CONSERVATION TIMES

[Pages:7]CONSERVATION TIMES

Spring 2021

Newsletter of the McKean County Conservation District 17137 Route 6, Smethport, PA 16749

Inside This

Issue:

Education & 2 Outreach

Programs

Virtual `Wild' Envirothon

3

School

Programs

4

Innovative Best

5

Management

Practice

DGLVR

6

Program

Update

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Dates to Remember:

June 16 July 21 August 11 Board Meetings

Aug. 15-21 Visit us at the McKean County Fair

Youth Poster Contest Winners

The McKean County Conservation District Board of Directors hosted a local Conservation Poster Contest, new this year. The theme for entries was "Healthy Forests-Healthy Communities". Young citizens from kindergarten through twelfth grade were invited to submit posters. The Allegheny Hardwood Utilization Group (AHUG) sponsored and provided prizes for the contest. First place winners in each of five age categories qualified to move up to the state poster First place winner? 7th-9th grade: Khale S. from Otto-Eldred High School contest, sponsored by the PA Association of Conservation Districts.

First place artists won a Nature Journaling Set; Second place Breakfast from the Forest (maple syrup and pancake mix); Third Place? Tree identification guides and AHUG items.

The winners are:

Grades 4-6 1st: Kylie B. from Kane Area Elementary 2nd: Brock M. from Port Allegany Elementary Grades 7-9 1st: Khale S. from Otto-Eldred High School 2nd: Carrie D. from Otto-Eldred High School 3rd. Adelyn B. from Otto-Eldred High School Grades 10-12 1st: Kayley H. from Otto-Eldred High School 2nd Jeremy P. from Otto-Eldred High School 3rd: Morgan D. from Otto-Eldred High School

Kylie B. of Kane Area Elementary School with her first place prize (right) and her poster (above).

Education & Outreach

- Jody Groshek, Communications & Outreach Director

With COVID-19 still on the scene, flexibility became the name of the game for 2021 District educational programs. A limited number of spring outdoor, socially-distanced programs were held. Some programs shifted to, or remained remote.

My Growing Tree Program (MGT): Spring 2021

The success of the My Growing Tree remote kit in the fall streamlined spring implementation. Staff delivered the kit to schools so teachers could provide the program to their classes. The kit contains lesson plans, visual aids, games, and a series of short digital videos. Eastern hemlock tree seedlings and growth charts were also delivered for students. As with the in-person program, students learned about Eastern hemlock trees and the many responsible, sustainable uses of trees. An outdoor program was provided to Smethport Area Elementary first graders, and MCCD staff were assisted by Amy Shields, of the Allegheny Hardwood Utilization Group. AHUG is also a new MGT sponsor. The 2021 program reached 402 students and their teachers in six schools.

Smethport Elementary students with their Eastern hemlock trees

Rain Barrel Remote workshop

In mid-May a virtual workshop was offered to citizens which included a Penn State Extension recorded webinar, and a response survey. Fifteen participants returning their correctly answered survey qualified for a free rain barrel they could pick up at the District office. This easy-going, convenient workshop option was well received by homeowners and gardeners who took part. Thank you to Penn State Extension for use of their recorded webinar. The workshop was made possible by a nonpoint source pollution mini - grant from the PA Association of Conservation Districts.

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Education & Outreach

Virtual `Wild' Envirothon

The Envirothon, while looking a bit different in 2021, went well in a virtual format. Thirteen teams from Cameron and McKean counties competed at five `stations' - Aquatic Ecology, Forestry, Soils & Land Use, Wildlife, and Current Issue. The 2021 Current Issue topic was Water Resources Management? Local Control and Local Solutions. Event t-shirts and awards were delivered to each school. Students all wore their official shirts on testing day, April 14th.

Thank you to this year's event sponsors: American Refining Group, Inc., Danzer Lumber, Columbia Gas, Pine Haven Vet Clinic, Zook Motors Upper Allegheny Watershed Association, Fraternal Order of Eagles, Kiwanis Club of Bradford, Lafayette Township, International Waxes, Seneca Chapter of Trout Unlimited, Allegheny Hardwood Utilization Group (AHUG), Shell, Inc., PA Envirothon, PA Dept. of Conservation and Natural Resources, PA Game Commission, GKN, Emporium Hardwoods ? Rossi Group, PSM Brown Co., Cameron County Outdoor Youth Assoc., Emporium Moose Lodge #368, May Hollow Sportsmans Club, Sinnemahoning Sportsmans Club, and L&M Lumber. Donations provided funds for awards, shirts, and study resources. Winning teams from each county - 'The Forces of Nature' from Cameron; and `The Bradford Bees' from McKean, progressed to the PA Envirothon station testing held May 10-11. Both teams scored well at the state event, with McKean placing 16th and Cameron 35th out of 58 teams competing. Thank you to all the students, teams, and advisors for their dedication and perseverance to make the event a resounding success.

