Highlights of Conservation District Activities 2017 Presented by PACD Adams County Conservation District
2017 Feature Accomplishments Other Accomplishments Dirt, Gravel & Low Volume Road Maintenance Program Contact Information • Performed 265 E & S inspections with Resource Challenge 85% compliance Sediment is the largest pollutant by volume to the waters of the • Re-assessed 10 streams to upgrade Sherri Clayton-Williams Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Unpaved roads not only Interim District Manager stream designation and protective uses. generate sediment, but also act as collectors for runoff and • Sponsored the Adams County sediment from adjacent land uses resulting in increased flood Envirothon programs involving 104 Charles Bennett flows in streams, and transport of sediment and other pollutant Board Chairman middle school students and 60 high into local waterways. school students • Installed 3 acres of riparian buffers Project Summary and Results 670 Old Harrisburg Road, Suite 201 through community volunteer projects. Technical assistance and funding to install driving surface Gettysburg, PA 17325 • Installed agricultural BMPs including 21 aggregate, new culverts, underdrains, ditching, and stormwater (717) 334-0636 waterways, 2 diversions and 3 terraces management to address problems on local roads that www.adamscounty.us • Provided technical assistance on EQIP adversely affect water quality. • Six project sites completed in 2017- $229,703.48 projects that brought an additional More Work to Do $232,767.00 into Adams County • Three projects underway- $229,899.50 • Three new contracts signed- $155,382.50 • Promote the use of stormwater Key Project Partners NRCS; Fish and Boat Commission; Germany, Union, management BMPs to meet MS4 Franklin and Tyrone Townships. requirements • Promote agricultural compliance through the development and implementation of Manure Management and Ag E & S plans • Assist with the installation of Grant Money Brought to the agricultural BMPs by providing County through Conservation technical and financial assistance District Efforts: to landowners to minimize soil $1,119,092.02 erosion and nutrient runoff • Install 20 acres of riparian buffers Allegheny County Conservation District
2017 Feature Accomplishment Other Accomplishments Contact Information DCNR Riparian Forest Buffer Grant • Acting as project manager for Janet Lauer $1,170,000 Milk Run abandoned Resource Challenge District Manager mine drainage treatment project, Reforesting urbanized streams in Allegheny County the first reclamation in-lieuity Donald Newman agreement in the Oil and Gas Board Chairman Program between DEP and Range Resources, which could River Walk Corporate Center remove Montour Run from 33 Terminal Way, Suite 325B impaired streams list for Pittsburgh, PA 15219 aluminum (412) 241-7645 • Organized and hosted Individual Project Summary and Results www.conservationsolutioncenter.org Nutrient Management Grant covers the planting of ten acres of riparian buffers certification for seven attendees over the next five years in five watersheds, and • Reviewed and issued 166 GP More Work to Do we’re 30% complete. authorizations • Complete DCNR Riparian Grant tree • Reviewed and issued 155 • Spring planting 200 trees in Monroeville along plantings Turtle Creek in Valley Park NPDES permit authorizations • Increase baseline stream monitoring • Awarded 12 CLIP grants for • Fall planting 400 trees in South Park County Park • Update strategic plan local watershed groups and along Catfish Run, a tributary to Peters Creek non-profits for water quality • Over 50 Volunteers including park rangers, • Continue outreach projects with improvement watershed groups, area residents partners • Support provided from home municipalities with • Issue permits in a timely fashion Grant Money Brought to resources tools, money, in kind • Continue to seek opportunities for BMP Key Project Partners the Allegheny County implementation From Conservation Municipality of Monroeville • Assist municipalities with meeting MS4 Municipality of Bethel Park District Efforts: permit requirements $458,460.00 Allegheny County Parks • Continue CLIP Grant program Allegheny Parks Foundation Turtle Cree Watershed • Find new and innovative ways to support watershed groups through Peters Creek Watershed Association Allegheny Watershed Alliance Armstrong County Conservation District
2017 Feature Accomplishment Contact Information
Mobile Environmental Display David Rupert District Manager
Other Accomplishments Spurgeon Shilling Board Chairman • Began work on the Huling Run Aluminaide Mine Drainage Armsdale Administration Building Treatment Facility 124 Armsdale Road • Began work on the Campbell Kittanning, PA 16201-3738 Run Ag BMP Project (724) 548-3425 • Began work on the ACD-AVLT www.armstrongcd.org Phase II NPS Control Project • Completed the RING Resource Challenge More Work to Do Streambank Stabilization Project One of the goals identified in the 2017 Strategic • Completed the Scout Run Plan of the District called for a new and innovative • Continue working with our municipal Aquatic Organism Passage Education and Outreach effort to promote the partners to implement the Dirt, Structure Project various projects and programs of the District. Gravel, and Low Volume Road • Completed the McCandless Program AMD Remediation NPS Control Project Summary and Results Project • Continue working with DEP, • Completed the ACD-AVLT The Mobile Environmental Display (MED)was interested watershed groups and Phase I NPS Control Project debuted at the Dayton Fair in August. In the two landowners to design and construct • Completed the Carnahan Run months since its debut, the MED has visited AMD treatment facilities to improve Phase II – Ag BMP and schools, festivals, and fairs in 6 other counties water quality Streambank Stabilization Project throughout Western PA. To date, over 5,500 persons have visited the MED to learn about the • Continue working with interested water conservation and other programs available individuals and organizations to through your local Conservation District. implement projects and programs to improve the environment in Key Project Partners Armstrong County Colcom Foundation ACD Clean Water Fund EQT Foundation ACD DGLVR Fund Beaver County Conservation District
2017 Feature Accomplishment Other Accomplishments Contact Information North Fork Little Beaver Creek • CREP Field Day and Workshop Streambank/Habitat Project James Shaner • Chapter 102/105 Permit District Manager Workshop Resource Challenge Mike Price • E&S BMPS for Contractors To address streambank instability and loss of habitat Board Chairman Workshop due to substantial erosion that led to large quantities of • Over 1200 students attended sediment pollution to the North Fork Little Beaver 156 Cowpath Road classes at the BCCD Environ- Creek. Aliquippa, PA 15001 mental Center free of charge. (724) 378-1701 Project Summary and Results A series of six structures were installed that protect www.beavercountyconservationdistrict.org approximately 500 feet of streambank. Six log vanes with J-hooks help stabilize the banks by directing flows More Work to Do toward the middle of the channel and create some habitat value along the edge of the device. Six parallel root wads dissipate energy and protect the bank against • DGR Road Improvement Projects large debris and ice that could harm the bank as well as provide a bench to prevent undercutting. The root wads • Stream Improvement Projects provide excellent habitat. • Stormwater and Timber Harvest The project helps to ensure that the North Fork’s Workshops designated uses are maintained and protected. 500 linear feet of streambank were stabilized, aquatic • Ag Workshops: Manure and Nutrient Grant Money Brought to habitat was enhanced and sedimentation to the creek is Management the County From reduced by 55 tons annually. The project also addressed the loss of property and enhances the • Farm Enhancement Projects Conservation District overall health of the watershed. Efforts: $28,667.00 Key Project Partners PA Department of Environmental Protection Fryer Excavating, LLC Bedford County Conservation District
2017 Feature Accomplishment Sheirer Road/Little Wills Creek Other Accomplishments Sheirer Road Low Volume Road - Little Wills Creek • Considering no-till planting essential in Streambank and Habitat Project managing erosion and nutrient run-off from farmlands, BCCD maintains a no- Resource Challenge till equipment rental program that Londonderry Township was concerned about accelerated delivers corn planters and drills to streambank erosion that threatened to undermine Sheirer cooperators with combined totals of Road along Little Wills Creek, a High Quality Coldwater over 7500 acres planted annually Fishery. • The BCCD drop-off recycling center Project Summary and Results annually recycles over 200 tons of fiber, The township contacted the Conservation District inquiring plastic, aluminum, bi-metal, glass, oil, about a DGLVR program project to address the erosion antifreeze and electronics problem seen in the ‘before’ photo to the right. After a site visit and consultation with staff from the Center for Dirt and Before Project After Project Gravel Road Studies, a plan using habitat improvement and streambank stabilization structures was chosen. With design Grant Money Brought to the and permitting done by Western PA Conservancy, equipment County From Conservation from Londonderry Township, and labor by WPC and Trout District Efforts: Unlimited volunteers, construction was completed in two $1,500,000 days, installing 3 multi-log vanes, 3 root wad structures and 2 large log-framed deflectors. Total cost was less than Contact Information $17,000 with funding provided through the Dirt, Gravel, and Jennifer Lentz Kovacs Low Volume Road Program. Trout Unlimited volunteers later District Manager planted native trees, shrubs, grasses, and forbs provided by Keep Bedford County Beautiful to enhance the riparian zone. James Bence Board Chairman Key Project Partners Bedford County Conservation District, Londonderry 702 West Pitt Street, Suite 3 Township Supervisors, Western Pennsylvania Bedford, PA 15522 Conservancy, Fort Bedford Trout Unlimited, (814) 623-7900 – ext. 3286 Keep Bedford County Beautiful, CDGRS www.bedfordcountyconservation.com Berks County Conservation District
2017 Feature Accomplishment Other Accomplishments Contact Information
Dean Druckenmiller • “Paint the Rain” rain barrel contest Berks County Source Water Protection District Manager
Resource Challenge Piper Sherburne Board Chairman BCCD staff has worked to implement the County Source Water Protection Plan. Community water Agricultural Center systems use a variety of surface waterways and 1238 County Welfare Road, Suite 200 groundwater wells and springs to provide safe, Leesport, PA 19533 clean drinking water to about 70% of Berks (610) 372-4657 • Tire Collection – over 50,000 lbs. County residents of tires www.berkscd.com Project Summary and Results • Don Hartman Conservation Along with source water protection, the program Leadership School will assist participants with some storm water management solutions required by Municipal More Work to Do • Irish Creek Stream Restoration Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) and Riparian Buffer planting requirements. • Spotted Lantern Fly Education and Outreach Grant Money Brought to Key Project Partners • Riparian Buffer installation and the County From Berks County Water & Sewer Association coordination Conservation District Berks County Planning Commission Efforts: Over $750,000 in Spotts, Stevens, and McCoy • Water Quality Monitoring in Maiden Growing Greener and Dirt Creek Watershed Gravel Low Volume Road funding. • Trout In The Classroom assistance • Zartman Farm Stream Restoration Blair County Conservation District
2017 Feature Accomplishment Other Accomplishments Juniata River Basin/Green Infrastructure Plan Contact Information NFWF Grant approved in 2013 and completed in 2017 Donna Fisher • Two newly created Full Time District Manager Positions were filled in 2017; one Resource Challenge as an Ag Conservation Planner Blair Conservation District and Blair County’s MS4 Harold Bailey and one as an MS4 Stormwater municipalities desired to collaborate on developing a Board Chairman Coordinator (which is funded plan to improve urban stormwater management and through contributions from Blair promote green infrastructure alternatives. 1407 Blair Street MS4 Municipalities) Hollidaysburg, PA 16648 • Final design, permits and bidding Project Summary and Results (814) 696-0877 ext.5 progressed for the District’s www.blairconservationdistsrict.org Property now titled The grant was completed in 2017 resulting in: “NatureWorks Park”. The creation of a Stormwater Specific Website for Blair Construction will begin in 2018 County landowners, resource professionals, educators and citizens found at www.CleanBlairWater.org; More Work to Do The establishment of 8 continuous monitoring stations (Soundes) at upstream and downstream locations of • Continue to Promote Urban Ag the MS4 Area. Baseline data was created and water Initiatives to create knowledge and quality monitoring will continue to be collected post markets for local food production, • Facilitate the purchase of Ag grant for use by the permitted municipalities; distribution and enjoyment Conservation Easements now The design and construction of 5 Green Alternative totaling 50 farms and over 7,500 • Work with Chamber of Commerce to acres! Stormwater Facilities with educational signage. Promote Sustainable Blair County Program to assess local businesses Grant Money Brought to Key Project Partners and encourage sustainable practices the County From National Fish and Wildlife Foundation; Blair County MS4 • Continue to provide local training for Ag Conservation District Municipalities; Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay; Producers in the completion of Ag E&S Efforts: $1,010,667 Hollidaysburg, Bellwood-Antis, Bishop Guilfoyle and and Manure Management Plans Holy Trinity Teachers and Students; local engineering firms and design consultants Bradford County Conservation District
Other Accomplishments 2017 Feature Accomplishment PA WIP Sediment and Nutrient Reduction Education and Outreach Contact Information Workshops / Events Resource Challenge • Agricultural Field Days / Farm Cathy Yeakel Pennsylvania is faced with the challenge of improving water Tours District Manager • Agricultural Open Door Days quality within the Chesapeake Bay Watershed, in large part by • DGLVR Municipal Update reducing sediment and nutrient inputs. Locally, BCCD Meeting contributes to improved watershed health by addressing 3 Key Keith Heimbach • DGLVR Contractors Workshop Performance Indicators (KPIs): Water Quality, Practices Board Chairman • DGLVR 2-Day ESM Training Implemented, and People Reached. Beyond improving the • DGLVR Demonstration Project • DGLVR Statewide Annual natural resources of Bradford County, BCCD strives to assist Stoll Natural Resource Center Conference PA in improving the overall health of the Chesapeake Bay. 200 Lake Rd., Suite E • Emergency Stream Towanda, PA 18848 Intervention Demonstration Project Summary and Results (570) 265-5539 Project • Pond Ecology Workshop • BCCD employs 15 full and 2 part-time staff and www.bccdpa.com • Pond Construction and consists of an administrative, agricultural, and technical Permitting Workshop team. Field staff on the ag. and tech. teams work with • Advanced E&S Workshop for landowners, farmers, watershed organizations, and BCCD staff participate on numerous statewide and Loggers cooperating agencies to secure funding for multi- local committees promoting: • Hosted first Earth Day Event in faceted watershed projects. In 2017, 11 stream, 12 27 Years DGLVR, and 46 agricultural conservation practices • DGLVR – Policy and Planning Committee • Chestnut Pollination were completed. Accomplishments from those projects • DGLVR – Education and Outreach Committee are as follows: • Northern Tier Regional Planning and Youth Education Development Commission – Economic • 18 Teams participated in the • .85 miles of stream stabilized Development Advisory Committee County Envirothon • 46 agricultural conservation practices • Norther Tier Hardwood Association • Instituted elementary • 1 miles of Dirt & Gravel Roads stabilized • PA State Envirothon Committee Envirothon • Endless Mountains Resource Conservation and • Green Career Day • 1,728 Tons of sediment reduced Development • Worked with libraries to offer • 4,322 lbs. of Nitrogen reduced • Chamber of Commerce hands on education • Upper Susquehanna Coalition voting member • 1,728 bs. of Phosphorus reduced • My Growing Tree Program and stream team member • Youth Field Days • PACD Advisory Committee • FFA Soils and Land Use Grant Money Brought to the County from Competition Key Project Partners • Camp programs Conservation District Efforts: USDA NRCS, Wysox Creek WA, Sugar Creek WA, $2,773,407 Bradford County, PA DEP, USACE, CBF, USC, Over 6,949 people reached in 2017 through environmental DCNR, PAGC, PAFBC, PALMS, NFWF education Bucks County Conservation District
