News & Notes May 2005

Growing Greener II - Time to "Rally the Troops"

Voters will be asked on the spring primary ballot if they are willing to support a $625 million bond issue for the environment. A bond initiative is supported by PACD and districts are asked to encourage their constituents to vote "yes" for this initiative. Although it has not been determined exactly how the money will be allocated, these funds will provide a much needed infusion of conservation dollars in Pennsylvania. Vote "yes" on May 17!

PACD Representatives Visit Congress

PACD Executive Director Susan Fox Marquart, NACD Director Pat Sueck, and Westmoreland County Conservation District Director Ron Rohall attended the spring NACD Legislative Conference, April 3-5, 2005, in Washington, D.C. The PACD representatives attended legislative training as well as sessions featuring updates from the Natural Resources Conservation Service, U.S. Department of the Interior, Environmental Protection Agency, and both House of Representatives and Senate Agriculture Committees.

On the last day of the conference, PACD met with Senator Santorum, Senator Specter, and local representatives. During the meetings with legislators, PACD addressed the proposed federal budget cuts. The farm bill was signed three years ago and the conservation portion of that bill was never fully funded ($500 million less than promised in fiscal year 2005 alone). PACD urged legislators not to eliminate conservation programs - which were under-funded to begin with.

NACD recommended the following for USDA conservation programs in 2006:

• Restore funding for the Conservation Operations account and retain sufficient personnel numbers to ensure producers receive needed conservation assistance;
  
• Restore funding for watershed protection and rehabilitation programs;
  
• Maintain a viable, nationwide RC&D program; and
  
• Fund the Farm Bill conservation programs at their fully authorized levels.

PACD will continue to address major issues facing conservation districts in this tight budget year and continue to support fully funding Farm Bill conservation programs through the appropriations process.

PACD Accepting Mini-Grant Applications

Conservation Districts can now apply for the 2005-06 Pennsylvania Chesapeake Bay Educational Mini-Grants and Nonpoint Source Pollution Prevention Educational Mini-Grants. The application deadline is June 15, 2005.

The mini-grants provide up to $2,500 for educational projects that promote water quality. Pennsylvania Chesapeake Bay Program districts may find mini-grants useful in helping to deliver education messages related to their County Implementation Plans. Districts with several project ideas may apply for more than one grant.

Over the years, conservation districts have rated the mini-grant programs as being among their most valuable educational tools. For instance, Brian Pilarcik, Watershed Specialist at the Crawford County Conservation District, has received four mini-grants in recent years through the Nonpoint Source Pollution Prevention Educational Mini-Grant program. The grants were used to update an educational website, fund a farm conservation tour, and support two clean water festivals.

"It would be very difficult to hold the clean water festival without the mini-grant because it is used to rent tents and tables and to get the word out with advertising space. We would have to scale back," said Pilarcik. Scaling back is not something the district wants to do since thousands of people attend the clean water festival annually. Pilarcik plans to apply for a mini-grant to support the festival again this year. "The application process is very painless," added Pilarcik.

To obtain an application or for answers to frequently asked questions such as, "What types of projects are considered for funding?" and "What are the reporting requirements?" visit the PACD website: http://www.pacd.org/products/mini_programs.htm.

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