News & Notes December 2004

PACD's Engineering Program Receives Award

On October 29, PACD's Engineering Assistance staff members Eric Robertson and Phillip Gardner, accepted the 2004 Conservation is Progress Award from the Southern Alleghenies Resource Conservation & Development (RC&D) Council. The award recognizes the work of PACD's Engineering Technical Assistance Program's Somerset Technical Service Center Team.

"Many of the projects that they have assisted with are approved RC&D projects, including nearly a dozen from our area, which probably would not have been completed successfully without Eric and Phil's direct involvement. The types of services they have provided to many of our project partners include: identifying and evaluating problem areas, survey and project design, preliminary cost estimates, quality assurance oversight, soil investigations and training. It would be difficult to overstate the importance of their work to the Southern Alleghenies RC&D and our mission," said Council Chairman and Bedford County Commissioner Dick Rice.

Southern Alleghenies RC&D Council presents its Conservation Is Progress Award to individuals or organizations that have contributed to the preservation and enhancement of natural resources in the Southern Alleghenies region.

Pictured are (left to right): Dave Steele, RC&D Coordinator; Eric Robertson, PE, Conservation Engineer; Phillip Gardner, Conservation Technician; and Bedford County Commissioner, Dick Rice, Chairman of the RC&D Council.

PACD Receives $200,000 Growing Greener Grant

Environmental Protection Secretary Kathleen A. McGinty announced on November 4 that the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has awarded $200,000 to PACD for its Engineering Technical Assistance Program.

This grant will be used as matching funds for the $600,000 contribution agreement from USDA-NRCS. (See the November 2004 issue of News & Notes). The $200,000 Growing Greener Grant is less than what PACD requested and constitutes less than half of what is needed to fully fund the Engineering Technical Assistance Program for one year.
However, because of previous grants and position vacancies, there will be enough funds to keep the program running until the next grant round. PACD will continue to provide engineering assistance but with less than a full contingent of staff.

PACD Auxiliary Scholarship Fund
Quilt Project 2004-2005

The PACD Auxiliary launched a "Patriotic" Quilt raffle in October at the PACD Fall Meeting to benefit the Annual Scholarship Award Fund. Conservation Districts (and individuals) may request tickets to purchase, or to sell in their respective Districts, at $1.00 each or 6/$5.00. There will be 25 free tickets awarded to the Conservation District that sells the most tickets. All requests for tickets should go to the:

Erie County Conservation District
1927 Wager Road
Erie, PA 16509
c/o Mrs. Luetta Gross, Auxiliary President
Please make checks payable to the PACD Auxiliary.

Completed tickets may be mailed to the Auxiliary or may be deposited in the Auxiliary Ticket Box at the March or July PACD meetings. The Quilt will be on display again in Harrisburg, during the March Legislative Conference. The drawing for the lucky winner will be held in July at the PACD/SCC Joint Annual Conference in Erie. Click on http://www.pacd.org/about/auxiliary.htm for more information and to view a photo of the quilt.

Page 4>