Other Accomplishments 2017 Feature Accomplishment nd • 2 Master Watershed Stewardship Program BCCD Regional Agricultural Watershed Contact Information • Lake Luxembourg Conservation Pool - Working with County Parks & Rec and Assessment Program Initiative (RAWAPI) Gretchen Schatschneider General Services to implement large-scale Countryside Farm Improvements District Manager project that will reduce nutrient and Jeffrey Garton sediment pollution in Lake Luxembourg Board Chairman • Doylestown Hospital Heart Institute Resource Challenge 1456 Ferry Road, Suite 704 Expansion Project Water Quality concern due to untreated Doylestown, PA 18901 • Pennsylvania Turnpike/Interstate 95 runoff from manure storage and (215)-345-7577 Interchange Project animal concentration areas from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pennsylvania_Turnpike/Int a beef and poultry family farm. www.bucksccd.org erstate_95_Interchange_Project Project Summary and Results • Conducted 24 outreach events reaching An Act 38 nutrient management approximately 630 people on topics plan was developed for More Work to Do Countryside Farm Manure Storage - BEFORE including watershed management and the farm operation of over 400 acres, nonpoint source pollution prevention • Complete $200,000 of Agricultural planning for the efficient use of manure application while • Agricultural Conservation Plans developed BMPs funded by BCCD RAWAPI protecting environmentally sensitive areas. for almost 3,000 acres in the Tohickon grant Watershed. Best management practices were installed on the home • Water Chestnut/Invasive Species • Approved 105 NPDES Permits farm to address additional water quality concerns. A Management - Awarded funding for • Reviewed 983 E&S Plan Sets roofed manure storage, a invasive water chestnut control in • Conducted inspections of 166 NEW partially roofed animal heavy use portion of Upper Tohickon watershed Construction sites, and 1,446 inspections area, and a vegetative draining to Lake Nockamixon in total. treatment area are now • Equine-focused agricultural Grant Money Brought to the County installed and functioning to conservation outreach efforts - BCCD protect the Tohickon will continue its equine outreach From Conservation District Efforts: efforts, including manure Watershed. $385,334.65 management trainings reaching 40 Dirt & Gravel Roads Contract equine farmers Awards:$125,772.60 • SARE grant -If awarded, complete a Low Volume Roads Program study in partnership with Delaware Awards:$297,667.40 Countryside Farm Manure Storage - AFTER Valley University and Penn State Key Project Partners assessing contamination of seasonal PACD Engineering Assistance, Bucks County NRCS office, high water tables from manure Chester County Conservation District stacking Butler County Conservation District
2017 Feature Accomplishment Other Accomplishments Contact Information Little Buffalo Creek Ag BMP • Youth Education Outreach Ian Harrell • Manure Management District Manager Outreach Resource Challenge • Agricultural Erosion Control Agriculturally impaired watershed Charles Stowe Outreach Board Chairman • Provided technical Project Summary and Results assistance and funding for 122 McCune Drive The project was provided partial funding 3 Dirt and Gravel Roads Butler, PA 16001 for the planning, design, and Projects and 3 Low Volume (724) 284-5270 implementation of a Heavy Use Area and Roads projects. www.bccdonline.org manure storage for a dairy farm located in • Transitioned from a county- the Little Buffalo Creek (HQ-TSF). affiliated District to an independent District. More Work to Do This dairy farm is now able to provide a heavy use area for 60 head as well has a Grant Money Brought to • Continue to improve and grow manure storage facility which enables the the County From the youth outreach farmer to spread manure on fields in a Conservation District • Provide training for current more responsible and controlled manner. Efforts: District Staff Growing Greener • Provide training PACD Mini Grant Key Project Partners • Work on a strategic plan PACD Nonpoint Source Mini Thiele Farm, NRCS, and PACD • Work with neighboring Districts Grant Envirothon Mini Grant Cambria County Conservation District
2017 Feature Accomplishment Other Accomplishments Contact Information
• Building partnerships and John Dryzal Nanty-Glo Borough Flood Control Restoration District Manager improving the watershed Project through working Dennis Beck collaboratively with Nanty Resource Challenge Board Chairman Glo Borough, Nanty Glo Sportsmen, Pristine 401 Candlelight Drive, Suite 229 Stream Bank Erosion Ebensburg, PA 15931 Resources, Cambria (814) 472-2120 County Conservation and Project Summary and Results www.cambriacountypa.gov Recreation Authority and PA Fish & Boat Project improved nearly 4000 linear feet of the Commission South Branch of Blacklick Creek by stabilizing More Work to Do streambanks and installing devices such as modified mudsills, log faced stone deflectors, Grant Money Brought to sawtooth deflectors, rootwad deflectors and • Additional structures placed in the flood the County From random boulders. Results of the project include a control project Conservation District reduction of sediment and improvement of fish • Stream bank restoration on Davis Run, Efforts: habitat by the utilization of structures and transport of sediment through the flood control project area. a small tributary of the South Branch DEP Growing Greener • Removal of refuse material along the Funding: $87,057 stream banks upstream of the flood control project in Nanty Glo Borough PA Fish & Boat Commission: $3,000 Cameron County Conservation District
2017 Feature Accomplishment Other Accomplishments Contact Information • Sterling Run Restoration: Cameron County Watershed Restoration Assessment and remediation of Todd Deluccia AMD in the Sterling Run Resource Challenge District Manager drainage. To date 4 passive Cameron County is blessed with pristine water but treatment systems have been Mark Johnson the main issue in the county is erosion and completed in Finley Run, Board Chairman sedimentation. This is a continued effort to do low Portable Run, and May Hollow. cost highly effective streambank stabilization while Trout have returned to reaches 20 East Fifth Street, Room 105 creating high quality instream aquatic habitat of that watershed that haven’t Emporium, PA 15834 seen aquatic life in over 50 years (814) 486-2244 • Work closely with farmers to stay Project Summary and Results www.cameroncd.org in compliance and install BMP’s Installation of various streambank stabilization/fish • Planting of riparian buffers to habitat enhancement structures including multilog protect waterways deflector, modified mudsill criibwalls, log More Work to Do • Dozens of educational programs crossvanes, log framed stone deflectors done for the schools of Cameron County each year. In 2017 six sites were completed rehabilitating • Continue efforts on streambank • Dirt and Gravel Road Program approximately 2500 feet of streambank halting stabilization and fish habitat many tons of sedimentation from entering the enhancement Chesapeake Bay while providing excellent habitat. Grant Money Brought to • Continue to work on the Sterling Run the County From Restoration. Funding has been Conservation District Since 2006 the District has completed nearly 80 acquired for construction of 2 more Efforts: projects restoring over 3 miles of eroded passive treatment systems. Likely 2 streambank. 2017: $821,309.00 more will be needed to completely cleanup the drainage Past 10 years: Key Project Partners $2,536541.00 PA Fish and Boat Commission • Work with more farmers to get better management of farms Bucktail Watershed Association Carbon County Conservation District
2017 Feature Accomplishment Other Accomplishments Contact Information • Hosted the 2017 Carbon Nesquehoning Creek Stream Bank Restoration Chris Storm Awareness Meeting Phase II • Conducted 65 Erosion and District Manager Sedimentation Control Plan Stream Channel (Before) Stream Channel (After)
reviews Josiah Behrens • Conducted 14 NPDES permit Board Chairman Reviews and over 400 site and complaint inspections 5664 Interchange Road • Approved 2 Dirt and Gravel Lehighton, PA 18235 Road contracts and 2 Low (610) 377-4894, ext. 4 Volume Paved Road contracts www.carbonconservation.org for a total of $138,823.00 dollars awarded to local municipalities Project Goals toward road projects The overall goals of the project were channel stabilization, More Work to Do • Hosted over 725 students at our reduced bank erosion, reduced sediment loading, reduced week long Envirothon Programs flooding impacts, protection of infrastructure, etc. • Phase III of the Nesquehoning Creek at our Environmental Education Stream Bank Restoration Project Center • Continue to administer the Chapter • Our EEC hosted over 6,000 Project Summary and Results 102, NPDES, and Dirt and Gravel/Low people over 159 school/public The Phase 2 construction efforts consisted of approximately Volume Paved Road programs programs in 2017 900 LF of stream bank/berm regrading, along with the • Promote Agricultural programs for • 2017 Conservation Camp at construction of a rock toe revetment, in order to stabilize the local farmers through our partnership Hickory Run State Park south bank. with NRCS • 2018 Carbon Awareness Meeting Grant Money Brought to • Continue to offer school and public the County From Key Project Partners programs at our Environmental Conservation District Carbon Conservation District (grantee) Education Center Efforts: $215,000 Skelly and Loy, Inc. (engineer/contractor) • 2018 Envirothon Week at the Kovatch Enterprises (landowner). Environmental Education Center • 2018 Conservation Camp at Hickory Run State Park Centre County Conservation District
2017 Feature Accomplishment Other Accomplishments Contact Information • Promoted and participated in the Flood Damage Projects Completed County, State and North Robert Sweitzer American Envirothon programs District Manager • Provided conservation education Resource Challenge programs to students, watershed Several communities were severely impacted Robert Shannon groups and civic organizations when 8 to 10 inches of rain fell in a four-hour Board Chairman • Provided grant funding to period on October 20, 2016. landowners to install best Project Summary and Results 414 Holmes Avenue, Suite 4 management conservation The Centre County Conservation District and Bellefonte, PA 16823 practices Centre County Board of Commissioners secured (814) 355-6817 • Administered the PA $187,800 in grant funding to complete three www.centrecountypa.gov Chesapeake Bay program projects affecting ten landowners in the Coleville, • Administered the PA Erosion Julian and Howard areas. These projects Control and NPDES permitting involved stream stabilization, rehabilitation and More Work to Do programs sediment deposition removal where homes were • Administered the PA Nutrient directly impacted by the flooding. Management program • Assist farmers with technical and • Administered the PA Dirt, Gravel financial assistance to facilitate the and Low Volume Roads program implementation of best management conservation practices to improve water quality locally and ultimately the Grant Money Brought to Chesapeake Bay the County From • Continue our outreach and education Conservation District efforts Efforts: • Continue to work with farmers on Grants from Growing Greener, Key Project Partners Nutrient Management, Manure Management, and Agricultural Erosion PA Chesapeake Bay and Act 13 Centre County Commissioners, USDA Natural Control plan development and totaled over $500,000 Resources Conservation Service, PA-DEP Bureau implementation of Waterways Engineering and Wetlands/Stream • Continue our watershed protection and Improvements, and Steven Krieger Excavating of restoration efforts Saxton, PA • Continue to administer our PA-DEP delegated programs Chester County Conservation District
2017 Feature Accomplishment Other Accomplishments Contact Information Building Partnerships • 1,000 trees and shrubs planted on Resource Challenge Christian Strohmaier over 9 acres for CREP In addition to routine challenges inherent in installing every Managing Director BMP project, the biggest challenge is securing funding to pay • 3,800 ft of livestock fencing for those projects and salaries of the staff to implement them. Tom Brosius installed for CREP Project Summary and Results Board Chairman Due to the inconsistency of state and federal grants, CCCD • 2,000 trees and shrubs planted on sought non-traditional funding through affiliations with both Willowdale Town Center over 9 acres for Tree Vitalize governmental and private partners alike. Because of these 688 Unionville Road, Suite 200 partnerships we were able to accomplish the following: Kennett Square, PA 19348 • 13,843 l.f. of level lip spreaders Ag Team: 172 Ag BMPs implemented in 2017; in partnership (610) 925-4920 installed in partnership with Stroud with NRCS, $2 million in USDA funds were obligated in 2017 www.chesco.org/conservation Water Research Center for EQIP and RCPP that will result in a further 370 BMPs installed; 104 farms visited as part of the Chesapeake Bay • 17,499 l.f. of Ag field BMP’s Reboot - 69% had conservation plans and 76% had manure/ More Work to Do installed in partnership with Stroud nutrient management plans; 79 BMPs were installed on five Water Research Center farms using DCED funding; and $333,668 was obtained from Chesapeake Bay Special Projects to fund BMPs on ten farms. • Oversee erosion and sedimentation & stormwater management inspections for • $345,960 in contracts awarded for Urban Team: 440 preconstruction meetings/engineer meetings; 240 completeness reviews; 175 new plan reviews; Sunoco & Eastern Shore Natural Gas 3 projects in the Dirt and Gravel 140 revised plan reviews; 3005 total project acres; 845 total Pipeline projects and the PA Turnpike Low Volume Road Program disturbed acres; 44 general NPDES permits issued; 53 widening projects individual NPDES applications reviewed; 742 total site Grant Money Awarded inspections; 87 complaints investigated; and 51 NPDES • Continue to implement BMPs using to Chester County From permits terminated. RCPP funding for Delaware Bay Admin Team: 3 TeamAg, Inc./ PennVEST projects Conservation District watershed and secure increased funding administered totaling $1,408,226 in Lancaster and Chester for BMPs in the Chesapeake Bay Efforts: $3,797,439 Counties. watershed Key Project Partners • Year 2 of Chesapeake Bay Visits USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, PA Department of Environmental Protection (PA DEP), TeamAg, Inc./ • Provide administration for 5 additional PennVEST, Stroud Water Research Center, Brandywine Red PennVEST projects in conjunction with Clay Valley, Brandywine Conservancy, Mowery Environmental, TeamAg, Inc. LLC, National Fish & Wildlife Federation, PA Department of Community & Economic Development (PA DCED) Clearfield County Conservation District
Other Accomplishments 2017 Feature Accomplishment • Sold 22,150 tress and shrubs since 2008 in our Annual Tree Sale Deer Creek AMD Passive Treatment System Contact Information • Hosted two Bounty from the County dinners highlighting Construction Clearfield County agricultural products Resource Challenge Susan Reed • Held 13 Conservation Celebrations with nearly 200 families District Manager attending every year Deer Creek is a tributary to the West Branch • Conducted 5 Family Fishing Programs in 2 years with 250 Susquehanna that is impaired by abandoned mine Michael Kennis attendees drainage. Fortunately, native brook trout are surviving in Board Chairman • Became a Fishing Tackle Loaner Site w/ PFBC in 2017 nearly the entire length of the stream with the exception • Hosted the first Conservation Camp in 2017, a 3 day long of the final 3 miles. The final miles are the most day camp for youth in grades 4, 5, & 6 6395 Clearfield Woodland Hwy., Suite 2 severely degraded due to numerous deep mine • Distributed $2,866,979 in grants to municipalities through Clearfield, PA 16830 discharges on Trib #4 known as the School Tributary. the Dirt, Gravel and Low Volume Road Program since 1999 (814) 765-2629 improving 83 miles of road • Successfully completed nearly 500 agricultural education www.clfdccd.com farm visits Project Summary and Results • Began an annual workshop program covering fruit tree and Studies have shown that a single treatment system on More Work to Do fruiting bush pruning, manure management, contractors, the School Trib should be enough to restore the final 3 composting, and farm lane stabilization miles of Deer Creek. • Administration of the Chapter 102 Delegation for Erosion • Continue abandoned mine drainage and Sedimentation Plan review and inspection The treatment design was completed in 2015 and restoration efforts as AMD is still • Awarded thousands of scholarship dollars through the construction funding, in the amount of $883,174, was Clearfield County’s #1 source of Claude Schickling Foundation since 1999 and the W.G. secured from the EPA Section 319 Non Point Source pollution "Turk" Jones Memorial Trust since 1982 and paid the program in 2017. As of December 2017 construction registration fee for our County Envirothon winners to attend • Increase environmental education the State Envirothon every year was nearly complete with some minor final details to be • Hosted the annual County Envirothon and assisted at the finished in 2018. At that point, the final 3 miles of Deer efforts State Envirothon every year Creek should be restored and supporting wild brook • Operation of 11 passive treatment systems for abandoned trout. This in turn will increase the recreational value of • Educate legislators and public about the mine drainage restoration in 5 watersheds the watershed and surrounding areas. role of Conservation Districts and • Completed 7 streambank stabilization/instream habitat resource conservation projects since 2010 • Assisted Trout Unlimited with the 2017 West Branch Key Project Partners Benchmark • Complete projects funded in 2017 Grant Money Brought to the Clearfield County Conservation District, Trout Unlimited, including the installation of a canoe County From Conservation DEP, Deer Creek Watershed Association access in Westover, construct 2 District Efforts (not including Dirt additional passive treatment systems, & Gravel Road Funds): install riparian buffer plantings, and $1,669,875 in 2017 complete 2 rain barrel workshops $5,397,026 in total Clinton County Conservation District
