Front Page Newsletter November 7, 2022

Dayanna Estades, NRCS Resource Conservationist, presents during the 2022 Intro to Conservation Planning Course.

Intro to Conservation Planning Held in Grantville

Twenty-four students (including thirteen conservation district staff) completed the Intro to Conservation Planning Course in Grantville, PA, from November 1-3, 2022. The training is an introductory course for employees interested in writing conservation plans and becoming a USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Certified Conservation Planner. The event included classroom and field experience.

Participants attended the three-day training free of charge thanks to the generous sponsorship of NRCS and the State Conservation Commission. In addition, PACD provided administrative support for the course.

Leadership Development Updates

Registration is still open for the Fall Leadership Webinar Series. All directors, staff, and partners are encouraged to join us for a lunch & learn session on Wednesday, November 16, with River Network's April Ingle. Continuing in the partner relations theme from Management Summit, the Building Blocks of Trust program will examine best practices for establishing and maintaining the trust-based partnerships critical to protecting our waters. The session will include examples involving partnerships with Pennsylvania’s conservation districts. Participants will learn what is required to create these partnerships, what circumstances are needed for them to succeed and flourish, and how we can use these lessons to catalyze even more vital partnerships for healthier waterways.

Strategic Planning Grants are available for 2023. The deadline to submit a Letter of Intent is December 23, 2022. Click here for program information and requirements or contact Matt Miller, Leadership Development Coordinator mmiller@pacd.org.

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.

Beaver County Conservation District Watershed Specialist/Finance Administrator/DGLVR Administrator Hannah Ward shows the attendees how to assemble their rain barrels.

Beaver Rain Barrel Workshop

On September 15, 2022, the Beaver County Conservation District held a stormwater workshop. Forty-one workshop participants learned about the link between water quality and nonpoint source pollution and how their actions affect the watershed. The district provided participants with information, tools, and a rain barrel kit.

Financial and other support for this project is provided by the Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts, Inc. through a grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection under Section 319 of the Clean Water Act, administered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Clarion, Forest, and Venango Conservation Districts Partner for Grazing Field Day

On October 14, 2022, approximately one hundred people gathered at the Wilson Land & Cattle Co. in Tionesta for a grazing field day, focusing on "improving land while lowering costs." Clarion Conservation District, Venango Conservation District, and Forest County Conservation District were involved in the event. Russ Wilson, the farm owner, stated, "It was the best field day that we have had on our farm."

Participants heard presentations on how to monitor the soil health in a grazing system, the ability of silvopasture and alley cropping to make pastures more profitable, soil health as a climate change solution, and how grazing systems help producers adapt to weather extremes. A rainfall simulator demonstration showed how different management affects the soil’s health and performance under intense rainfall events.

Click here to read the entire article.

Matt Havens, Soil Scientist at NRCS in Belmont, NY, demonstrates how to monitor the soil health in a grazing system at the Grazing Field Day held at the Wilson Land & Cattle Co. in Tionesta, PA, on Friday, October 14, 2022.

Cambria County Conservation District manager John Dryzal speaks at the legislative breakfast.

Cambria County Conservation District Holds Legislative Breakfast

On October 28, 2022, the Cambria County Conservation District held a legislative breakfast in Ebensburg, PA. District Chairman Dennis Beck and District Manager John Dryzal spoke at the event.

PACD 2^nd Vice President Emil Bove represented PACD at the event.

Lancaster County Conservation District Honors Longtime Assistant Manager

On November 1, 2022, the Lancaster County Conservation District honored Gerald Heistand for many years of distinguished public service with the district. PACD Executive Director Brenda Shambaugh attended the event.

Gerald joined the conservation district in 1976, working in various departments as the district grew. He also initiated the district’s transition of technology and efficiency. His work has been recognized at the national level, along with state and regional cooperation and assistance.

Best of luck to Gerald in his retirement!

(Left to right): Lancaster County Conservation District Director Sonia Wasco, Lancaster County Conservation District Business Manager Gerald Heistand, and PACD Executive Director Brenda Shambaugh at the retirement celebration.