Dates to Remember:
April 11-15, 2005
Agricultural Conservation Technical Training
Basic "Boot Camp" Session
Fort Indiantown Gap
Annville, PA
May 9 - 13, 2005
Agricultural Conservation Technical Training
Level II "Boot Camp" Session
Fort Indiantown Gap
Annville, PA
May 23-25, 2005
Agricultural Conservation Technical
Training Summer 2005 Agronomy Supplemental Training
State College, PA
May 26, 2005
Agricultural Conservation Technical
Training Summer 2005 Agronomy One Day Supplemental Training
State College, PA
July 24-27, 2005
PACD/SCC Joint Annual Conference
Avalon Hotel, Erie, PA
January 18-20, 2006
PACD Winter Meeting
Ramada Inn, State College, PA
July 23-27, 2006
NACD Northeast Region Meeting
and
PACD/SCC Joint Annual Conference
The Penn Stater, State College, PA
Tour Offers Public a Glimpse of NPS Issues
In April 2004, the Westmoreland County Conservation
District held a Conservation Bus Tour offering the public a chance
to "Come Walk in Our Boots for a Day." The tour was funded
by PACD's Mini-Grant Program through the Environmental Protection
Agency's Section 319 Program because it emphasized educating the public
on local nonpoint source pollution issues. The district conducted
a tour of several conservation sites within the county to showcase
what the district and other local organizations are doing to improve
these conditions.
Leanne Griffith, Conservation Education Coordinator, formed partnerships
with local developers, Latrobe Parks and Recreation, and a local foundation
to show the construction sites and provide speakers along the tour.
The Conservation Bus Tour was open to the public. Seventy people participated
in the six hour event. The first stop was a new construction site
on land owned by golfer Arnold Palmer. This stop showcased smart growth
principles. Next was another new development where erosion control
measures were described by district staff including a detention basin
that was designed to collect 25 acres of water runoff. Taking a break
from the bus, the group then walked along a creek-side trail and learned
about easements and a brownfield restoration project that made the
trail possible. After stopping for lunch, the last stop was a new
Walmart site in Greensburg. A former brownfield site, it is the largest
earthmoving project in Westmoreland County. In addition to watching
the massive earth moving equipment at work, participants learned about
super silt fencing and hydro seeding embankments.
As a result of the tour, participants gained appreciation and knowledge
of what the conservation district does and how they work on construction
sites to control nonpoint source pollution. "Some people came
back from the tour saying they never looked at dirt that way before,"
said Griffith.
Not only did Westmoreland County Conservation District educate residents
on nonpoint source pollution by showing them control measures being
implemented in their county, they also attracted new participants
to their other educational programs. "Out of last year's participants,
two of the participants became so actively involved that they became
Associate Board members," said Griffith. In April 2005, the district
will engage a new audience when it hosts two conservation tours targeting
decision makers (municipal officials, school board members, solicitors
and planners) rather than the general public. Griffith hopes these
tours will build partnerships with local leaders. For more information
on PACD's Mini-Grant Program, click on http://www.pacd.org/products/mini_programs.htm.