Other Accomplishments 2017 Feature Accomplishments Contact Information • Conservation Summer Camp for 4th—6th graders with hands-on RCPP Project – Soil Health Promotion Mary Ann Bower environmental education activities The Clinton County Conservation District along with District Manager • Other Conservation Education activities: Envirothon, Sixth Grade Centre, and Lycoming Conservation Districts have partnered with the Chesapeake Bay Foundation and Charles Dotterer Conservation Field Days, Project Board Chairman Learning Tree, and Poster Contest the Natural Resources Conservation Service to implement farm conservation practices consistent • Provided funding to landowners for 45 Cooperation Lane development of manure management with the goal of promoting soil health and improving Mill Hall, PA 17751 and Agricultural Erosion Control “whole-farm” conservation performance. Promotion (570) 726-3798 plans includes the implementation of conservation www.clintoncountypa.com • Water quality and biological sampling stewardship practices through the USDA NRCS, in Tangascootack and Fishing CSP program. Partners will encourage farmers to Email: [email protected] Creeks consider implementing soil management practices More Work to Do • Completed agricultural Best through outreach and educational activities. • Continue education activities and Management Practices through a programs for school students and citizens Growing Greener grant including Baseline Water Quality Data Program • Abandoned Mine Drainage remediation design for barnyard improvements, and monitoring efforts in the 6520‘ of stream fencing, 5500’ of Over 10,000 households in Clinton County rely on Tangascootack Creek Watershed exterior pasture fence, 1 stream groundwater from private wells for drinking, In 2016, • Stream Habitat and Riparian Planting crossing, and 1700’ of stream habitat the County received a grant from the PA DCED to projects planned in Fishing Creek improvements and stabilization collect and analyze water samples from 54 private • Agricultural, Soil Health, and Nutrient • Promoted No-Till Drill and cover crop wells across the county in an effort to better Management awareness education use for 29 farms planting 459 acres understand current water quality conditions and outreach • Provided funding to municipalities for assess the impact of topography and land-use • Providing assistance to our local 3 Dirt & Gravel and 1 Low Volume practices on our resources. Road Projects watershed associations in Sugar Valley, The Conservation District, County Planning office, Beech Creek, and Kettle Creek Grant Money Brought to the and Department of Environmental Protection, watersheds partnered with USGS, to accomplish this project. County From Conservation • Assist municipalities with addressing District Efforts: The results will be released to homeowners in 2018, sedimentation problems from local dirt and along with information on how to find solutions to any $206,981.00 gravel and paved low volume roads issues with their home well water quality. • Provide technical assistance to local landowners on permitting, water quality, and erosion control issues Columbia County Conservation District
2017 Feature Accomplishment Other Accomplishments Contact Information “GOOD WATER – GOOD LIFE” WATER EDUCATION DAY Maryruth Wagner • Women in Agriculture District Manager Conference Recipient of the 2017 Governor’s Award for • Environmental Education Environmental Excellence Donald Edwards through: Board Chairman 1. Camps Resource Challenge 2. Workshops Good Water = Good Life is an educational 702 Sawmill Road, Suite 204 Bloomsburg, PA 17815 3. Events outreach effort to teach our county 8th graders (570) 784-1310 x 9456 4. Field Days how important good water is to our lives. 5. County Envirothons www.columbiaccd.org • Soil Health Conferences with Project Summary and Results Key Note Speakers demonstrating the importance In the last 3 years we have reached over th More Work to Do of soil health 1500 – 8 grade students. Through this effort we have also reached out to the community • DGLVR Program to prevent • Get BMP’s on the ground pollution from getting to our to demonstrate the importance of good, clean streams through good road drinking water by doing Drug Take Back • Promote Cover Crops drainage and surfaces events and distributing informational brochures to all hospitals, pharmacies, and schools in our county on how to dispose of • Promote Water Quality medications properly – DO NOT FLUSH! Grant Money Brought to • Continue environmental the County From We feel these efforts have strengthened education in our community Conservation District community awareness of water quality and Efforts: Over $1.2 how we need to protect our resources. million Crawford County Conservation District
2017 Feature Accomplishment Other Accomplishments Contact Information Response to Hydrilla Infestation • Completed county plat book on Pymatuning Reservoir Tracey J. Crawford • Hosted two manure Resource Challenge District Manager management workshops The effects of a growing quantity of the invasive • Completed bathymetric mapping Andrew Hyde species, Hydrilla on Pymatuning Reservoir on several county lakes Board Chair • Continued lake water quality monitoring program Woodcock Creek Nature Center • Continued 17th year of student 21742 German Road riparian planting program; Project Summary and Results Meadville, PA 16335 completing over 110 plantings (814) 763-5269 First spotted in 2010 during a routine aquatic vegetation • Held over 45 educational www.crawfordconservation.com programs survey, the highly invasive plant, Hydrilla not only caught • Submitted and received two the attention of the Conservation District, but other Growing Greener grants; funding agencies as well. By 2014, it was clear that this bio- contaminate was on the path of destruction. Led by the a stream stabilization project and More Work to Do several agricultural BMP’s Conservation District’s Watershed Specialist, efforts to craft a response began quickly. After many • Completed draft Watershed • Initiate an agricultural/plain sect collaborative meetings not only between local agencies Implementation Plan for community outreach and implement but across state lines, and with the help of several grant Conneaut Lake agricultural best management practices • Completed Draft Master Site sources, a strategy not to eradicate, but rather to Plan for the District office and manage this invasive is being implemented. The • Create a Master Site Plan the Woodcock Creek Nature response consists of education, continued surveying and implementation strategy to improve the Center treatment. 2017 marks the second year of treatment District’s education center and office with signs of promise of improvement. facilities Grant Money Brought to • Seek to preserve additional county the County From Key Project Partners farmland Conservation District Crawford County Conservation District, Dept. of • Work to educate the public about Efforts: 1,089,389.51 Conservation & Natural Resources, PA Dept. of stormwater management Agriculture, PA Dept. of Environmental Protection, US Army Corp of Engineers, PA Lake Management Society and Ohio Dept. of Natural Resources Cumberland County Conservation District
2017 Feature Accomplishment Other Accomplishments Contact Information • Monthly Water Testing Program Beetem Hollow Low Volume Road Project • DEP Chesapeake Bay Ag Penn Township, Cumberland County Carl Goshorn Inspections District Manager 50 (5,508 acres) inspected Resource Challenge • Manure Management Plans Under-sized stream crossing: Caused extensive Wilbur Wolf 19 Plans, 7 Plans written at damage to stream banks, and entrenched road Board Chairman Manure Management Plan Workshops that caused ditch and road to wash into stream. 310 Allen Road, Suite 301 • Rain Barrel Workshops Wet Ditches and Road Base: Groundwater and Carlisle, PA 17013 8 Workshops with stormwater spring seeps caused pavement to fail education, 133 Rain Barrels, reached (717) 240-7812 290 people Project Summary and Results www.cumberlandcd.com • Dirt , Gravel, and Low Volume Roads Installed a 12 ft bottomless box culvert, included stream $296,000 contracted for water restoration for Aquatic Organism Passage (AOP) quality improvements Installed 800 feet of underdrain to collect spring seeps. More Work to Do • Envirothon 116 Students Competed Installed 550 ft x 18 ft French Mattress for groundwater st in Road Base. • 41 Annual Tree Seedling Sale! • 319 WIP Implementation for Middle Spring Creek in Shippensburg • 15th Annual Golf Tournament • Install ag best management practices PACD Mini Grant: Conodoguinet Creek with $200,000 Chesapeake Bay special Watershed Snapshot project grant Event held once in each season to collect and analyze water samples on the main • College interns will complete pre- stem Conodoguinet Creek and its sidedress nitrogen tests on nearly tributaries. Nonpoint source pollution 2,500 acres of corn fields each year education booths at each event that taught Key Project Partners participants about urban and rural land • Continue to educate the farming State Conservation Commission, Center for Dirt and use. community on the plan requirements for Gravel Road Studies, Penn Township, Dickinson their farms Township, Cooke Township, South Newton Township, Cumberland County Commissioners Dauphin County Conservation District
2017 Feature Accomplishment Other Accomplishments Contact Information Streambank Restoration-Deep Creek Eric Naguski • Streambank Restoration- Hoffer District Manager Creek Resource Challenge • Streambank Restoration-Lynch Severely eroding streambanks causing sediment David Coble Run to enter the stream. Board Chairman • Bear Creek AMD Passive Treatment System Project Summary and Results 1451 Peters Mountain Road • Deibler’s Gap Rd Dirt and Gravel Dauphin, PA 17018 Road Improvements- 6,100’ of (717) 921-8100 road. Installation of streambank stabilization structures www.dauphincd.org • Three Municipal Rain Barrel and a new stream channel along 1,300 feet of Workshops Deep Creek. • CBSP Grant- Funded the Two bankfull benches totaling 158’ development of Conservation More Work to Do 18 log vanes Plans for 18 farms • Water Quality Monitoring at over Relocation of 264’ of stream channel • Low Volume Road Projects 20 sites in Dauphin County as • Dirt and Gravel Road Projects part of the ongoing Countywide • Manure Management workshops Stream Assessment Program • Water Quality Monitoring • Continuous in-stream monitoring • Agricultural technical assistance and Grant Money Brought to outreach the County From • Agricultural BMP design and Conservation District installation Efforts: • Agricultural Easement Program CBSP- $120,350.00 • Mosquito-Borne Disease Control Key Project Partners • Riparian Buffer Installations • Stormwater BMP workshops and • Dauphin County Commissioners installations • US Fish and Wildlife Service • PA Department of Environmental Protection Delaware County Conservation District
2017 Feature Accomplishment Other Accomplishments Contact Information • Assisted with the development of State & National Envirothon Champions the Penn State Watershed Edward Magargee Stewards Program District Manager • Tree Vitalize - 5 Riparian Buffer Planting Projects were Cheryl Graff Tumola completed Board Chairwoman • PACD Mini-Grant for Dog Waste Signs and bag dispensers which Rose Tree Park Hunt Club were installed in County Parks 1521 North Providence Road • Assisted with Planting Project of Media, PA 19063 Infiltration Basin in Smedley Park (610) 892-9484 • Assisted with a Riparian Buffer www.delcocd.org Planting Project and Street Tree Planting Project in Rose Tree Park More Work to Do • Continued to work with the R.C.&D. to provide use of the Penncrest High School for the third time wins the • Erosion and Sediment Pollution Control Conservation Planting Tool International Envirothon held July 23 – 29 at Mount St. and Stormwater Management Trailer to numerous projects Mary’s University in Emmitsburg, MD. They also have associated with new construction • Invasive Plant Control at won the State Envirothon Championship 13 times since remains as our number one priority Smedley Park with help from 2000. Ameri-Corp. • County Coordinator for Municipal Key Project Partners Separate Storm sewer Permtting (MS- Grant Money Brought to PA Fish & Boat Commission 4) Two additional Parks were recently added the County From USDA – Soil Conservation Conservation District PA Game Commission Efforts: $69,200 PA DCNR Bureau of Forestry Elk County Conservation District
Other Accomplishments 2017 Feature Accomplishment Contact Information: Steve Putt, District Manager th West Creek Acid Mine Drainage Assessment • Hosted the 14 annual Elk County Kate Yetzer, Resource Conservation Tech. Envirothon for high school students Kelsey Kilhoffer, Resource Conservation Tech. Resource Challenge Stephanie Stoughton, Watershed Technician th • Hosted the 4 annual Jr. Envirothon The upper watershed of West Creek is impacted by David Stubber, Solid Waste & Recycling for students in 6th through 8th grades acid mine drainage and spoil piles that are a result of Diane Myers, Secretary
th the legacy mining activities in the watershed. • Hosted the 4 annual Clarion River Russ Braun, Chairman Cleanup Event where 1,800 pounds Mike Hovatter, Vice-Chairman of waste material was removed from Project Summary and Results Jerry Olsen, Secretary/Treasurer the Clarion River watershed In 2017 the Elk County Conservation District Joe Labant, Public Director conducted a 12-month long assessment of the water Ray McMinn, Farmer Director • Hosted the 6th Annual Les Haas quality of the West Creek watershed. This included Andy Sorg, Farmer Director Memorial Trail Challenge run and Matt Quesenberry, Commissioner Director monthly water sampling of 7 discharge points as walk event, which included 57 Chris Smith, Associate Director participants well as periodic sampling of various tributary streams. Jim McCluskey, Associate Director The water quality data was analyzed and a Ron McMinn, Director Emeritus • Hosted the 3rd annual Clays for preliminary plan for remediation was developed. This Conservation clay shoot event, information will be used to apply for future funding 850 Washington Street which featured 30 participants St. Marys, PA 15857 to construct the passive treatment systems that (814) 776-5373 • Hosted a Sustainable Forestry will be necessary to remediate the acid mine Initiative (SFI) Workshop, which was drainage problems. attended by 35 members of the More Work to Do forestry industry Key Project Partners • Secure funding for West Creek AMD • Hosted a pollinator workshop which Elk County Conservation District project was attended by 36 members of the Headwaters RC&D community Sinnemahoning Stakeholders Committee • Complete the final design and build the J. Ream Engineering Consultants, LLC AMD treatment systems Erie County Conservation District
2017 Feature Accomplishment Other Accomplishments Contact Information • Nature Immersion Program PA VinES A new afterschool environmental Tom McClure education program for middle (Vested in Environmental Sustainability) District Manager school students from the Erie City School District John Hallenburg Board Chairman
1927 Wager Road Resource Challenge Erie, PA 16509 To make this sediment and nutrient reduction program a (814) 825-6403 success, we must take a long term approach! www.erieconservation.com
