Funding Available for Technical Training on Nonpoint Source Solutions/Best Management Practices

Funding Available for Training

Conservation districts are encouraged to apply for funding for technical training on nonpoint source solutions/best management practices. The Section 319 funding criteria is that the training must include staff from several conservation districts as well as cooperating agencies. If at least ten of the trainees are conservation district staff and directors, the host conservation district can request support and resources from PACD through the Section 319 grant for the training. Resources can include but are not limited to: nametags, printed materials, refreshments, and lunch (with adequate justification). Contact Kathleen Banski to request funding for training. Email her at kathleen-banski@pacd.org or call 717-238-PACD (7223).

The following are examples of training grants for conservation district staff. In fall 2005, the Huntingdon County Conservation District partnered with the Baltimore District U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service to host a Basic Wetlands Identification Workshop and a Hydric Soils Workshop at Raystown Lake Visitors Center for conservation district staff. These workshops resulted from the 2004 watershed specialist meeting where participants expressed a need for training in wetlands. Josh Tryninewski, Huntingdon County Conservation District Watershed Specialist, volunteered to host the training and applied to PACD for Section 319 money for materials and refreshments. The hydric soils' training was an offshoot of the wetlands course. It focused on changes to the Field Guide of Hydric Soils in the Mid-Atlantic.