Front Page

Conservation District Week Celebrated in House of Representatives 

On April 28, 2026, Versant Strategies President/CEO MeeCee Baker and COO Derek Snyder met with House Ag Chairman Eddie Day Pashinski to celebrate Conservation District Week!

Photo caption: Photo provided by Versant Strategies.

Agricultural Conservation Technical “Boot Camp” Training Level II Concludes

Forty-five individuals attended the Agricultural Conservation Technical Boot Camp Training session – Level II, April 27 to May 1, 2026. The training was held at Fort Indiantown Gap in Lebanon County and the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) office in Harrisburg, PA.

Attendees included staff from conservation districts, the USDA NRCS and its affiliates, the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, PACD, the PA Department of Environmental Protection, the State Conservation Commission, the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay, a farmland preservation office, and a local conservancy.

The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service and the State Conservation Commission sponsor the training, which PACD coordinates with these partners.

Photo caption: (top) The Boot Camp Level II Engineering Track poses for a group photo on their first day of class. (bottom) The Agronomy Track.

May Board Development Video: Act 217

The Board Development Video Series provides information and review on governance, compliance, and programmatic topics. These short-format videos are intended for viewing and follow-up discussion at your district board meetings. For the May installment, we continue our series of training module videos with Act 217, The Conservation District Law. 

Training module videos are integrated into the newly updated online Director Handbook and are being produced as modules for self-guided learning at Clean Water Academy.

Financial and other support for the Building for Tomorrow Leadership Development Program is provided through a grant from the Pennsylvania State Conservation Commission. Guidance for the Program is provided through the Pennsylvania Conservation Partnership’s Leadership Development Committee.

Earth Week Plantings Completed at Green Lane Park

Submitted by Brian Vadino, Watershed Specialist / Envirothon Coordinator, Montgomery County Conservation District



In celebration of Earth Week, the Montgomery County Conservation District worked in partnership with Montgomery County Parks, Trails and Historic Sites, Friends of Green Lane Park, and other volunteers to plant one hundred native trees and shrubs along Deep Creek Lake and Knight Lake on Saturday, April 21, 2026.

Species planted included red maple, silver maple, arrowwood viburnum, American basswood, pin oak, and red oak. Funding for this project was provided by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection. 

The goal of the project was to enhance and widen existing riparian (lakeside) buffer areas to slow and filter stormwater runoff, prevent soil erosion, improve water quality, and enhance wildlife habitat. The project supports recommendations of the Green Lane Park Master Plan, and several studies focused on the Perkiomen Creek Watershed.

Many thanks to all of those involved with the planning and implementation of this project!  

Photo caption: Photo credit: Montgomery County Parks, Trails, and Historic Sites. Photo provided to PACD by Montgomery County Conservation District. 

Save the Date: Native Species Day 2026 at the Pennsylvania State Capitol

Mark your calendars and plan to celebrate Native Species Day on Monday, June 1, 2026, from 10:00 AM to 3:30 PM in the East Wing Rotunda of the Pennsylvania State Capitol. This event celebrates Pennsylvania’s many native species and the critical role they play in supporting our economy, health, and environment.

Upcoming Landscape Professional Training 

The Chesapeake Bay Landscape Professional (CBLP) Level 1 Certification program will be held in West Chester, PA, on September 1 and 2, 2026. This two-day course provides comprehensive instruction in sustainable landscaping practices, stormwater management, and conservation landscaping.

Details:

• Dates: September 1st and 2nd
• Location: West Chester, PA
• Time: 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. each day
• Cost: $425 (includes materials and exam)
• Early Bird Discount: An early bird coupon is available for those who register by 5/31/26. Save $50 by using the coupon code EARLY50
• Registration: https://cblpro.org/cblp-level-1/

Level 1 is designed for landscape professionals, municipal staff, and others interested in sustainable practices. Participants will gain practical skills and knowledge to implement conservation landscaping techniques that protect water quality and enhance ecological health.

Contact melissa@cblpro.org with questions.

Photo caption: Photo provided to PACD by Chesapeake Bay Landscape Professional Programs.