• Continued, long-term funding • Maintaining staff, for one on one relationships with More Work to Do growers – Keeping the boots on the ground • Agricultural BMP Installation Construction improvements on Erie PA Vines County farms Project Summary and Results - More enrollment and construction The PA VinES Program promotes sustainable projects - Certification process Grant Money Brought to viticulture practices for grape production in the Lake Erie Watershed. the County From • Creation of the Grower’s Self-Assessment Guide Headwaters Park Conservation District - Continuation of our Master Site Plan Efforts: • Evaluation and creation of project designs Growing Greener • Grower enrollment in the program Public Education & Outreach PACD Ag Grants - Residential stormwater Dirt & Gravel/Low Volume Road Key Project Partners Great Lakes Restoration Initiative Partnerships on the HAB (Hazardous (GLRI) • Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Algae Bloom) Task Force Erie County Greenways (County of • Penn State Extension Erie) • Cornell Extension Invasive Species control • Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Fayette County Conservation District
2017 Feature Accomplishment Other Accomplishments Contact Information The Fayette County Conservation District has received a number of Growing Greener Grants Doug Petro • Maintain 2 no-till grain drills and to address the county’s natural resource District Manager an agricultural lime spreader available to county farmers to needs: Donald Bowser encourage sound agricultural Board Chairman practice and help eliminate • Received a Growing Greener Grant for agricultural run-off. $36,648 for agricultural BMP’s in the 10 Nickman Plaza • Held a Children’s Water Festival Downers Run Watershed to help Lemont Furnace, P A 15456 for 6th grade classes in all eliminate agricultural impairment in the (724) 438-4497 county schools to promote an watershed. www.fayettecd.org appreciation for clean water and ways to protect it. • Received a Growing Greener Grant for More Work to Do • Also held a Children’s AgFest $27,864 for Meadow Run Non-point for 4th grand classes in all Source Pollution abatement and • Fayette County Conservation county schools to learn about District will continue to pursue food production and local agricultural BMP and on-lot sewage education. grant opportunities to promote agriculture. natural resource conservation. • Distributed over $1.4 million to • Fayette County Conservation • Received a Growing Greener Grant for local municipalities for 11 Dirt District will continue to hold the and Gravel and Low Volume $13,373 for a Stony Fork Ag BMP project. annual Envirothon completion paved road projects. BMP’s will be installed on a farm in the for all county schools and Grant Money Brought to Bid Sandy Watershed to help eliminate sponsor the winners in the the County From agricultural impairment. state competition. Conservation District • Fayette County Conservation Efforts: District will continue to work Over $1.5 million with the Southern Laurel Highlands Plant and Pest Management Partnership. Forest County Conservation District
2017 Feature Accomplishment Other Accomplishments Contact Information
Tionesta Dam Adopt-a-Lake Project Donna Lynn Zofcin • 4 Teams participated in District Manager local Envirothon, 1 team Resource Challenge participated in State Robert Summers Provide fish habitats to be placed in Board Chairman Envirothon Tionesta Dam Lake • Five Dirt & Gravel Projects 526 Elm Street, Box 4 • One Low Volume Dirt & Tionesta, PA 16353 Gravel Project Project Summary and Results (814) 755-3450 • Township Work Day Twenty fish habitats were constructed www.co.forest.pa.us • Hosted NRCS Workgroup with limited resources. Meeting
Grant Money Brought to the County From Conservation District Efforts: $264,105.16
Key Project Partners Army Corp of Engineers Forest County Conservation District & Planning Department Board Tionesta & Marienville Boy Scouts Franklin County Conservation District
2017 Feature Accomplishment Other Accomplishments Low Volume, Dirt and Gravel Road Program Contact Information • Conservation Field Trip for 700 Resource Challenge st Chambersburg 1 graders The sediment from the surface of dirt roads and the undersized David Stoner • Envirothon Program culvert pipes installed on stream channels can cause habitat loss in District Manager • Act 38 update farmer workshop the stream ecosystem and impede aquatic organism migration. • 2 Manure Management Plan Project Summary and Results Evan Burkholder writing workshops Board Chairman The Conodoguinet Creek in Upper Horse Valley is classified as a • 102 E&S workshop contractors High Quality /Cold Water Fishery. This area is the headwaters to the • MS4 workshop for municipality 185 Franklin Farm Lane Conodoguinet Creek and it runs through the Cumberland Valley to officials Chambersburg, PA 17202 the Susquehanna River. Letterkenny Township received a grant for • Annual Summer Conservation (717) 264-5499 Gilbert Road through the Low Volume, Dirt and Gravel Roads Farm Tour www.franklinccd.org Program to replace multiple culvert pipes, place fill to raise the road • Reviewed and approved 17 profile and establish ditches, and place Driving Surface Aggregate NMPs and 5 crop year updates (DSA) as the final wearing surface to the road. A few of the culvert • Completed 43 Annual Status pipes were located in drainages that were considered streams so reviews they hade to be sized for the bank full width to meet program • Issued 65 General NPDES requirements. The bank full width allows the stream to act naturally permits through the culvert and allows aquatic organism passage. The • Conducted 65 E&S plan reviews remaining culverts were failing and in need of replacement to allow • Conducted 497 site inspections storm flow to pass uninhibited. The road fill on this project was used • Tree Seedling Sale to raise the road and allow ditches to be created so the storm flow did not run down the road, but rather in the ditches. Finally, the township placed the DSA over top as a clean wearing surface so the road does not contribute any more sediment pollution to the stream. Over all, the project has been a success as it provides a stable roadway for the township, has allowed some stream channels to Grant Money Brought to have a properly sized culvert pipe and has helped reduce sediment the County From input to the stream More Work to Do Conservation District Efforts: $1,011,000 Key Project Partners • 120 Farms on Ag E&S plan Franklin County Conservation District, Letterkenny Township, and development waiting list the Penn State Center for Dirt and Gravel Roads • DGLVR Projects • MM plan development for farmers Fulton County Conservation District
Other Accomplishments 2017 Feature Accomplishment: Contact Information • Held 10th Annual Youth Ag Expo Big Cove Creek Ag Conservation for all county 6th graders at Seleen Shives Englert’s Dairy Farm Implementation Project District Manager • Hosted three electronics collection events, collecting 40 Wayne MacDonald tons of material for recycling Board Chairman • Received $248,000 in Chesapeake Bay Special Project 216 North Second Street, Suite 15 funds to implement agricultural McConnellsburg, PA 17233 Best Management Practices on (717) 485-3547 two farms within an ag-impaired www.fultoncountyconservation.org tributary to Big Cove Creek Resource Challenge Like us on Facebook! • Completed Dirt Gravel and Low For more than a decade, the Conservation District has Volume Roads projects on nine been working determinedly to restore the agriculturally More Work to Do worksites totaling $113,300 impaired reaches of the Big Cove Creek watershed. • Implement Best Management Practices • Assisted operators in planting The District has made this area a priority watershed for on two farms using $248,000 in 880 acres of cover crops across local conservation efforts to improve water quality. Chesapeake Bay Special Project funds the county through the District’s to reduce sediment and nutrient inputs No-Till Drill Rental Program to Kendall Run • Completed stream restoration Project Summary and Results • Utilize available Dirt Gravel and Low project on an erosive section of In 2017, the District worked with four operators along a Volume Roads Program funds to streambank along the ag- 7-mile ag-impaired section of Big Cove Creek to implement various projects in impaired reaches of Big Cove implement a variety of agricultural Best Management cooperation with local municipalities Creek using $98,000 in Growing Practices with $730,000 received in Growing Greener • Complete agricultural inspections on 75 Greener Grant funds Grant funds. These funds were combined with federal farms and provide technical assistance funds available through the USDA Farm Bill Programs to help operators achieve compliance Grant Money Brought to and the local Natural Resources Conservation Service. with state environmental regulations the County From The resulting improvements will greatly reduce the Conservation District environmental impact of these farming operations Efforts: $852,300 influencing the quality of Big Cove Creek.
Key Project Partners USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Greene County Conservation District
2017 Feature Accomplishment Other Accomplishments Contact Information Greene County’s Reinvestment in Agriculture: Dirt, Gravel, Low Volume Road Cost-Share Enhancement Program Lisa Snider Program--2017-2018 marks the Resource Challenge District Manager final year of the 5-year The role of the GRACE Program is to provide new and agreement with the Dirt, Gravel existing farmers guidance through technical assistance Bradley Eisiminger and Low Volume Road program. and cost share to help promote soil and water Board Chairman As of 2017, the district has conservation practices. If these practices are $824,000.00 in contracts for Dirt implemented correctly than this will add value and profit 22 W. High St., Suite 204 and Gravel road Projects and to the land. Funds utilized by the program are a Waynesburg, PA 15370 $263,000.00 in Low Volume direct result of PA Act 13 that the district receives (724) 852-5278 Road projects contracted. Our annually to foster conservation efforts within www.co.greene.pa.us program has approximately Greene County. $265,000.00 remaining to Greene County Conservation District Board of Directors want to give back to Greene County farming contract for dirt and gravel road More Work to Do projects by June 30th, 2017. community in hopes that these funds would ensure viable farm land for the future. We offer funds to cost- share lime, fertilizer, livestock water development, and Browns Creek Watershed Growing livestock fencing. Greener Grant:
Project Summary and Results • In 2018 the District will be Grant Money Brought to As a result, this year we were able to sign up 28 farms in working on the Growing Greener the County From a short period of time. The district managed to contract a Grant for the Browns Creek Conservation District total of $84,115.00. The District is gearing up to take Watershed. The District received new signups this year and will open the round next Efforts: notice that we were awarded month officially. We are looking at adding forestry $1,643,599.00 practices to the program. $207,484.00 for Agricultural best management practices and a project with Morris Township to Key Project Partners stabilize the stream behind the USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service, DCNR Community Center. Forestry, Farm Service Agency, Penn State Extension Huntingdon County Conservation District
Other Accomplishments 2017 Feature Accomplishment Contact Information Warrior’s Mark Run Agricultural BMPs • Reached 1,423 students Celina Seftas and adults through our Resource Challenge District Manager various Environmental Steep, eroding streambanks, cattle with unlimited Education programs Jeffrey Thomas stream access, and a heavy use area adjacent to Board Chairman • Cleaned up 5.3 tons of stream that is impaired due to excess sediment trash and 160 tires from and nutrients 10605 Raystown Road, Suite A four miles of the Juniata Project Summary and Results River Huntingdon, PA 16652 Regraded steep banks and installed 126 (814) 627-1626 • Launched new website stabilization structures and six cattle crossings on www.huntingdoncd.org three farms in order to restore 10,768 feet of Grant Money Brought to Warriors Mark Run More Work to Do the County From Conservation District • 2 Chesapeake Bay Special Efforts: Project grants $427,055.13 • Streambank fencing Growing Greener, • Barnyard conservation Chesapeake Bay Special • Stream restoration Projects, Act 13 Funds, and • DCNR Stream Re-Leaf Federal Office of Surface grant Mining (funds spent in 2017) • Forested riparian buffers $494,547.98 • Multifunctional buffers Dirt & Gravel, Low Volume • Continued work on 4 Roads (funds spent in 2017) open Growing Greener grants Key Project Partners • Barnyard conservation USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service • Manure storage US Fish and Wildlife Service • Manure plan writing PA DEP Growing Greener (3 different grants) • Continued grant writing Farmers in Warrior’s Mark Run watershed Indiana County Conservation District
2017 Feature Accomplishment Other Accomplishments EPA Section 319 Project Contact Information South Branch Plum Creek • Celebrated 70th anniversary Resource Challenge Adam Cotchen • Awarded RACP grant funding for Major concerns on this farm included a lack of rotational District Manager a new district office building and grazing and watering facilities, animal heavy use areas environmental education center adjacent to the stream, unlimited animal access to the Jason McGinnis • Completed agricultural projects stream causing streambank degradation, and unbuffered Board Chairman in the South Branch Plum Creek stream corridors. and Goose Run watersheds 625 Kolter Drive, Suite 8 • Distributed over $440,000 in Dirt, Project Summary and Results Indiana, PA 15701 Gravel, and Low Volume Road Best management practices installed on this farm (724) 471-4751 (DGLVR) funding included heavy use area protection, access road, 2 www.iccdpa.org • Awarded DGLVR Project of the stream crossings, 5 water hydrants with troughs, and Year to East Mahoning nearly 10,000 feet of livestock fencing, including Township for Lewis Road Project streambank fencing to exclude livestock from the More Work to Do • Partnered with Evergreen riparian area. This effort increased the pasture system Conservancy to launch the nearly three-fold, from 6 acres to over 17 acres of • Design and construct new, green Indiana County GeoTrail prescribed rotational grazing. Finally, over 200 native district office building and • Assisted in developing the trees and shrubs were planted in the nearly one-acre environmental education center Indiana County Sustainable riparian buffer area. • Continue efforts in the South Branch Economy Task Force Plum Creek and Goose Run watersheds to install agricultural BMPs on farms adjacent to streams and Grant Money Brought to stream habitat structures the County From • Increase education and outreach efforts Conservation District for the DGLVR program, as well as Efforts: $945,468 hosting the statewide Annual Maintenance Workshop Before After • Continue providing education and Key Project Partners technical assistance to the community on non-point source pollution PACD TAG engineering, NRCS, Western abatement Pennsylvania Conservancy, Community Volunteers Jefferson County Conservation District
Other Accomplishments 2017 Feature Accomplishment Contact Information • Eagle Scout Canoe Launch Kyle Lake Handicap Accessible Fishing Pier Deborah Wilson • Kyle Lake Restoration Project Falls Creek, PA District Manager • Nutrient Management Planning Resource Challenge • Sugar Camp AMD Treatment The previous fishing pier was not handicapped-accessible, which Theresa Shick System limited aquatic recreation at Kyle Lake. The existing jetty had • Conifer AMD Treatment System become deteriorated and caused fishing lines to get trapped in Board Chairman O&M rocks. • Conservation Planning Project Summary and Results 1514 Route 28 • Stormwater Management Plans Horizon Construction Group was selected to complete the pier Brookville, PA 15825 • Completed 9 DGLVR Projects that will provide access for handicapped people to fish. The pier (814) 849-7463 deck was constructed with pressure preservative treated wood www.jeffersonconservation .com • Highschool Envirothon and measures 16ft long by 32ft wide, with approximately 8ft wide • Watershed Groups Water Quality by 15ft long walkway. The project also includes bituminous Testing pavement to provide a smooth transition from existing ground More Work to Do surface to the walkway. The cost of the project was $90,230, and was funded by the Redbank Creek Watershed Trust. • Big Run Flood Control Project Grant Money Brought to the • Pine Run Watershed Agriculture Best Management Practices County From Conservation Implementation District Efforts: • EQUIP Technical Assistance Growing Greener NACD Technical Assistance • Proposed Aquaponics Facility Western Pennsylvania Conservancy Redbank Watershed Trust • Kyle Lake Habitat Improvement DCED-Commonwealth Financing Authority • Stormwater Education Workshops
