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Front Page: Your Weekly News & Updates
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| CPESC training, management summit, south central managers, news from Franklin and Blair Counties, small business grants, on-farm composting videos, tree assistance program, August webinar, and social media guidelines. |
Reminder: Register for CPESC Training by August 22
The deadline for the Certified Professional in Erosion and Sediment Control (CPESC) training and test being held September 3 and 4, 2019, is August 22, 2019. Both the review course and exam will take place at the Lebanon County Conservation District Office, 2120 Cornwall Rd., Lebanon, PA. If you have not yet started the CPESC certification process, we recommend you go to the Envirocert International, Inc. website
and review the requirements and process now. There are a limited number of seats available.
The review course is designed to ensure CPESC applicants understand what concepts will be covered by the exam, and acts as a review for most of those concepts. Note that there is special pricing for PA conservation district staff for the review course. The cost is $175 for conservation district employees and $365 for everyone else. The exam fee is $150. Before registering, contact Amy Brown at
[email protected]
or 717-238-7223 x104 for a district staff discount code or with any questions.
Click here for the registration link.
Click here for instruction on how to register.
The review course is open to anyone actively pursuing a CPESC certification through EnviroCert International, Inc., including conservation districts, agency staff, and private companies. Please pass this information along to anyone who may be interested.
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Register Now for Building for Tomorrow 2019 Management Summit
Still haven't registered for the Building for Tomorrow 2019 Management Summit? Don't miss this year's program, which features opportunities for professional development as well as practical information. Presentations and workshops focus on team dynamics and leadership, performance evaluation, parliamentary procedure, interns and volunteers, fundraising, and compliance. All district managers, assistant managers, and team leaders who supervise staff are encouraged to join us September 4-5.
There is no fee for attending. Attendees can contact the hotel directly to make room reservations at 814-466-2255. Please indicate the PA Association of Conservation Districts room block (group code: PACDSEPT19).
Click here to register and for event agenda and session descriptions.
Financial and other support for the Building for Tomorrow Leadership Development Program is provided through a grant from the Pennsylvania State Conservation Commission. Guidance for the Program is provided through the Pennsylvania Conservation Partnership's Leadership Development Committee.
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South Central Region Managers Meet
Managers from the PACD South Central Region met at Shady Maple in East Earl, PA, for a breakfast meeting on July 25, 2019. PACD Executive Director Brenda Shambaugh and several retired conservation district managers joined them.
Photo caption: Front row: PACD Executive Director Brenda Shambaugh and Larry Martick (retired manager). Middle row: Fulton County Conservation District Manager Seleen Shives, Schuylkill Conservation District Manager Jenna St. Clair, Northumberland County Conservation District Manager Judy Becker, Perry County Conservation District Manager Sally Tengeres, Mike Hubler (retired manager), Don McNutt (retired manager). Back row: Lancaster County Conservation District Manager Chris Thompson, Adams County Conservation District Manager Adam McClain, Chester County Conservation District Manager Chris Strohmaier, Cumberland County Conservation District Manager Carl Goshorn, Ernie Tarner (retired manager), Franklin County Conservation District Manager Dave Stoner, and Berks County Conservation District Manager Dean Druckenmiller.
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Secretary McDonnell Visits Franklin County Project
PA Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Patrick McDonnell visited community leaders at Lurgan Lions Club Park in Roxbury (Franklin County) to discuss how Restore Pennsylvania could support stream restoration projects to prevent erosion and protect communities across the commonwealth.
Staff from the Franklin County Conservation District and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service outlined their planned project to put in place in-stream stabilization structures and native vegetation to end the erosion. The project would also contribute to Franklin County's Clean Water Action Plan to help Pennsylvania reduce sediment and nutrients in its part of the Chesapeake Bay Watershed.
Click here to read the entire press release.
Photo caption: Franklin County Commissioner Robert Thomas (left) and PA Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Patrick McDonnell listen to Larry Brannaka (right), hydrologist with the PA field office of the US Fish and Wildlife Service. Photo courtesy of the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection.
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Blair County Conservation District Featured on Local News
Blair County Conservation District's rain barrel workshops were featured on a local news channel. Watershed Specialist Diane Thomas and Stormwater Coordinator Chelsea Ergler of the Blair Conservation District explained how rain barrels work and promoted upcoming workshops. Click here to watch the video.
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Small Business Advantage Grants Available for Farmers
The PA Department of Environmental Protection's 2019 Small Business Advantage Grant provides small businesses in Pennsylvania the opportunity to acquire energy-efficient or pollution-prevention technologies with a 50% reimbursement matching grant for equipment or materials.
Pennsylvania businesses with fewer than 100 full-time-equivalent employees are eligible to apply. Applicants must be for-profit entities, located in Pennsylvania, and registered with the Pennsylvania Department of State. Eligible projects must save the applicant a minimum of $500 annually and reduce their costs by a minimum of 25%. Applications are reviewed and awarded on a first-come, first-served basis.
New this year is the opportunity for small businesses to implement solar-thermal (hot water) projects. Solar hot water systems must function to serve the hot water needs of the small business. Solar projects generating electricity (PV) are not eligible.
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Video Series Explores Benefits of On-Farm Composting
Successful on-farm composting is showcased in four free videos on the Capital RC&D website,
www.capitalrcd.org
. These videos were created by Capital RC&D staff with the help of five Pennsylvania farmers and researchers at Rodale Institute. The video case studies exhibit successful examples of on-farm composting and provide insight about each farm's methods.
USDA-NRCS provided funding for the series and can provide technical assistance for farmers looking to implement or expand an on-farm composting system as part of their conservation practices. Farmers should contact their local NRCS office to learn more about this and other conservation practices.
For more information contact Cheryl Burns at Capital RC&D at 717-241-4361 or
[email protected]
.
Photo caption: Screenshot from "On-Farm Composting in Pennsylvania; Compost Bedded Pack."
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USDA Offers Assistance to Pennsylvania Producers Affected by Spotted Lanternfly
The USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) in Pennsylvania announced that orchardists and nursery tree growers who experienced losses from spotted lanternfly infestation are eligible for assistance through the Tree Assistance Program (TAP).
TAP provides financial assistance to qualifying orchardists and nursery tree growers to replant or rehabilitate eligible trees, bushes, and vines damaged by natural disasters. Producers who experienced losses have 90 calendar days after either the disaster event or when the loss becomes apparent to submit an application with supporting documentation.
Eligible tree types include trees, bushes, or vines that produce an annual crop for commercial purposes. Nursery trees include ornamental, fruit, nut, and Christmas trees that are produced for commercial sale. Trees used for pulp or timber are ineligible.
Click here for a fact sheet
and here for the press release.
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August Webinar Focuses on Urban Water Management Tools
The next NACD Urban and Community (U&C) Conservation webinar, Noon-1:00 p.m. on August 15, 2019, will focus on urban water management tools.
The Eaton Conservation District in Michigan will present its state Water Stewardship Program website. Also, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will showcase the 'How's My Waterway 2.0' application that is currently under development and expected to be released later this year.
There is no cost to participate, but space is limited. Registration will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. To register, click here
and fill out the online form. Contact NACD Senior Advisor Debra Bogar with questions at
[email protected]
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NACD Offers Social Media Guidelines
NACD recently created a Social Media Guidelines and Best Practices
document meant to help districts and board members use best social media practices when it comes to posting content and engaging online. These guidelines will help districts either create their own social media policy or build on and strengthen their existing policy. Establishing a social media policy for your conservation district's social media channels is important to maintain a consistent brand and image.
Click here to view the resource.
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Conservation Districts in the News
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