News & Notes April 2007

Communicating Your Message at Festivals & Fairs

Many conservation districts apply for funds, available through PACD's Chesapeake Bay and/or Nonpoint Source Pollution (NPS) Educational Mini-grant Programs, to help support their NPS educational activities at festivals and fairs. For instance, the Blair, Crawford, Elk, Jefferson and Warren districts have secured mini-grant funds to share messages of NPS pollution reduction and prevention with large numbers of people.

Blair County Conservation District, in partnership with Altoona City Authority, piloted the first Blair County Water Festival in 2006. They are in the process of preparing for this year's festival, which will take place in early May and is expected to attract several hundred people. The festival will promote the importance of water as a resource and will emphasize concepts related to watersheds, water quality, water usage, and watershed organizations.

Jefferson County Conservation District will also host a Watershed Festival this May, in Brookville, to promote countywide conservation efforts to reduce and prevent nonpoint source pollution. The event is expected to draw in approximately 300 people and will educate local stakeholders on how they can become involved with local environmental efforts. Four watershed associations, along with fifteen other environmental organizations, have participated in previous years.

Last September, the Crawford County Conservation District led a steering committee of local watershed organizations, conservation groups and government agencies to coordinate the 6th Annual Pymatuning Clean Water Festival in Linesville. Brian Pilarcik, Watershed Specialist, noted that the festival provided an interactive learning event geared toward educating the public on water quality, nonpoint source pollution, and conservation issues. Activities included a shoreline clean-up and demonstrations by local experts on various water conservation topics.

Elk County Conservation District set up a booth at both the Elk County Fair and the Elk Expo last summer. Messages in the booths included nonpoint source pollution, abandoned mine drainage, and stormwater management. Over 12,000 people attend those events.

Warren County Conservation District was able to staff a booth at the last WarrenCounty Fair, which had been unstaffed in previous years. Their display included information on the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program, soils, agricultural best management practices, and general nonpoint source pollution.

If you are interested in applying for a mini-grant to support a similar Chesapeake Bay or Nonpoint Source Pollution education project, please visit the PACD website (www.pacd.org/resources/grants.htm) for more information or contact Hannah Smith, PACD Education Specialist at hannah-smith@pacd.org.

Page 4 >