Key Project Partners: The Redbank Watershed Trust The Jefferson Conservation District Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission Juniata County Conservation District
2017 Feature Accomplishment Other Accomplishments Contact Information LOST CREEK RESTORATION INITIATIVE • 14th Annual Farmers’ Winter Meeting Christopher Snyder (2017) District Manager Resource Challenge • 21 involved Juniata Watershed Alliance members and volunteers To restore and extend the range of native brook trout Eric Brubaker • 12,379 pounds of electronics collected populations while providing a watershed restoration site Board Chairman (2017) to serve as a public showcase for increasing community • 964 tires collected (2017) awareness about watershed enhancement opportunities. 146 Stoney Creek Drive, Suite 4 • 11 National Pollutant Discharge Mifflintown, PA 17059 Elimination System (NPEDS) permits Project Summary and Results (717) 436-8953, ext.5 administered (2017) Funding provided through the National Fish and Wildlife www.juniataccd.org • River cleanups covering four (4) miles of Foundation (NFWF) has allowed for an initial installation the Juniata River (2013-2017) of the following: • 21 farms preserved totaling 2,783.96 • 2045 feet of mudsill, bank grading, and bank full More Work to Do acres (1999-2017) bench • 19 vanes • Promotion of backyard buffers and • 1 rain garden watershed enhancements Continued funding from NFWF and funding from Growing • Increase district visibility through Greener Plus will complete a mile of total stream restoration. program promotion and technical In addition to improvement of fish habitat, the restoration assistance availability within both the project provides a platform to educate residents of the agricultural and non-agricultural benefits of riparian buffers and watershed enhancement communities practices. • Refine and enhance Juniata County’s recycling program Key Project Partners Grant Money Brought to the Juniata College, The Nature Conservancy, US Fish and Wildlife Services, The Trust for Tomorrow, Penn State County From Conservation Agriculture and Environmental Center, PA Department of District Efforts: $375,172 Conservation and Natural Resources, Juniata Watershed Alliance, and Lost Creek Golf Course Lackawanna County Conservation District
Other Accomplishments 2017 Feature Accomplishment Contact Information • 5000 acres of Preserved Farmland attained after preserving four additional Jerry Stiles farms totaling more than 319 acres Dirt and Gravel Road/Low Volume District Manager • Over 480 acres planted using no-till technology Road Program Administration Jay Clymer • 146 plan reviews and over 200 inspections conducted under the Board Chairman Chapter 102 program Resource Challenge • Installation of fish enhancement Minimize pollution, improve road drainage, and 1038 Montdale Rd., Suite 109 structures and streambank stabilization improve road structure Scott Twp., PA 18447 practices on Leggett’s Creek (570)382-3086 • Initiated and hosted Junior High www.lccd.net Envirothon competition Project Summary and Results • Provided tree seedlings to over 100 County residents Completed four projects in three municipalities • Installed multiple structural Best within Lackawanna County. Total project value More Work to Do Management Practices (BMP’s) on was over $183,000 three County farms through the • Private water well testing Lackawanna County Agricultural BMP Program Contracted four additional projects in two • Assessment of Leggett’s Creek and • Purchased new no-till seeder using municipalities within Lackawanna County. Lackawanna River Chesapeake Bay Special Project grant Estimated total project value is over $285,000 • Administration of NPDES Permit & funding Chapter 102 Program • Developed an Environmental Education • Administer Chesapeake Bay Program Program focused on Monarch Key Project Partners including Chesapeake Bay Special Butterflies Local Municipalities Project Grant for HUAP/Manure Storage project in 2018 Grant Money Brought to PA DEP • Administer Farmland Preservation the County From USDA-NRCS Program including the addition of three Conservation District PA Fish and Boat Commission new farm parcels in 2018 Efforts: $856,385 • Installation of additional fish habitat Trout Unlimited enhancement structures along Leggett’s Creek Lancaster County Conservation District
Dirt & Gravel / Low Volume Road Program Agricultural Conservation Program Allocated to municipalities, $389,097 2017 Feature Accomplishments Project dollars to landowners $204,400 This past year, the District assisted Funds allocated through NRCS $2.510 mill municipalities and participated in numerous on Erosion & Sediment Control Program The Ag staff was instrumental in many different site project assessments and project review Total Fees Generated $487,500. conservation efforts including: meetings. All of these efforts are designed to •Designed 146 Best Management Practices The E&S Department administered the Chapter 102 result in improved roads and more importantly (BMP’s). and Chapter 105 programs to help protect our natural cleaner local streams and creeks. Additional •Planned over 2,400 acres with either a resources from impacts of new development and program details: Conservation Plan or Agriculture E&S Plan. construction projects. • Conducted a Dirt & Gravel/Low Volume •Installed 160 BMP’s (16 waste storages, 27 Rd. Municipal workshop in January of E&S Plans Reviewed 418 waterways, and 16 stream crossings, etc.) 2017. •Reviewed 97 Act 38 Nutrient Management NPDES Permits Processed 174 • Assisted 4 municipalities with 5 Dirt & Plans. Chapter 105 General Processed 115 Gravel road projects totaling over 6.5 •Conducted status reviews of over 250 Act 38 miles throughout the county. Site Inspections Conducted 1108 regulated operations. Complaints Received & Processed 179 •Conducted 302 farm compliance visits. • The Low Volume Road program assisted . 11 municipalities with 16 Low Volume road projects totaling nearly 8.5 miles. Watershed Program • Participated in a Quality Project dollars brought to the County Contact Information Assurance/Quality Control audit of the $606,200 Kenneth Meck, Board Chairman program by the State. Almost one-half of our 1,400 miles of streams throughout Christopher Thompson, Managing Director the county are listed as impaired. Program efforts to 1383 Arcadia Road, Room 200Lancaster, restore the health and quality of those streams this year Conservation Education PA 17601-3149(717) 299-5361 ext. 5 included: www.lancasterconservation.org Generated by Education Programs $28,827 Assisted over 12 local volunteer watershed associations • Sponsored the 39th annual Youth in the county on issues from education, funding, Conservation School. monitoring, and volunteer recruitment. More Work to Do • Expanded the County’s Envirothon Conducted numerous stream surveys educated 3,300 program by adding the first Annual Middle children & adults on the importance of clean water. • Allocate $2.475 mill in project grants School Envirothon with 105 new students Four miles of stream were restored installing: • Initiate a county-wide clean water participating. •5,300 ft. of mudsills installed to provide aquatic habitat. campaign to help expedite our • 7,748 people participated in District •48 log/cross vanes to direct high water flows. conservation efforts Education programs. •5 stream crossings, over 2.6 miles of stream bank • Identify additional non-program funding fencing. to re-establish original conservation •Nearly 20 acres of riparian buffer planted (5,000 trees mission planted). •Worked with partners on a new Alternative TMDL approach in the Chiques Cr. Watershed. Lawrence County Conservation District
Other Accomplishments 2017 Feature Contact Information Accomplishment • Dirt, Gravel and Low Volume Road Jo Ann McCready, District Manager projects in 3 municipalities installing ditch Don Hoye, Board Chairman stabilization, a French mattress with Sugar and Honey Creek Watersheds overflow pipes, new and replaced pipes, 430 Court Street base improvement, Driving Surface Resource Challenge New Castle, PA 16101 Aggregate, and new storm water turnouts To reduce pollution from agricultural (724) 652-4512 operations in tributaries to the Little Beaver www.lawrencecd.org • Conducted 87 plan reviews, 39 site Creek, designated a High Quality Stream by inspections, responded to 10 complaints, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. More Work to Do issued 11 permits and provided technical Project Summary and Results assistance to 1391 individuals in the The Lawrence Conservation District • Implementation of the Slippery Rock Creek Erosion and Sedimentation Prevention completed implementation plans of four ag Watershed Plan on three Ag operations. Pollution Control Program operations, installing a manure storage, stabilizing heavy use areas, implementing • Implement plans for a fifth operation in the • Conducted a stream stabilization project pasture management, developing nutrient Sugar and Honey Creek Watersheds. and Education Initiative in McKee Run management plans, installing stormwater Watershed management facilities and assisting with • Oversight of Dirt, Gravel and Low Volume REAP applications. Road projects in four municipalities • Trained Westminster College students to conduct water monitoring • Expand water quality monitoring in Lawrence County Watersheds. • Held Nature and Geology • Strive to remain current and effective in the Camps, Envirothon, ever changing regulatory environment. and classroom programs and assisted with Ag Grant Money Brought to Encounter and the County From Senior Expos Key Project Partners PA Growing Greener Conservation District PACD Technical Assistance Efforts: $1,037,850.00 State Conservation Commission REAP Lebanon County Conservation District
2017 Feature Accomplishment Other Accomplishments Contact Information 25th Anniversary of Preserving Farmland in Lebanon County Lynette Gelsinger . Preserved 374.96 acres of District Manager farmland through four Resource Challenge agricultural land preservation Randall Leisure easements. Protect land for future generations by preventing Board Chairman development of the land for purposes other than . Reached over 1,000 students agricultural production, while allowing the landowners to Lebanon Valley Ag Center through environmental education retain ownership. 2120 Cornwall Road, Suite 5 programs. Lebanon, PA 17042 (717) 277-5272 . Completed 216 earth www.lccd.org disturbance site inspections, pre- construction meetings, and complaint investigations (a/o 11/30/17) More Work to Do
. 42 farms and 3,969 acres awaiting Grant Money Brought to preservation the County From . Continue administration of Dirt and Conservation District Project Summary and Results Gravel and Low Volume Road Projects Efforts: $638,672 For 25 years, Lebanon County Conservation District has . Expand tree seedling outreach program administered the Agricultural Land Preservation to include every Lebanon County 4th Program. During that time, 163 farm owners have grade student preserved 18,445.92 acres of land. This places Lebanon . Continue to assist farmers in County in the top ten of all Pennsylvania counties in total implementation of Best Management preserved farmland acres. Practices (BMPs)
Key Project Partners Lebanon County Commissioners, Lebanon County Municipalities, Lebanon County Agricultural Land Preservation Board, State Agricultural Land Preservation Board, Lebanon County Conservation District, and USDA-NRCS Lehigh Conservation District
Other Accomplishments 2017 Feature Accomplishment Contact Information • Mill Creek Watershed Assessment Larry Wisser Agricultural BMPS • Little Lehigh Creek Invasive William McFadden Species Management Resource Challenge District Manager • Little Lehigh Creek Stream Buffer • Manure Management Plantings William Erdman • 25 Conservation Plans written • Stream Bank Protection Board Chairman • Macro Invertebrate Study on • Soil Erosion Stwitzer Creek before and after a • Storm Water BMPS Lehigh County Agricultural Center Stream Bank Fencing Project 4184 Dorney Park Rd., Suite 105 Allentown, PA 18104 • Bison Stream Banking Fencing Project Summary and Results Project with the Lehigh Valley Zoo (610) 391-9583 • Installed 2790 feet of stream bank fencing www.lehighconservation.org • 2 stream crossings • Animal heavy use area More Work to Do • Manure storage • Animal walkways • Lehigh Valley Hospital Network Basin • 6 acres of wetlands restoration Retrofit • Grass waterway • Storm water basin • Leibert Creek Stream Restoration Project • Roof gutters • New access road • Little Cedar Creek TMDL Plan
Grant Money Brought to Key Project Partners • Working with a swine operation to the County From NRCS move animals away from a stream Conservation District • Urban Agricultural Program with Efforts: Building 21, Allentown School District $601,398.00 Luzerne Conservation District
Other Accomplishments 2017 Feature Accomplishment Contact Information
• Conducted 335 Erosion & Sediment Blake Brown Agricultural Conservation Project Joshua Longmore Control Plan Reviews and 577 site Executive Director Resource Challenge inspections for earth disturbance Timothy Ference Substantial sediment and nutrient run-off at Brown’s Nescopeck activities in Luzerne County Board Chairman Twp. property first became a concern back in 2012. In a • Responded to 81 complaints collaborative effort to reduce and mitigate the run-off, the district 325 Smiths Pond Road related to soil and water issues completed a full Conservation and Nutrient Management Plan with Shavertown, PA 18708 the help of a Chesapeake Bay Special Project grant in July 2014. (570) 674-7991 • Issued 60 NPDES Permits for From there, NRCS & PACD engineers designed Mr. Brown’s www.luzernecd.org Construction Activities multiple, much needed nutrient conservation projects which, with the help of DEP, were implemented this past summer of 2017. • Completed 7 projects to reduce More Work to Do sediment pollution from municipal Project Summary and Results Dirt & Gravel Road sections Funding for this project was a joint contribution of a Growing • Assisting PA Game Commission with Greener grant awarded in 2015, and a NRCS EQIP contract. In wetland and waterfowl habitat • Implemented 2 Low Volume Roads addition, DEP provided streambank fencing and stream crossing enhancement on State Game Lands projects to improve storm water funds. The completion of the project proved a great success, the • Working with Stanley Cooper Trout management, drainage, and road effects of which will continue to curb contaminating sediment and Unlimited, Eastern Brook Trout Joint base and surface materials nutrient run-off well into the future. Venture, US Fish and Wildlife Service, PA Fish and Boat Commission and PA • Coordinated with Dallas School DEP to fund and restore 2,500 of District, Penn State Extension and riparian zones in the former Mountain Watershed Stewards to plant Springs Lake stormwater basins improving water quality in Toby Creek • Provide natural resource conservation assistance to Luzerne County • Secured Growing Greener grant municipalities, landowners, & land funding for projects throughout the users Nescopeck Creek Watershed • Provide multiple conservation education opportunities Lycoming County Conservation District
2017 Feature Accomplishment Other Accomplishments Contact Information Agricultural Stormwater BMP Project • Emergency Watershed Resource Challenge Mark Davidson Protection • Soil Erosion District Manager • 1800 ft streambank • Water Quality Degradation stabilization Carl Schlappi • Debris Removal Program Board Chairman Project Summary and Results • Fish Habitat Improvement Projects • 2,000 sq ft of Roofed Heavy Use Area Protection 542 County Farm Road, Suite 202 • NACD Urban Ag Grant • 3,200 sq ft of Manure Stacking Facility Montoursville, PA 17754 • Environmental Education • Roof Runoff Structures (570) 433-3003 www.lyco.org • 39 programs with 2600 • Stormwater pond participants • Access Road, Animal Trail and Walkway • Envirothon • Spring Development • Mosquito-Born Virus More Work to Do Surveillance Program • Rock Lined Waterway • Dirt and Gravel Roads Key Project Partners • Agriculture and Streambank BMPs • RCPP – Soil Health • USDA-NRCS utilizing $215,000 Growing Greener • Nutrient Management Planning • Growing Greener funds Funds • Commonwealth Financing Authority • Ag Land Preservation • $50,000 Debris Removal Program • No-till drill rental program • Soil Health Outreach (USDA funds) Grant Money Brought to the County From • Ag Land Preservation Conservation District • $500,000 Dirt and Gravel Road Efforts: $1.7 million Projects
