News & Notes December 2007

Watershed Specialists: Making the NPS Connection through the PACD Mini-grants Program

Since the inception of the PACD Mini-grants Program*, watershed specialists from 34 of Pennsylvania's Conservation Districts have used the program to develop educational projects that work to encourage everyday citizens to take action to reduce water pollution. While any employee from a conservation district may serve as lead for these projects, in recent years watershed specialists alone have developed grant proposals and collectively received over $30,000 annually for projects that focus on: acid mine drainage, agriculture, community conservation, erosion & sedimentation, general nonpoint source pollution (NPs) awareness, general watershed awareness, septic systems, soils, stormwater, and wetlands. Since the focus of the watershed specialist position is to "restore and protect watersheds and foster environmental stewardship", the mini-grant program is a great fit for such efforts.

Several of Pennsylvania's conservation districts employ watershed specialists who have been applying for and securing educational mini-grants for 5, or even 10, years. These watershed specialists are Ann Donovan (Centre), Brian Pilarcik (Crawford), Cadie Pruss (Mifflin), Chotty Sprenkle (Chester), Corey Richmond (Sullivan), Gary Peacock (York), Jim Eckenrode (Blair), Matt Kofroth (Lancaster), Stephanie Harmon (Lebanon), Sally Tengeres (Perry), and Vy Trinh (Adams).

Watershed specialists from 47 of Pennsylvania's Conservation Districts gathered at the annual Watershed Specialist Meeting in October of this year.

Other watershed specialists who have conducted projects over the years include Ryan Zerbe (Berks), Rob Parker (Bradford), Jackie Ritko & Bryan Rabish (Cambria), Erin Dunleavy (Clinton), Cathy Haffner & Stephanie Singer (Columbia), Kim Lanich (Elk), Amy Jo Smith (Erie), Jamie Anderson (Delaware), Heather Fowler (Fayette), Tammy Gross (Franklin), Scott Alexander (Fulton), Amber Siar (Jefferson), Brent Leach (Juniata), Alana Roberts (Lackawanna), Shawn Rybka (Luzerne), Carey Entz (Lycoming), Trish Attardo (Monroe), Susan Harris (Montgomery), David Kemp (Somerset), Julie Sigler (Washington), Kathy Blaisure (Susquehanna), Jamie Roche (Wayne), and Lance Bowes (Venango).

Congratulations to these watershed specialists for using the mini-grant program to create positive and lasting change in our local watersheds!

All Pennsylvania Conservation Districts are eligible to apply for this program. Applications for the next round of mini-grant projects are due by May 15, 2008. Online versions of the applications may be found at http://www.pacd.org/resources/cb/minigrants/app.htm (Chesapeake Bay) or http://www.pacd.org/resources/NPs/minigrants/app.htm (NPs Section 319). Questions may be directed to Hannah Smith at hannah-smith@pacd.org and more information is available by clicking on the "Grant Assistance" logo on our website at www.PACD.org.

* The PACD Mini-grant Program is supported by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection's Chesapeake Bay Program and a grant under Section 319 of the Clean Water Act - administered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Resource Enhancement and Protection (REAP)

Act 55 of 2007 created the Resource Enhancement and Protection Program (REAP). REAP allows farmers to earn tax credits in exchange for "Best Management Practices" (BMPs) on agricultural operations that will enhance farm production and protect natural resources.

Eligible applicants may receive between 25% and 75% of project costs as state tax credits for up to $150,000 per agricultural operation. The amount of tax credit available to a recipient is dependent on the type of BMP implemented.

The program will be administered by the State Conservation Commission (Commission) and the tax credits will be granted by the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue.

There are three ways for farmers to participate in the REAP program.

• Implement eligible BMPs and receive tax credits directly to reduce a state tax bill.
  
• Sell tax credits to another Pennsylvania taxpayer.
  
• Work with a sponsor that will help finance a farmer's BMPs. The farmer will be compensated for making improvements and the sponsor will receive the tax credit.

Tax credits can only be awarded to projects completed after the effective date of the Act which is October 23, 2007.

Agricultural operations must have a current conservation plan, agriculture erosion and sedimentation control plan, and a nutrient management plan, if required. The cost of developing and implementing these plans may be included to qualify for the tax credit. Applications for the program will be available on December 3, 2007, and completed applications will be accepted by the Commission beginning January 2, 2008. The application and additional information may be found at www.agriculture.state.pa.us/REAP or by calling the Commission at 717-787-8821.

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