News & Notes February 2007

PACD recently funded two conservation district projects through its 2006-2007 Educational Mini-Grant Program. These projects, totaling $4,500, support educational efforts to improve water quality by controlling nonpoint source (NPS) pollution and improving the health of the Chesapeake Bay.

Nonpoint Source Pollution Educational Mini-Grant:

• Delaware County Conservation District - Community Stormwater Education
  The district will offer a community education workshop for residents of Delaware County on the topics of stormwater, rainbarrels, and rain gardens. The first twenty-five registered participants will receive free rainbarrels.

PA Chesapeake Bay Educational Mini-Grant:

• Columbia County Conservation District - Landscaping with Native Plants for Birds, Butterflies, and the Bay
  This project will be an all-day workshop focused on ways to reduce NPs pollution and promote wildlife by planting native plants around the home. Topics will include the importance of native plants, identification and control of common invasive plant species, and landscape design and planting. Participants will gain hands-on experience planting a native landscape at the County Agricultural Center.

Conservation districts are encouraged to submit Chesapeake Bay and NPs mini-grant applications, on an ongoing basis. As funds become available, eligible projects will be funded on a first come first served basis.

Funding for the grants is provided through the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection's Chesapeake Bay Program and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Section 319 Program. For more information visit the PACD website, www.pacd.org (click on grant assistance), or call Kathleen Banski, PACD Director of Administration/Education, at (717) 238-PACD (7223).

Senator Waugh Recognized

York County Conservation District (York CCD) Director Pat Sueck, and York CCD Chairman Jack Dehoff present Senator Waugh (center) with a Certificate of Appreciation during their board meeting on December 9, 2006. The certificate was presented to Senator Waugh on behalf of PACD for his leadership role in the passage of Senate Bill 1224. Senator Waugh said, "Our conservation districts help landowners cut through the complexities of state programs and regulations. With Senate Bill 1224, we can help the districts simplify some of the complexities that they face on a daily basis." York CCD has recognized the Senator in the past for his support of the District's conservation efforts and educational programs.

PACD Updates Website with New Content and Better Navigation

Have you clicked on PACD's website, www.pacd.org, lately? The website recently underwent major construction to provide more content and better navigation for PACD's members. The Educational Resources section was "remodeled" and a new section on legislative activities was created.

The Educational Resources section is now divided into three sections: Chesapeake Bay, Nonpoint Source Pollution, and Conservation Education. Each section has information on grants, educational resources, and links. Users can more easily access information they are looking for by starting in one of the three sections.

For example, a watershed specialist interested in applying for a mini-grant to host a rainbarrel workshop would find examples of previously funded mini-grant projects by searching under the topic "Stormwater: Rainbarrels." Currently, three projects are listed in the Nonpoint Source Pollution section. The information includes the name of the district, project leader, funding received, and description of previously funded projects under this topic. Relevant links are included with projects. For instance, PACD has posted Snyder County's Rainbarrel Workshop press release and PowerPoint presentation. In addition to press releases and PowerPoints, the sample products sections have been expanded to include a variety of sample materials such as flyers, agendas, and handouts.

The revised site should help to eliminate projects that "reinvent the wheel" while giving a kick-start to district staff who are interested in conducting a similar project within their county. To browse the new and improved Educational Resources section, click on the "We All Live Downstream" button on the PACD homepage.

Another major update to the website is the new section that was created to house PACD's legislative information including legislative updates, the PACD legislative program of monthly activities, template press releases, and an informational newsletter, The Legislative Connection. Conservation district directors and staff can now find out what happened this week in the legislature that pertains to conservation districts and plan their district legislative activities without leaving the Legislative Activities section.

"The new Legislative Activities section on the PACD website makes it easier for conservation districts to stay informed and to take action when needed. This information will be updated frequently, so visit the site often to maximize your district's effectiveness on Capitol Hill," said Brenda Shambaugh, PACD government relations/policy specialist.

The Legislative Activities section can be accessed by clicking on http://www.pacd.org/about/legactivities/.

Check out the two new and improved sections of the website today. As always, PACD welcomes your feedback.

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