• Mosquito Borne Disease Surveillance McKean County Conservation District
2017 Feature Accomplishment Other Accomplishments • Marilla & Gilbert Reservoir Hedgehog Lane Low Volume Road Project Accesses- A PA Fish & Boat Commission and Shell grant funded the Resource Challenge construction of accessible fishing piers Hedgehog Lane in Foster Township had become not only a and canoe launches at two Bradford maintenance nightmare for the municipality but also an Water Authority recreational properties. environmental and public safety concern. The road base in the • Education and Outreach: Workshops, south lane had been shifting for years and was beginning to programs, exhibits, and presentations slide down the steep slope. Experts from the Center for Dirt & (51 events) reached 3,146 people. Gravel Road Studies assisted to determine the best way to • Responsible Waste Management: solve the problem. Soil core sampling was completed in 2016 to 77,588 pounds of Electronics, 1,840 determine road base material and the distance between the Tires and 10,593 pounds of Household failing road surface and a stable base. With the information Hazardous waste were disposed of gathered from the soil sampling it was determined that the properly at collections around county. failure was a result of slope geometry and the subsurface clay soils present. With no bedrock found during sampling the Contact Information solution was to shift the travel lanes away from the unstable area. Sandy Thompson District Manager Project Summary and Results Kerry Fetter • Abandon failing lane Board Chairman • Move lanes 8 feet north toward hillside 17137 Route 6 • Replace one of three cross pipes; add catch basins Smethport, PA 16749 More Work to Do • Install underdrain in north ditch to prevent erosion and (814) 887-4001 • Agricultural Best Management filter water www.mckeanconservation.com Practices including streambank fencing, • Geo-fabric installed to existing base; Added blacktop Grant Money Brought to the County riparian buffers, manure storage and millings & 2rc to bring existing north slope to grade heavy use areas continue on area farms • South side: Stabilized cross pipe outlets, reshape slope From Conservation District Efforts: funded by Growing Greener and private to eliminate vertical drop, replace guard rail 2016-2017 Grant Funds: grants Hedgehog Lane is now a solid, safer road for drivers with lower $ 1,589,114.43 • Acid Mine Drainage Treatment project maintenance needs. For every $1 contributed by McKean County in historical coal mining area affecting to conservation, $41.54 is generated in return Hamlin & Railroad Run streams will be Key Project Partners: completed. from additional funding sources Foster Township McKean County Conservation District Center for Dirt & Gravel Road Studies at Penn State Mercer County Conservation District
Other Accomplishments 2017 Feature Accomplishment Contact Information • Re-develop Environmental Education connections with local schools Jay Russell • Transportation grant for schools NO-TILL, COVER CROP & SOIL District Manager • 2 mile interpretive trail on Munnell Run HEALTH WORKSHOP Farm James Rust • 6th “Watershed Explorer’s Adventure Camp” Resource Challenge Board Chairman • Sponsored/presented at Mercer County Exploring solutions to 24 Avalon Court, Suite 300 “Brunch on the Farm” to problems farmers are • Hosted Northwest PA Growers Mercer, PA 16153 Association CSA encountering with (724) 662-2242 • Assisted newly formed Coolspring transitioning to no-till and Watershed Association becoming familiar with advancements in agricultural www.mercercountycd.com • Aquatic Invasive Species removal in practices several watersheds . • 4,570 linear feet of roadway maintenance contracted for 3 Dirt & Gravel Road Project Summary and Results More Work to Do projects The Mercer County Conservation District sponsored and • Connect with local universities to develop a • 2,365 linear feet of roadway maintenance developed a No-Till, Cover Crop and Soil Health collaborative sustainable agriculture program contracted for 2 Low Volume Road Workshop held at East End farm, located in western • Hold a “farmer to farmer” roundtable meeting to projects Mercer County. Featured topics and discussions discuss solutions to persistent problems • 42 E&SPC plan reviews covered included crop management and soil health, encountered in NW PA • 23 processed general NPDES permits mixed cover crop establishment, planting green with no- • Implement “Establishing Connections” outdoor • 41 Chapter 105 general permits till, and transitioning to no-till practices in Northwestern education program • Municipal Stormwater Workshop with Pennsylvania. Demonstrations on incorporating the use • Sandy Creek Watershed Educational Series Lawrence County of drones in agriculture as well as the use of an inter- • Work with land owners to install riparian buffers Grant Money Brought to the County seeder as a way to plant cover crops were also and stream bank fencing From Conservation District Efforts: • Continue with Aquatic Invasive Species Envirothon $700 presented. Approximately 70 individuals attended the removal Environmental Education $2,930.27 event. • Increase the number of eligible municipalities in Low Volume Roads $118,130.40 Dirt & Gravel Roads $390,585.86 the Dirt, Gravel and Low Volume Roads Key Project Partners program PA No-Till Alliance and USDA, NRCS, Penn Soil RC&D • Fish Habitat rebuilding • Growing Greener Grants $249,247.00 • Elder Run • Sandy Creek Watershed Mifflin County Conservation District
2017 Feature Accomplishment Other Accomplishments Contact Information Mifflin County Riparian Forest Agricultural BMPs Daniel Dunmire • 5,000 ft. of livestock exclusion Buffer Initiative District Manager fencing Resource Challenge Cathy Haughwout • 2 stabilized livestock crossings Increase acreage of Riparian Forest Buffers (RFBs) in Board Chairwoman • 2 roofed animal heavy use areas Mifflin County and manage previously established RFBs • 2 roofed manure stacking to ensure maximum water quality benefits. facilities 20 Windmill Hill, Suite 4 Dirt & Gravel Rd./Low Vol. Rd. Burnham, PA 17009 • 2 DGR projects contracted Project Summary and Results (717) 248-4695 • 2 LVR projects contracted • Purchased toothed grader blade In 2015, the MCCD embarked on a campaign to revive Environmental Education and install RFB’s throughout Mifflin County. In 2017 More Work to Do • Mifflin/Juniata Envirothon alone, the MCCD planted over 1,000 trees through • Field Days multiple programs and established over 10 acres of • Continue to install RFBs and • Class Presentations RFB. The MCCD has also actively managed and manage existing RFBs Watershed enhanced over 20 acres of existing RFB plantings since • Continue to install Agricultural • Upper Kish Watershed Meetings 2015. This management has been critical to RFB BMPs with priority in Ag impaired • 2017 Surface Water Assessment success and has enhanced and revived buffers planted watersheds. in the Upper Kish and Hungry many years ago. The MCCD most recently received a Run Watersheds $25,000 grant to continue to prioritize buffer • Complete the update to the Upper Farmland Preservation management. This grant will fund the purchase of an Kish Watershed Implementation • Preserved 89 acres equipment trailer to house and transport supplies for Plan (WIP) volunteer planting crews and buffer maintenance staff. • Continue Surface Water Grant Money Brought to Assessment Program (SWAP) the County From Key Project Partners • Complete stream restoration Conservation District National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF), projects on Hungry Run and Kishacoquillas Creek Efforts: $655,290.00 PA Dept. of Cons. and Natural Resources (DCNR), PA Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP), Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF)
Picture Above: Riparian Forest Buffer (RFB) planted in 2016 and maintained by MCCD and the Landowner Monroe County Conservation District
2017 Feature Accomplishment Other Accomplishments Contact Information Multi-County NPDES Workshop Series • Updated MCCD website making Adam Schellhammer it more appealing and useful for District Manager distribution of both technical and Resource Challenge educational information Perceived lack of programmatic consistency across Joseph Hanyon • Enrolled in the Act 38 program; county borders. Board Chairman increasing our capacity to assist Project Summary and Results the farming community within 8050 Running Valley Road Monroe County Programmatic consistency is a critical element in Stroudsburg, PA 18360 • Established an agility agreement effectively implementing state and federal (570) 629-3060 with PennDot which will increase regulations. To ensure consistency and promote www.mcconservation.org our ability to tackle larger inter-district cooperation, we worked with our restoration projects neighbors at the Pike County Conservation District enhancement projects More Work to Do • Introduced exciting new to offer informative and unified guidance on the • Continue to work to improve educational programs for the intricacies of working within Special Protection relationships with local interest community , like Creek Watersheds. The results were very encouraging, as groups Snorkeling, which gives people we held two full-day sessions and attracted over of all ages a close-up look at life • Continue to take a lead role in 115 participants to the workshop. We reviewed beneath the water’s surface! regional resource planning and help common design flaws, application filing issues and develop a strategic land use plan for the importance of pre-application meetings to list Monroe County only a few of the topics. Key Project Partners • Expand our educational program Thanks to all of the great people from the Pike offerings and increase local awareness of current conservation County office for helping us make this program and environmental issues such a success! • Work more closely with the regulated community to promote strategic sustainable development Montgomery County Conservation District
Accomplishments
• Hired 6 new staff (2 Resource Conservationists, 1 Engineering Technician, 1 Watershed Specialist, 1 Administrative Assistant and District Manager) • Agriculture: Creation of Urban Ag Conservation Resource Guide • Agriculture: Held Manure Management Workshop • Agriculture: Held Pasture Management Field Day • Agriculture: Held 2 no-till planting demonstration District no-till drill available for rental to Perkiomen Stormwater Improvement Project field days farmers in Montgomery County for • Agriculture: Established no-till drill reequipment conservation planting rental program to promote no-till planting and cover crops More Work to Do Contact Information • Environmental stewardship outreach initiative to golf courses • Adjustment to frequent DEP Eric Miller • Established County Environmental Stewardship programmatic updates District Manager Award • Perkiomen Township Stormwater Improvements • Foster improved field Sara Erlbaum project, Perkiomen Township compliance across 102 Board Chairman • Perkiomen Creek Habitat Improvement project at regulations American Legion, East Greenville 143 Level Road • Dirt, Gravel & Low Volume Road grant program: • Continued outreach to Collegeville, PA 19426 • 2 contracted Low Volume grant projects regulated agricultural (610) 489-4506 • 5 completed Low Volume grant projects community for compliance www.montgomeryconservation.org • 1 contracted Gravel Road grant project with manure management • 1 completed Gravel Road grant project and 102 regulations Montour County Conservation District
2017 Feature Accomplishment Other Accomplishments Contact Information Limestone Run Restoration Sean Levan • Installed 9,000 square foot roof District Manager over existing barnyard on 200 Resource Challenge head beef operation Mahoning Ag Impaired Stream due to Agriculture Matthew Derr Creek Watershed Siltation, lack of adequate stream buffer and Board Chairman • Installed 4900 square foot roofed runoff controls. Lack of adequate fish habitat barnyard project for a 40 head and high water temperatures. 1210 Bloom Road beef operation in the Mahoning Danville, PA 17821 Creek Watershed Project Summary and Results (570) 271-1140 • Buffer Plantings on 2 farms in www.montourccd.com Limestone Run Watershed Installation of Best Management Practices on • Installation of Streambank dairy, beef and poultry farms located within fencing and fish habitat the watershed. Increased buffers and Fish More Work to Do structures on Seven Springs Habitat Installation on numerous farms. Farm (headwaters of Limestone Improved water quality to the point where Run) • Sitler Barnyard and Manure Storage there have been two successful stockings of • Received $746,713 Growing • Kitchen Barnyard and Manure Storage Greener Grant for barnyard wild brook trout in the upper reach of the • Beachel Barnyard Projects improvements and manure stream. • Hoffman Manure Storage storage projects located in the • Bogart Poultry Manure Storage Chillisquaque Watershed. Key Project Partners • Beyer Milkhouse Waste System and streambank fencing • Completed three (3) Dirt, Gravel Northcentral PA Conservancy, Pennsylvania & Low-Volume Road projects • Appleman Paddock Management Fish & Boat Commission, US Fish& Wildlife totaling $189,571.80. Project Service, Pennsylvania DEP, • Fletcher Roofed Barnyard Project and Chillisquaque/Limestone Run Watershed stream project Association, Milton High School, Bloomsburg • Kremer walkway and stabilized feeding University, Susquehanna University, and area local landowners • Betz Barnyard and Manure Storage Tank • Rine Stream Project Northampton County Conservation District
Other Accomplishments 2017 Feature Accomplishment • Completed over 240 E&S plan reviews, Contact Information conducted over 190 field inspections, “Lehigh Valley Geology” Act 48 Teacher Workshop issued/acknowledged 51 NPDES permits Resource Challenge Sharon Pletchan District Manager and answered 42 complaints Based on feedback from local teachers, the • Provided environmental education District identified the need to provide Act 48 Donald Mack programs for schools and watershed groups training in the study of local geology. Board Chairman • Hired District Engineer to move forward with PCSM Delegation in 2018 Project Summary and Results Greystone Building • Nathan Pritchard, Watershed The workshop provided educators with an 14 Gracedale Avenue Specialist/Agricultural Technician achieved introduction to the fundamentals of Lehigh Valley Nazareth, PA 18064-9211 Nutrient Management certification; District geology and the opportunity to visit unique (610) 829-6276 signed onto Nutrient Management locations in the field. The day started with an Delegation https://www.northamptoncounty.org • Established demonstration Rain Gardens at introduction and lecture by District staff members [email protected] Pen Argyl Borough and Plainfield Township (and geologists) James Lawrence and Nathan municipal buildings and held corresponding Pritchard. During lunch, Shawn Casey, P.E., from More Work to Do public educational workshops CMT Services Group, provided an excellent • Assisting Northampton County with MS4 presentation on the impact of sinkholes in the • Continue to implement E&S and permit compliance Lehigh Valley. The remainder of the day was NPDES Program • Completed first Low Volume Road Project spent in the field visiting rock outcrops that • Provide E&S / NPDES training for the on Books Hill Rd. in Plainfield Township represented nearly all of the rock types in the regulated community • Launched a Youth Watershed Steward valley. At each field stop, the teachers learned • Seek funding for and continue to offer Program Act 48 Teachers’ Workshop • Established Memorial Bench at County Park about how the rocks formed (depositional environments) and various mountain building • Implement the PA DEP Post in the name of past District Manager, Construction Stormwater Delegation Chryss Buchman events (orogenies) that shaped the valley as we • Implement Nutrient Management • Co-hosted 7th Annual Lehigh Valley know it today. Delegation Watershed Conference Key Project Partners • Build District’s Agricultural Assistance Martins-Jacoby Grant Money Brought Program Watershed Association • Develop Riparian Buffer Program with to the County From Lower Mount Bethel local partners Conservation District Efforts: Township • Deliver 2018 Master Watershed $223,936.00 CMT Services Group Steward Class for the Lehigh/Northampton Program Northumberland County Conservation District
