News & Notes May 2006

2005-2006 PACD Educational Mini-grant Programs Wrap-Up
2006-2007 Mini-grant Funding Available

It's that time of year when the final reports roll in to our office for the Chesapeake Bay and nonpoint source pollution (NPS) Educational Mini-grants. Here are highlights on just a few of the projects the conservation districts have conducted this year.

Several districts host meetings and conferences for farmers. Mifflin County put a "new day" spin on their February meeting, calling it "Agriculture for the 21st Century." Agricultural producers received information about the latest farming trends, regulations and practices. Topics for the day included succession, estate and business planning, grazing systems, compliance with new agricultural regulations, no-till, and mortality composting. Thirty-nine farmers attended, along with nine presenters.

Fulton County took a two-pronged approach to reaching homeowners with information about maintaining on-lot septic systems: A public workshop and an informational newsletter. Both focused on the proper operation and maintenance of septic systems to protect the owner's health and water quality. As an incentive to attend the workshop, three $50 vouchers were given away for having the attendees' septic tanks pumped! The 4,600 newsletters that where mailed received an interesting result - at least one septage hauler commented that he had received several calls from people who mentioned the newsletter when requesting his pumping service.

Educating the educators was the goal of Bradford County's "Municipal Official's Environmental Awareness Workshop." With the reasoning that municipal officials are usually the main contact for landowners, developers, utility companies in securing permits and approval for other projects, the District saw the need for providing these officials with updated information. Floodplains, storm water, streams, roads, water quality, air quality, agriculture, erosion and sedimentation, and land preservation were among the topics covered at this February meeting. Twenty-eight officials attended from the eighteen townships in Bradford County.

A summer field day and picnic at a local conservation demonstration farm in Venango County was the vehicle for farmers to receive information about NPS pollution prevention. On August 24, speakers presented topics of conservation planning, soil quality and drainage, no-till grass species, nutrient management, corn varieties, sod plots, and farm research to about 100 people from six counties. Quality presentations, the diverse group of participants, and the highlighted conservation efforts of Venango CD and cooperators made this event a success. A floor display board featuring nutrient management in Venango County was also purchased through this mini-grant.

New homes are popping up everywhere in Northampton County - it's one of the fastest growing areas of Pennsylvania. Conservation district staff observed that these new homeowners struggle to grow healthy lawns. In an effort to help the landowners grow greener yards - to prevent soil erosion and filter rain runoff - Northampton CCD developed the Northampton County Homeowner's Guide to "Green" Lawn and Yard Practices brochure. This colorful brochure is packed with information for establishing new lawns or improving existing ones with environmentally-sound practices. Beside basic lawn-growing recommendations, the district offers suggestions on composting, streamside buffers, and native plantings. Brochures will be distributed in the coming months to homeowners.

At the 2005 Elk Expo in Kersey, visitors were treated to a non-elk, nonpoint source pollution exhibit. This was a result of a mini-grant to Elk County for a watershed awareness booth and exhibits. Displays included information on what a watershed is, prevention of nonpoint source pollution, recycling, the work of four local watershed groups, and free watershed posters and handouts. Demonstrations were given by District staff using the Enviroscape, a working three-dimensional model of a watershed, obtained with funds from a second NPS Mini-grant. Approximately 9,000 people attended the Elk Expo.

These are just a few examples of educational projects hosted by conservation districts to help improve local and downstream water quality by reducing NPS pollution. A full catalog listing previously funded projects is available at: www.pacd.org/resources/npsp/npsp_toc.htm.

Just a friendly reminder-If your district hasn't already submitted an educational mini-grant application there's still time. PACD is accepting applications through May 15, 2006. All conservation districts are invited to apply (www.pacd.org/products/mini_programs.htm).

Funding for these grants was provided by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection's Chesapeake Bay Program and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Section 319 Program.

Township Supervisors Attend Conservation District Session at Annual Convention

Do your district staff and directors know the township supervisors in your county? Conservation district partners recently met with about thirty of them when they presented a session titled, "Working with Conservation Districts: Environmental Partners with Townships." The session was held April 25, 2006 as part of the Pennsylvania State Association of Township Supervisors' (PSATS) annual convention and trade show in Hershey, PA.

The presenters were Karl Brown, executive secretary of the Pennsylvania State Conservation Commission (SCC); Susan Marquart, executive director of the Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts (PACD); John Orr, manager of the Dauphin County Conservation District; and Steve Taglang, conservation program manager of the Department of Environmental Protection. The session focused on ways for townships to collaborate with conservation districts.

The ninety minute presentation came on the heels of a cover story on conservation districts in the January 2006 issue of the PSATS magazine, Pennsylvania Township News. This article emphasized the value of a collaborative relationship with county conservation districts. The timely presentation at the PSATS convention expanded on the information and ideas presented in the article.

The presentation started with the history of conservation districts, the powers they hold, and the roles of PACD and SCC. John Orr then used his district as an example of what districts do and how they interact with townships. The presentation showcased examples of conservation districts being valuable allies of townships on issues such as stormwater management, land use planning, and dirt and gravel roads.

Several innovative projects were highlighted. For example, several districts hold conservation tours and workshops specifically for township officials to show them conservation work in progress and how they can be involved. In Crawford County, the district developed a quarterly newsletter for township officials on laws from a township's perspective. The Luzerne County Conservation District is even looking into creating a position to focus on conservation education for municipalities and to act as a liaison between local government officials and the district.

"Our intent was to give township supervisors a better understanding of conservation districts and how townships can partner with conservation districts on local environmental projects," said Marquart. "As a result of this session, our hope is that more townships will see their conservation district as the primary resource on environmental issues in their community."

Township officials were also encouraged to seek nominations to serve on their county conservation district board of directors. Being involved in the decision-making process would allow township supervisors to offer their experiences and insights into resource conservation issues.

In addition to the presentation, PACD sponsored a conservation district booth in the main exhibit hall. Township supervisors visited volunteers and PACD staff at the booth to learn more about conservation districts and what they can do in their communities to improve water quality.

Conservation districts and townships benefit when working together on local environmental issues. The recent article in Pennsylvania Township News, along with the presentation and booth at the PSATS convention will help facilitate more cooperation between the two entities. Developing partnerships will benefit conservation districts, townships, and the citizens they serve.

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