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Education & Outreach

Otto-Eldred FFA Day

Otto-Eldred High School is home to a new FFA Chapter In Pennsylvania. On the day of the official charter presentation, the school held an FFA Conservation Day. The McKean County Conservation District, with assistance from the USDA NRCS, Penn State Extension, Western PA Conservancy, and Potter County Conservation District, led student participation in five hands-on conservation stations. Students planted trees in the local riparian buffer for wildlife; explored and identified macroinvertebrates in the local stream; investigated soil health; identified trees and invasive plants; and learned about proper recycling. One hundred and forty students and their teachers took part.

Clockwise from left: Water Quality/ Macroinvertebrate station; Recycling Relay; and Tree Planting.

School Programs

Additional outdoor school programs were held around the county with some school restrictions easing. Presentations were provided for two Trout in the Classroom release events (Kane High School and Port Allegany Elementary) and an on-site Junior Envirothon was held for Otto-Eldred junior high students.

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Innovative Best Management Practices

-Sherry Dumire, Resource Conservationist Erosion & Sedimentation Control on project sites typically utilizes standard tools to keep sediment on site. However, there are new developments happening to these BMPs to improve long-term sustainability.

This is a bio-sock diversion berm. It will be a permanent BMP used for post construction stormwater management (PCSM). The sock itself contains growth media and seeds so that it will vegetate without additional seeding. This particular one is located on the upslope side of a construction site. Any water upslope from the construction site will hit the berm and be diverted to prevent accelerated erosion on-site. Bio-sock diversion berms look similar to a compost filter sock but the difference in material within the sock does not allow water to pass through and filter out sediment like the compost filter socks. For use as an approved PCSM BMP the applicant must provide information that shows that the bio-sock media will have reduced permeability and will promote vegetative growth. Bio-sock diversions should not have ponding occurring behind them. If this occurs, it may be necessary to consider changes to the size of the berm height; lower berm heights may prevent ponding. Once the sock is fully vegetated it looks like a giant green caterpillar.

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2021 Dirt, Gravel, and Low Volume Road Update

-Lindsay Trojanowski, Resource Conservationist The McKean County Conservation District's DGLVR Program provides local public road-owning entities with grant funding for road and environmental improvements on unpaved and low-volume paved roads. McKean County's 2021 round of DGLVR applications is open until Monday, September 30, 2021. If you have potential sites that you are considering for this round please contact Lindsay Trojanowski to schedule a pre-application meeting. Please keep in mind, in order to be eligible for grant funding under the program, someone from the municipality or eligible entity must have attended one of the 2-day Environmentally Sensitive Maintenance trainings within the previous five years. There are exceptions on this five year deadline due to Covid-19 so if you are unsure of your entity eligibility you can contact Lindsay at the District to find out. Entities requesting assistance with a project layout or grant application were to notify the District no later than May 3, 2021. If this is something your municipality requires, you can start early for the 2022 DGLVR round.

Undersized stream crossing pipe is eligible to be replaced through a Dirt and Gravel Road Grant

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Community Recycling Survey

Your Input is Needed!

The Conservation District has created a new survey to collect McKean County resident interest in, and needs for, recycling. Please use this link to complete the survey:



Information gained will be kept confidential and will be used to determine priorities for new recycling opportunities across the county. Questions? Call Maddie Stanisch at 814-887-4020.

Directors

Kerry Fetter - Chairman Blaine Puller - Vice-Chairman Cliff Lane-Commissioner-Secretary/Treasurer

Steve Sherk - Public Chase Miles - Farmer Jeff Larson - Farmer

Ken Kane - Public

Associate Directors

Pete Mader Charlie Kirkpatrick Boyd Fitzsimmons

Greg Bell Crystal Kocjancic

John Stratton

Staff

Sandy Thompson~District Manager 814-887-4025

sdthompson@

Sherry Dumire~Resource Conservationist 814-887-4008

sadumire@

Lindsay Trojanowski~Resource Conservationist 814-887-4002

lkshine@

Jody Groshek~Communications & Outreach Director

814-887-4017 jdgroshek@

Adam Causer~Watershed Specialist 814-887-4003

accauser@

Maddie Stanisch~Resource Specialist 814-887-4020

mmstanisch@

The McKean County Conservation District was organized at the request of the County residents. The County was declared a District by the board of County Commissioners on August 19, 1959, according to provisions of the Soil Conservation Law of 1945, Act 217 of the General Assembly, as amended.

The primary goal of the District is the development, improvement, and conservation of the County's Soil, water and related resources as well as educating the community in various conservation and environmental practices and methods.

The District is administered by a board of seven Directors -three farmer members, three public (non-farmer) members and one County Commissioner. District Directors are appointed by the County Commissioners from a list of names submitted by countywide nominating organizations. The Commissioners also designate one of their members to serve as a Director.

Vision: The Conservation District is the steward of McKean County's natural resource and embraces environmentally responsible decisions.

Mission: The Conservation District provides leadership and stewardship to ensure the protection and sustainability of McKean County's natural resources by

fostering public and private partnerships.

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