2017 Feature Accomplishment Other Accomplishments Contact Information • Reviewed and approved 44 erosion and sediment plans, 19 NPDES Chillisquaque Creek Streambank Stabilization Judy Becker permits, and 25 dam safety and Project District Manager waterway permits • Performed 83 inspections on active Resource Challenge Michael Hubler construction sites Board Chairman • Approved 8 nutrient management The Chillisquaque Creek is listed on PA DEP’s 303(d) plans and performed 26 site reviews impaired streams list and is a priority watershed for the • Assisted with 39 manure Growing Greener Plus Northcentral Region. 441 Plum Creek Road Sunbury, PA 17801 management plans and 33 ag Implementing this project will help meet goals erosion and sedimentation plans (570)495-4665 established in the Northumberland County • Installed streambank restoration www.nccdpa.org best management practices on 5 Implementation Plan for the Chesapeake Bay Tributary sites throughout the county Strategy as well as the Environmental Protection More Work to Do • Completed an agricultural easement Agency’s Chesapeake Bay Watershed Implementation purchase, totaling 21 farms and Plan. • Reach out to every ag operation in the 2,338 acres purchased county and offer our technical assistance. • Provided 19 educational programs Project Summary and Results to schools and community groups. • Pursue funding to preserve the remaining • Held 6 workshops for the farming This project was completed the week of July 31, 2017. 56 farms waiting to be preserved in community, municipalities, and the The following were installed: 10 multi-log vane Northumberland County. general public deflectors, 3 single log vane deflectors, root ball • Sold over 12,000 trees at our annual deflector, two 60” modified mudsill cribs, one 80” biomass • Continue to offer educational programs free tree sale mudsill crib, and 3 minor road crossings. The entire site of charge to schools, community groups, • Administered the mosquito-borne and the general public. disease control program for DEP in was seeded and mulched after installation. As a side 5 counties note, this particular project was challenging due to • Provide information to homeowners on best • Provided funding through the Dirt, flooding rains that hit the area the week before causing management practices they can install in Gravel, and Low Volume Roads major flooding at this area of the creek. Regardless of their own backyard. program to 3 municipalities, totaling $244,550 this setback, the project was completed in a timely manner. Grant Money Brought to the County From Key Project Partners Conservation District PA DEP (the project was funding through PA DEP’s Growing Greener), PA Fish and Boat Commission Efforts: $729,819.83 Perry County Conservation District
Other Accomplishments 2017 Feature Accomplishment Contact Information
•Assisted 140 farmers with no-till Stream Crossing and DSA Project Sally Tengeres technology on nearly 3,000 acres Robinson Road, Juniata Township District Manager •Assisted 35 building sites with Resource Challenge Oscar Campbell Chapter 102 compliance Improve stream health by reducing culvert degradation, Board Chairman •Preserved 1 farm (212.34 acres), increasing wildlife passage and maintaining stream flow. and reviewed Conservation Plans Before After for 62 farms P. O. Box 36 •Coordinated an Ag E&S Plan 31 West Main Street writing workshop along with the New Bloomfield, PA 17068 Greenwood FFA Chapter and the (717) 582-8988 ext.4 Center for Dairy Excellence,13 www.perrycd.org attendees More Work to Do •Keep Perry County Beautiful • De-list 8 Ag Impaired streams Affiliate coordinated a Tire • Assist/write 400 manure Collection (605 tires), E-cycling management and Ag erosion and Collection (20 tons) and Juniata sediment control Plans for County River Clean Up (80 tires, 500 lbs farms trash) events along with help from • Assist with the implementation of the 60 volunteers County Greenways Plan •Fielded over 100 environmental • Outreach program addressing well related inquiries from County water quality and safety issues residents • Increase preservation rate for 50 farms on the waiting list for Farmland Grant Money Brought to Preservation Program the County From Conservation District Project Summary and Results Key District Partners USDA NRCS, Penn State Cooperative Efforts: $668,170 Replaced 42” X 60” CMP replaced with Extension, Pa No-Till Alliance, PA 13’11” X 3’2” Aluminum Structural Plate DEP, SCC, PACD, Keep Perry County GP-11 Approved by DEP Beautiful, Foundation for PA 1950 Tons DSA placed at 8” lift compacted to 6” Watersheds, Center for Dairy 245’ of new cross pipes installed Excellence Pike County Conservation District
Other Accomplishments 2017 Feature Accomplishment Contact Information Baseline Assessment of Groundwater Quality in • Implemented new District staff position focused on Pike County, PA Sally Corrigan Conservation Outreach; expanded social media District Manager • Conducted two spring Municipal Outreach workshops (USGS Scientific Investigative Report) • Held partner meeting with State and Federal Legislators Scott Savini • Developed a plan for long-range continuation of on-going Resource Challenge Board Chairman surface water monitoring program Over 98% of Pike County’s drinking water is • Completed a comprehensive baseline groundwater study of supplied by groundwater. Little data existed on Pike County in cooperation with USGS 556 Route 402 Suite 1 • Partnered with Pinchot Institute for Conservation Studies these groundwater resources in order to Hawley, PA 18428 and Wm Penn Foundation to conduct stream monitoring as characterize groundwater quality conditions in (570) 226-8220 part of a larger study in the Upper Delaware Watershed aquifers tapped by wells used to supply drinking www.pikeconservation.org • Completed a new informational brochure entitled water. More Work to Do Opportunities for Public Input on the NPDES Permit Process • Assisted County Govermt.with update of Hazard Mitigation Project Summary and Results Plan • Expand the District’s Outreach carrying The study collected and analyzed water samples • Completed long-range Financial Plan and a succession plan the District’s Mission and Message to for District Management from 80 privately owned domestic wells in order to targeted audiences within Pike County extend the spatial extent of baseline groundwater • Implement delegated duties in relation Grant Money Brought to the County quality data beyond data taken from 20 wells to numerous major construction projects sampled in 2012, Wells were selected to represent including several utility line projects. From Conservation District Efforts: groundwater quality throughout Pike County as • Continue groundwater quantity and $2,000 PACD Mini-Grant to conduct Non-Point Source Pollution, defined by major land uses and rock types. A full quality studies to better assess status Groundwater and Your Drinking Water, homeowner workshops. range of parameters were sampled. Results of the and potential impacts. $188,000 grant funded for baseline groundwater quality study. study were published in 2017 by USGS as a • Conduct annual stream monitoring of $137,000 in USGS in-kind matching funds for groundwater study Scientific Investigative Report. macroinvertebrates in County $3,000 PA DEP Environmental Education Grant for Solutions to watersheds to monitor water quality Maintain Healthy Water – a BMP Tour. trends. $5,000 grant for water quality monitoring. Key Project Partners United States Geologic Survey USGS Pike County Conservation District Funded by: USGS and Marcellus Legacy Fund, Commonwealth Finance Authority Potter County Conservation District
Other Accomplishments 2017 Feature Accomplishment Contact Information Ludington Run Aquatic Organism Passage Project • Met one-on-one with almost every Jason Childs municipality (30) in the county to provide District Manager technical assistance and open up lines of communication Earl Brown • Completed projects that stabilized over 550 Board Chairman feet of streambank and created additional aquatic habitat 107 Market Street • Installed the 3rd public access point in the Coudersport, PA 16915 county for canoes and kayaks (814) 274-8411 ext.4 • Assisted local farmers in developing over 50 Resource Challenge www.pottercd.com Manure Management and/or Agricultural Habitat enhancement will require a multifaceted approach to Erosion and Sedimentation Plans restore stream quality in three ways: stream barrier More Work to Do • Coordinated with local municipalities to remediation, fish habitat structure placement, and road improve 14 municipal owned dirt and gravel sediment reduction. Culvert barrier rectification will remediate • Continue to educate students and roads utilizing over $830,000.00 in funding the worst fish barrier on this Genesee River tributary to citizens about the importance of soil • Provided job shadowing opportunities, mock facilitate upstream and downstream connectivity. A gravel road water and our natural resources. interviews, and spoke at career days at all 5 project will stabilize the stream adjacent Pushersiding Road to local school districts and hosted 6 reduce impacts of excessive sedimentation. • Install Agricultural BMPs on 3 farms Conservation Field Days with over 600 during the 2018 construction season. Project Summary and Results students in attendance • Construct bottomless culvert on Gravel • Commenced easement of the 8th farm in the 1. Connectivity to approximately 10 miles of prime upstream Lick Run (Kettle Creek) with help from habitat critical for brook trout spawning in this Genesee River county through the Farmland Preservation Trout Unlimited. tributary. Program • Finalize easement of the 9th farm in the 2. A limestone road surface aggregate designed by Penn State Farmland Preservation Program. Grant Money Brought to the University stabilized an estimated 2.5 miles of stream adjacent road responsible for discharging as much as 496 tons of road • Complete stream restoration work at a County From Conservation material for every .1 feet of surface erosion. minimum of 5 sites. District Efforts: $263,560.36 3. Restored approximately 61.18 acres of land between the • Host a public meeting for participants of riparian area around the replaced culvert and the road surface a USGS groundwater study to interpret that stabilized. well water test results from 46 sites. 4. 1,200,000 pounds of sediment loss avoided (600 tons per • Host a rain barrel workshop. year). • Host the 3rd annual Penn/York Ag- Key Project Partners stravaganza. NFWF, National Trout Unlimited, God’s Country Chapter of TU, Upper • Construct another 8-10 DGR/LVR Genesee TU, PA DEP, Genesee Watershed Association, Center for projects in 2018. DGR/LVR, Bingham Township, Penn DOT. Schuylkill County Conservation District
2017 Feature Accomplishment Other Accomplishments Contact Information • Oneida #3 AMD Treatment System Optimization Project Swatara Creek Floodplain Restoration Jenna St. Clair • Good Spring Creek Floodplain Phase 1 Construction Project District Manager Restoration Project Resource Challenge Glenn Luckenbill Since 2004 Pine Grove Borough has experienced 10 Board Chairman major flood events. Much of the development within Pine Grove is located along Swatara Creek’s streambanks, floodplain, floodway or on artificially raised 1206 Ag Center Drive streambanks that were once floodplain. Pottsville, PA 17901 Project Summary and Results (570) 622-3742 ext. 5 Project is designed to restore up to 15 acres of www.schuylkillcd.com floodplain, create up to 4.4 new acres of wetlands and 6.1 acres of riparian habitat while modeling suggests • Upper Swatara Creek AMD reducing flood water elevations by nearly 2.5 feet More Work to Do Monitoring Project water quality North Pine Grove. data collection • Additional floodplain restoration • Lorberry AMD Treatment System projects Rehabilitation Project • Continue AMD discharge pollution • Lesher Farm stream crossing remediation projects • Nutrient Management planning in • Increase coldwater habitat Delaware Watershed • Dunn Dairy Farm Animal Heavy Use Area Protection, Manure Grant Money Brought to the Storage and Grassed Waterway • Dandelion Farm Animal Heavy County From Conservation Key Project Partners Borough of Pine Grove Use Area Protection District Efforts: Guilford Performance Textiles by LEAR Corporation • Additional manure/nutrient $3,014,000.00 Schuylkill Economic Development Corporation management plans completed in PA Department of Community & Economic Development Delaware Watershed (goal of up PA Department of Environmental Protection to 8 more) Swatara Watershed Flood Recovery Committee County of Schuylkill Snyder County Conservation District
2017 Feature Accomplishment Other Accomplishments Contact Information • Outdoor Ed Day Craig Bingman • Farm Girls Rock AgroForestry Workshop District Manager • Chesapeake Bay Special Projects • Annual Awards Banquet Resource Challenge Roger Reichenbach • Walk In Penns Woods Private woodlots are not only valuable for timber, Board Chairman • Farmer’s Winter Meeting • Trail Of Trees Nature Trail they also have the potential to house a marketable 10541 Route 522 • Snyder County BMP Guide resource for a secondary or primary income. Middleburg, PA 17842 (570) 837-3000 Project Summary and Results www.snyderconservation.org It was a pleasant surprise when 75 people attended the first ever workshop to introduce forest landowners to the More Work to Do plethora of environmental resources and profit making • Tree/Plant Sale • Envirothons crops that can be grown and maintained in their private • Bay Farm Inspections woodlots. Attendees heard presentations on tapping • Eco Day maple syrup, planting riparian buffers, growing medicinal • Ag Land Preservation plants and mushrooms as well as producing charcoal. • Chapter 102 • Act 38 Status Reviews • Riparian Buffers • Dirt & Gravel/LVR Projects Grant Money Brought to the County From Conservation District Efforts: $406,600.00 Key Project Partners Snyder County Conservation District PA Bureau of Forestry Mid-State Partnerships, RC&D Somerset Conservation District
2017 Feature Accomplishment Other Accomplishments Barron Farm Project Contact Information • Construction of first Oven Run Lenny Lichvar AMD System Rehab Project on Resource Challenge the Stonycreek River District Manager • Orenda Park Stream Severe sediment erosion into Laurel Hill Creek Improvement project on Jack Tressler Quemhoning Creek completed Board Chairman • Plank Road Stream Improvemt Project Summary and Results project completed on the Pasture Improvements include: 6024 Glades Pike, Suite 103 Quemahoning Creek tailwater Somerset, PA 15501 • Completed two major stream 4,300 feet of stream bank fencing, 660 feet of (814) 445-4652 ext. 5 improvement projects on the division fence, 1 solar powered fence charger, www.somersetcd.com South Fork of Bens Creek 1 rock lined stream crossing for equipment, 3 • Initiated the Soap Hollow Run rock lined stream crossings for cattle, 700 feet More Work to Do Knotweed removal and stream of waterline, 2 watering facilities, 150 feet of improvement project animal walkway • Complete the Oven Run Rehab Project • Completed the North Fork of on the Stonycreek River Bens Creek Stream Buffer Stream bank improvements include Project Stream bank grading, rock lined stream bank • Rehab of the Jenners Passive • Requested, received and funded Treatment System the Shaw Mines Technical areas, cross vanes, log vanes, root wads, Assistance Report 2400 live stakes, 1500 tree seedlings • Design and fund the Shaw Mines AMD abatement project on the Casselman Grant Money utilized - $450,000.00 River Grant Money Brought to Key Project Partners the County From Landowner, Penn DOT, USDA NRCS • Continue the Dirt and Gravel Road Conservation District Program Efforts: • Initiate a lake habitat project and Nature Park improvements at Somerset Lake Sullivan County Conservation District
Other Accomplishments Contact Information Holly Miller District Manager • Grades 4-6 Poster Contest • 5th Grade Environmental Day • Local and State Envirothon Francis Moll • Conservationist of the Year- Andrew Board Chairman Trostle • 8 Dirt & Gravel Projects Completed 9219 Route 487 Suite B • Conservation Tour Dushore, PA 18614 • CBP Special Projects (570) 928-7057 • 2017 Seedling Sale www.sullcon.com • Green Career Day Participation 2017 Feature Accomplishment • Conversation with Conservation in the local newspaper Elk Creek Stream Restoration Project (Phase III) More Work to Do • County Road Maintenance Resource Challenge • Offer more workshops and events Workshop Severe erosion, loss of streambank and property, • Streambank stabilization • Preserved 56.86 Acres of Farmland and lack of trout habitat • Increase Education and Outreach • Job Shadow day with a student from • Continue to preserve farmland in Sullivan the high school County Project Summary and Results • Assisted with the repair of an acid • Dirt, Gravel, and Low Volume Roads mine drainage treatment site The goal was to stabilize the streambank using Projects PA Fish and Boat Commission Habitat Management Practices. The log structures being utilized allow for bank stability, reduced risk of Money Brought to the sediment entry to the stream channel, and County From Conservation improved and enhanced in-stream aquatic habitat. District Efforts: With the third phase complete, we have stabilized $641,175.00 more than 2,300 feet of stream using multi-log vanes, modified mud sills, and root wads.
