil conference. |
$43,000 in Nonpoint Source Pollution Prevention Mini-grants Selected for Funding
Pennsylvania's county conservation districts were awarded over $43,000 for twenty-six pollution reduction projects in twenty-six counties. These projects promote water pollution prevention activities through the Non-point Source (NPS) Pollution Prevention Educational Mini-Grant Program. The projects will take place over the next 8 months.
Funding for the grants, up to $2,000 each, is provided through the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection under Section 319 of the Clean Water Act, administered by the US Environmental Protection Agency.
Click here to read the entire press release including the list of funded projects.
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Conservationists from Across the Northeastern United States Convene in Lancaster
Representatives from the northeastern United States traveled to the DoubleTree Resort by Hilton Hotel in Lancaster for the National Association of Conservation District's (NACD) Northeast Regional Meeting. Conservation leaders from these states met for educational programs, tours, and networking.
"It is exiting to host a meeting that brings our counterparts from other northeastern states together. This week, we were able to showcase some of Pennsylvania's conservation district projects via tours and educational sessions. Attendees learned about the Dirt, Gravel, and Low Volume Road Program which helps decrease pollution from unpaved roads and is unique to Pennsylvania. They visited a plain sect farm where they saw how the Lancaster County Conservation District helped the farmer control pollution. They participated in a stormwater tour by LandStudies, Inc. which shows work being done in our communities to reduce flooding. Finally, visitors had the opportunity to visit Stroud Water Research Center and learn about research they are conducting to ensure we have enough clean water for future generations," said Brenda Shambaugh, PACD Executive Director. "Our conservation districts work hard every day to make a difference in our communities."
After saying goodbye to our collegues from other states, the Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts, Inc. (PACD) and the State Conservation Commission held their 71th Joint Annual Conference. Several Pennsylvania conservationists were recognized at an awards luncheon on July 18.
The 2018 PACD honorees are as follows:
- Legislator Leadership Award - Senator John H. Eichelberger, Jr. (PA 30th District)
- President's Award - Pat Sueck
- Ann Rudd Saxman Conservation District Director Excellence Award - Jay Snyder (Lancaster County)
- Conservation District Employee Excellence Award - Renee Swineford (Snyder County)
- Conservation District Employee Service Recognition Program Awards
40 Years of Service
- Craig Bingman, Manager, Snyder County
30
Years of Service
- Carl Goshorn, Manager, Cumberland County
- James Pillsbury, Hydraulic Engineer, Westmoreland County
- Tammie Robinson, Administrative Assistant, Indiana County
- Lorelle Steach, PA Envirothon Coordinator, Bedford County
Photo caption: Mark Gutshall, Founder and Vice President of LandStudies leads the Stormwater Tour on July 17, 2018.
Click here to read the entire press release and here
to see photos from the event.
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Four Pennsylvania Farms Receive Clean Water Farm Award
PACD, in conjunction with the award sponsor, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), presented the operators of four farms with the Clean Water Farm Award during its annual conference on July 18, 2018 in Lancaster, PA. The honor is awarded annually to farmers who manage their daily farm operations in an environmentally conscious manner that helps to protect Pennsylvania's water quality.
DEP has sponsored this award for the past thirty-two years. Recipients receive a certificate signed by the DEP Secretary and a large Clean Water Farm Award sign to erect on their property.
The 2018 Clean Water Farm Award Recipients are:
- Ed Chianese (Susquehanna County)
- Justin and Doreen Geisinger Air Hill Acres Farm (Franklin County)
- Will & Kelly Smith, Deep Roots Valley Farm (Berks County)
- Dave Pounds (Indiana County)
The Clean Water Farm award was initiated in 1986. Recipients of the award are nominated by their local county conservation districts.
Financial support for this award is provided by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection through the Chesapeake Bay Regulatory and Accountability Program and the Pennsylvania Chesapeake Bay Education Office (administered by the Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts, Inc.).
Photo caption: (left to right) PACD Executive Director Brenda Shambaugh, PA Department of
Agriculture Deputy Secretary for Animal Health and Food Safety Gregory Hostetter, PA Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Patrick McDonnell, award recipient Kelly Smith, award recipient Will Smith, PACD President Charles Duritsa, and PACD North Central Region Director Dr. Robert Shannon.
Click here to read the entire press release.
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During the PACD Executive Council meeting on July 18, three officers were re-elected and two new officers were elected.
The 2018-19 slate of officers includes:
- President: Charles Duritsa, Westmoreland Conservation District
- 1st Vice President: Mike Price, Beaver County Conservation District
- 2nd Vice President: Donald Koontz, Mercer County Conservation District
- Secretary & NE Region Director: Kelly Stagen, Pike County Conservation District
- Treasurer: Sonia Wasco, Lancaster County Conservation District
Also during the Executive Council meeting, delegates voted to give the Executive Board the authority to sell the existing PACD office building and purchase a condo.
Photo caption: The newly elected PACD officers are Sonia Wasco (left), PACD Treasurer and Kelly Stagen, PACD Secretary and North East Region Director.
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Volunteers Needed for Ag Progress Days
District Staff and Directors are needed to volunteer at the Conservation District Exhibit at the 2018 Penn State University Agricultural Progress Days. Volunteers are still needed - call or email now to volunteer for the shift that works best for you.
This year's event will be held August 14-16, 2018 at the Russell E. Larson Agricultural Research Center at Rock Springs, nine miles southwest of State College.
A number of people have already signed up to help, but volunteers are needed for the following shifts:
- Wednesday, August 15 - 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm - 1 volunteer needed
- Thursday, August 16 - 9:00 am to 1:00 pm - 1 volunteer needed
1:00 pm - 5:00 pm - 1 volunteer needed
Please contact Jann McNamara at [email protected] or call 717-238-7223 with questions or to schedule your shift.
Volunteers will receive parking passes. If you want to learn more about Ag Progress Days go to their website at http://agsci.psu.edu/apd.
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Save the Date: Soil & Water Conservation Society Conference Coming to PA in 2019
The Keystone Chapter of Soil & Water Conservation Society (SWCS) is working with the All Ohio Chapter to co-host the conference. This is a great opportunity for conservation professionals to showcase how essential conservation districts are to advancing both the science and the art of natural resource conservation. The last and only other time the annual conference was in Pennsylvania was in 1965 in Philadelphia!
The Allegheny County Conservation District is engaged in helping to promote this exciting opportunity and to organize local tours to diverse and innovative projects. For more information contact Courtney Slaglem, [email protected] conference events coordinator or Dan Dostie, Keystone Chapter President, [email protected] if it is a questions specific to local volunteer and tour arrangements.
Click here to read more about the SWCS.
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Conservation Districts in the News
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Upcoming Events
2018 Management Summit
September 5-6, 2018
Ramada Hotel and Conference Center, State College, PA
PACD South West Region Meeting
October 4, 2018
Westmoreland Conservation District Office, Greensburg, PA
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