Key Project Partners PA Fish and Boat Commission’s Habitat Management Division, Chief Oil & Gas LLC, and landowners. Susquehanna County Conservation District
Conservation District 2017 Feature Accomplishment Contact Information Efforts: Installation of agricultural best management Jim Garner practices District Manager
Raymond Warriner Board Chairman
88 Chenango St. Montrose, PA 18801 Phone: (570) 278-4600 ext. 3050 www.suscondistrict.org
Legislative Breakfast
Claude Bennett covered barnyard 70th District Anniversary Resource Challenge Keeping cattle contained during winter months to control manure runoff and potentially damaging Grant Money Brought to the County pasture. From Conservation District Efforts: Recently received nearly $500,000 in Growing Greener funding for construction Nutrient Management Tour Key Project Partners of agricultural best management practices. NRCS provided EQIP funding and design. Tioga County Conservation District
2017 Feature Accomplishment Other Contact Information Accomplishments Salt Spring Run Culvert Replacement and Fish Passage
Resource Challenge Erica Tomlinson • 2 Landowner Cost Share Improperly constructed culverts cause maintenance headaches and are District Manager Program projects for at risk of washing out during large storm events. This culvert became streambank rehabilitation ‘perched’ at the outlet which caused erosion and prevented fish and Carl Koch • Streambank rehabilitation with other organisms from migrating, thereby cutting off many miles of Board Chairman Northcentral PA Conservancy habitat that could be used for feeding, refuge, and reproduction grant partnership Project Summary and Results 1867 Shumway Hill Rd. • Over 30 environmental The replacement of two multi-culverts with bridge structures addressed Wellsboro, PA 16901 education programs multiple issues within the watershed including barriers to aquatic (570) 724-1801 • 11 Dirt and Gravel and Low organism passage due to perched culvert pipes, sediment loading and www.tiogacountypa.us Volume Roads Projects the safety hazards associated with deteriorating multi-culvert road • Assisted farmers with Ag crossings. The environmental benefits include: More Work to Do erosion and sediment plans, – Decrease of 5,100 lbs. of sediment annually manure management plans, – Decrease of 2.5 lbs. phosphorous annually • Continued education and nutrient management • Morris Run Acid Mine Drainage – Decrease of 5.1 lbs. nitrogen annually plans Cleanup – 10.8 miles of habitat open to aquatic organism passage • Assisted with Headwater • Further Dirt and Gravel Road Hemlock Project improvements • Streambank rehabilitation Grant Money Brought • Two large agriculture improvement projects to the County From Conservation District Efforts: $1,934,519
Key Project Partners Liberty Township, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, Shell Appalachia, Trout Unlimited, Tioga County Conservation District Dirt and Gravel Roads, USGS, US Fish and Wildlife Service Union County Conservation District
2017 Feature Accomplishment Other Accomplishments Contact Information Conley Run stream restoration • Stream monitoring to measure Resource Challenge William Deitrick District Manager conservation practice Address multiple environmental issues such as loss of effectiveness aquatic habitat, over grazing of pastures, streambank • Ongoing Erosion reviews of Donald Fogle erosion, unlimited cattle access to stream, lack of Central Susquehanna Valley Board Chairman Thruway project stream buffers on 2300 feet of stream. • Multiple Ag. waste projects Project Summary and Results 155 North 15th Street • Cover Crop cost share program The Conley Run project installed 3000 feet of new Lewisburg, PA 17837 • 2000 acres covered with No-Till stream exclusion fencing to limit cattle access to the (570) 524-3860 Equipment Rental program stream. It involved the installation of 101 log deflectors, www.unioncountypa.org • More than 50 Erosion reviews on 340 feet of streambank toe logs, 300 feet of mudsills commercial and agricultural and 20 grade control structures. The new buffer area More Work to Do business expansions averages 50 feet in total width. 400 trees and shrubs • Permanent Ag.Easements on will be installed to finish off the project. This project will 8500 acres (to date) provide the opportunity for the land and stream to heal • Continue Agriculturally based Best • Ongoing Nutrient Management Management Practice installations itself from years of negative impact from cattle access reviews on 40 Concentrated • Install stormwater management and restore an ecosystem which will naturally provide Animal Operations facilities on unmitigated critical project • Ten Inventory and Evaluations habitat for many aquatic and terrestrial species while sites on prospective Ag. projects simultaneously filtering water and storing stormwater. • Develop pollinator habitats in both urban and rural settings to aid in the re- Grant Money Brought to establishment of these vitally important the County From invertebrates • Expand Environmental Education to Conservation District continually broader audiences Efforts: $1million(2017) • Assist the general public in the ongoing Before After effort to balance environmental Key Project Partners protection with economic development PA. Fish & Boat Commission, North Central PA Conservancy, PA DEP, Bucknell University, Buffalo Creek Watershed Alliance Venango County Conservation District
2017 Feature Accomplishment Other Accomplishments Regional Agricultural Watershed Contact Information • 45 Dirt & Gravel Road projects Lance Bowes completed Assessment Program Initiative District Manager • 5 Low Volume Road projects completed Resource Challenge Mike Ohler • Bullion Run Watershed The Kahle Lake watershed is a small sub-watershed Board Chairman Assessment • 5 Stream Bank Stabilization (4.48sq. miles) of Mill Creek and was identified as being 1793 Cherrytree Road Projects impaired from agricultural runoff by DEP. This Ag. Franklin, PA 16323 • 3 Aquatic Habitat improvement runoff was responsible for a pollution event that resulted (814) 676-2832 projects in a fish kill to Kahle Lake itself. www.venangocd.org • Ag. Awareness Day • 37 Ag. BMP’s installed Project Summary and Results More Work to Do Grant Money Brought to Through a grant awarded by the Department of the County From Environmental Protection an assessment of the • Conduct abandoned oil well plugging Conservation District watershed identified all the agricultural resource • Implement Ag. BMP’s on Ag. Impaired Efforts: 1,159,744.00 concerns. The District, working with the landowners in waters in Venango Co. • Work with municipalities on the watershed addressed all the planning needs of the implementing the Dirt Gravel and Low Producers, five manure management plans and one Volume Road program nutrient management plan, and implemented all the • Continue to work with Venango County necessary BMP”s (19 separate BMP’s) to address each Planning Commission to implement Act identified resource concern. 167 stormwater • Install stormwater management BMP’s • Remediate AMD in the Scrubgrass and Key Project Partners South Sandy Creek Watersheds The partners involved in completing this grant were the • Continue Erosion & Sediment Control Department of Environmental Protection, Venango and Program work Clarion conservation District’s, NRCS Clarion Field • Provide Environmental Education programming Office, landowners, PennDOT, Richland Twp., Venango County Planning, and Team Ag. Warren County Conservation District
2017 Feature Accomplishment Other Accomplishments Doud Hill Farm Tree Planting Contact Information
• Kindergarten Camp Resource Challenge Heather Wilcox • Children's Nature Camps District Manager • Youth Conservation Camp To help establish a Stream Buffer on Coffee Creek in Columbus Township • Dirt, Gravel & Low Volume Roads Barry VanOrd • E&S Plans Reviewed Board Chairman • General Permits Issued Project Summary and Results • NPDES Permits Issued 4000 Conewango Ave. • Envirothon The agencies worked together to build a buffer with • Tree Planting 580 trees and shrubs between the stream and upland Warren, PA 16365 (814) 726-1441 • Fish Habitat Structures area. Approximately 40 volunteers planted 17 different www.wcconservation.net • In Class Education Programs species of native trees and shrubs. As they grow, the • Multi County Sustainable Forestry Initiative trees will help stabilize the stream banks, provide More Work to Do • Composting Workshop temperature regulating shade, and habitat for land and • Stream Bank Workshop aquatic wildlife. Tree tubes which will deter wildlife • Administer delegated programs • Timber Harvest Workshop and act like greenhouses were staked over each plant. • Conservation Education & Outreach • Conservation Education at the • Develop eonservation education Geotextile mats for weed and moisture control were Warren County Fair opportunities at Hatch Run Conservation • Nutrient Management Program placed at the base of each tube. Volunteers also placed Demonstration Area • Water Monitoring netting over the top of the tubes to keep birds out. • Provide aechnical assistance • Hatch Run Conservation Demonstration Area • Agricultural Programs Key Project Partners • Conewango Creek Clean up Warren County NRCS • Stream Bank Stabilization DCNR Bureau of Forestry Western Pennsylvania Conservancy Grant Money Brought to the County From Conservation Conewango Creek Watershed Association District Efforts: $650,000.00 Caldwell Creek Trout Unlimited Brokenstraw Watershed Council Corry High School Forestry Program Warren County 4H Teen Council Washington County Conservation District
2017 Feature Accomplishment Contact Information Other Accomplishments Washington County Conservation Center Gary Stokum • 11 Low Volume Road projects Resource Challenge District Manager completed, at a cost of $232,589 At the end of 2016 we were notified by our lessor that our William Iams lease would be ending. The current building is located in a • 3 Dirt & Gravel Road projects Board Chairman completed, at a cost of $358,295 flood plain and has flooded before. Therefore,, we would need to find new premises out of the flood plain (along with 2800 North Main St., Suite 105 the USDA operations that also leased in the building). Our • Held a Streambank workshop in Washington, PA 15301 goal was to keep all of our conservation services in one conjunction with Greene County (724) 705-7098 location. Conservation District, attended www.pawccd.org by 47 municipal workers. Project Summary and Results • Facilitated the coordination of 2 In working with the County officials we were able to secure streambank restoration projects a long-term lease to renovate one of their old buildings. More Work to Do within the county, resulting in This new structure will house the Conservation District, the • Complete 2 separate over 5,000 ft of stream bank USDA Farm Service Agency, and the USDA Natural Growing Greener funded fencing, 6 animal crossings, 3 Resources Conservation Service. The project will be Agricultural BMP projects spring developments, and over completed in 2018. 1,000 feet of in-stream at 5 different farms in the stabilization. Raccoon Creek Watershed Grant Money Brought to the County From • Complete the building construction and move our Conservation District offices to the new location: Efforts in 2017: 50 Old Hickory Ridge $44,135.25 Key Project Partners Road, Washington, PA Our work with Washington County officials and the USDA 15301 departments made this project come together to benefit everyone in the community. Wayne Conservation District
2017 Feature Accomplishment Contact Information Other Accomplishments Wayne Conservation District Habitat Room We wanted to create an atmosphere in our office that would Jamie Knecht • Dirt, Gravel and Low Volume allow for us to provide consistent and interactive natural District Manager Road Program Successful resource education to the community in Wayne County. Projects for Water Quality Karl Eisenhauer Board Chairman The Wayne Conservation District was approved for two separate DEP EE Grants in order to accomplish this project • Annual Maple Tour Wayne County Park Street Complex over the course of a 4 year period. We have a mural that 648 Park Street covers four walls going from dawn in early Spring to evening in • Annual Woodsmen’s Honesdale, PA 18431 Winter. We also incorporated a great deal of wildlife mounts Competition (570) 253-0930 that we had on hand from the use of our salvage permit. Other http://waynecountypa.gov/186/Wayne- educational tools were purchased from grant monies to Conservation-District • Annual Envirothon complete this project including fur, skull, scat and track kits.
• Annual Seedling Sale Our key project partners for this undertaking included the PA DEP, two local professional artists and the staff here at the More Work to Do • Partnership with the District. The project was finally completed and opened to the Equinunk Watershed Alliance public in early 2017. on a Growing Greener Grant • Manure Management Plan for a Watershed Management Workshops Plan • Implementation of GG Grant to create Equinunk Watershed Grant Money Brought to Management Plan the County From • Education on emerging Forest Conservation District Pest management in Wayne Efforts: County $650,000.00 • Hydrilla Technical Assistance Westmoreland County Conservation District
Other Accomplishments 2017 Feature Accomplishment • Continued development of a county-wide Green Infrastructure Monitoring Project Contact Information Integrated Water Resources Plan. • Began rehabilitation of a county park that Gregory Phillips has been impacted by invasive species. District Manager/CEO • Completed seven municipal stormwater basin retrofits. Ronald Rohall • Completed two streambank stabilization Board Chairman projects totaling 1,700 ft. Resource Challenge • Awarded ten Dirt, Gravel, and Low Land developers, engineers, and municipal officials are J. Roy Houston Conservation Center Volume Road projects. looking for proven strategies for managing stormwater on 218 Donohoe Road • Partnered with MS4 communities on a site. Many in the conservation community have touted Greensburg, PA 15601 series of workshops. the benefits of green infrastructure, but there is a lack of (724) 837-5271 • Began a West Nile Virus Program with 62 local science-based data to provide credibility for these www.wcdpa.com monitoring locations in the county. conservation practices. • Hosted ten education programs for area More Work to Do farmers. Project Summary and Results • Complete the county-wide Integrated • Welcomed the District’s first Americorps Water Resources Plan. The Westmoreland Conservation District’s Green member. • Manage a stream and wetland Infrastructure Monitoring Program was designed to mitigation project along Rt. 31. provide data to improve the design and performance of Grant Money Brought to the • Finalize and promote an educational stormwater best management practices. County From Conservation video on stormwater basin retrofits. • Complete the county park rehabilitation District Efforts: Electronic sensors were installed on various BMPs to with native plantings, deer fencing, and • DGLVR Program $450,000 monitor soil moisture, electrical conductivity, and trail improvements. • Stormwater Programs $475,000 temperature to help determine the effectiveness of each • Continue monitoring local stormwater • Basin Retrofits $514,978 system’s performance. Rain gauges were installed on- BMPs. • PADOT Mitigation $1,097,000 site to gather rain data that can be cross referenced with • Daylight and restore several hundred • Agricultural BMPs $145, 603 each monitor. To date, the District is gathering data from feet of long-buried stream on a county • Nature Park Rehabilitation $54,500 four pervious pavement products, a green roof, a brownfield site. • Education $23,000 bioswale, and three rain gardens. District staff are • Organize and host an agricultural E&S sharing the information with local engineers, landscape plan writing session for area farmers. architects, and municipal staff. The next phase of the • Organize a fieldtrip for small dairy farm project will be the creation of a web interface to share the operations. information with the public. Wyoming County Conservation District
Other Accomplishments 2017 Feature Accomplishment Contact Information • Contractor’s Workshop P.H. Livestock Manure Storage and Heavy Use • Seedling Sale Area Douglas Deutsch • Arbor Day Seedlings to Students District Manager • Envirothon Resource Challenge • Conservation Field Days Provide a stabilized area to feed animals and store Bob Robinson • Ag Day manure during the winter months and poor weather Board Chairman • Wyoming County Community Fair conditions • Banquet Stop the erosion of soil and traveling of nutrients into the 21 Hollowcrest Road • School Programs & Various waterways of the commonwealth Tunkhannock, PA 18657 Outreach (570) 836-2589 www.wccdpa.org • Wyoming County Resource Bus Project Summary and Results Tour Installation of a manure storage structure capable of holding four months worth of manure More Work to Do Grant Money Brought to the Installed two heavy use areas for livestock County From Conservation Construction of reinforced animal walkways, stream • Stabilize streambanks and reduce District Efforts: crossing and access roads sediment pollution to the Dirt, Gravel and Low Volume Roads Installation of vegetated treatment areas and filter strips Susquehanna River watershed Conservation Fund and riparian buffer along the entire length of stream • Reduce nutrient pollution to the PA State Envirothon Installation of rain gutters Susquehanna River watershed Growing Greener II • Increased ESM training for Construction of watering facilities for rotational grazing Chesapeake Bay Special Projects municipalities with Dirt and Gravel Program Roads PA Farmland Preservation Program Key Project Partners • Continue to monitor pipeline and The Conservation Fund all construction activities for loss Williams Transco Atlantic Sunrise Environmental of sediments. Stewardship Program • Preserve more farmland Natural Resource Conservation Service Chesapeake Bay Foundation York County Conservation District
2017 Feature Accomplishment Other Accomplishments Contact Information • Implement the Erosion & Sediment York County Envirothon Pollution Control Program Resource Challenge Mark Kimmel • Assist landowners and farmers Educate and excite our youth about the value and importance District Manager providing conservation and nutrient of natural resource conservation in order to motivate them to mgmt. planning, technical & financial learn about their environment – Soils, Forests, Wildlife, Jeffrey Gossert assistance for BMP implementation Aquatics, & Issues of the Day, impacting us all, for the benefit Board Chairman of future generations. • Promote Watershed Stewardship by 118 Pleasant Acres Road providing education, technical and financial assistance via partnerships at York, PA 17402 the grass-roots level. (717) 840-7430 • Implement $625,000 Dirt, Gravel and www.yorkccd.org Low Volume Road Program promoting BMPs to improve roads and protect water resources w/ local municipalities More Work to Do • Implement $225,000 Exelon Stream & • Protect our soil and water resources via Habitat Improvement Program w/ education, permitting, plan review, field landowners and local governments inspection, complaint response and technical & • Provide Information to the Public via financial assistance to our clients & cooperators our website, Facebook page, • Seek out resources to address 150 cooperator requests for planning assistance covering newsletters, education meetings and 34,000 acres mass media • Support Collaborative efforts like the York • Host our Annual Seedling Sale & Clay Project Summary and Results County Regional Pollution Reduction Plan & Shoot Fundraisers to support For 32 years we have coordinated annual Envirothon event Stormwater Authority Initiative education efforts and engage competitions, where nearly 1,000 students in grades 3 thru 12 • Increase outreach to municipalities not already donors/sponsors study resource materials, take field trips, attend training participating in our Dirt, Gravel & Low Volume • Carefully manage budgets in difficult sessions all in preparation for the 4 grade-level competitions. Roads Program to encourage project economic times with direction from our At Senior High level, County winning teams compete at State application to fund BMPs to improve roads, Citizen Member Board of Directors & Level, and State winners compete at the Conservation reduce pollution and maintenance costs County Commissioners Foundation National Envirothon week-long event. Key Project Partners Grant Money Brought to the 11 Cooperating Agencies County From Conservation 68 Sponsors/Donors District Efforts: 29 Envirothon Committee Members $1,225,000 16 Public Schools, plus Homeschools & Parochial Schools 165 Teams & Coaches Low Volume Waterway & Pasture Roads Project