BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Don Edwards, Chairman, Farmer Director Doug Brown, Vice-Chairman, Public Director Debbie Jarrard, Farmer Director Dennis LeVan, Farmer Director Joan McCarty, Public Director Brian Sokol, Farmer Director Chris Young, Commissioner Director

STAFF

Nancy Corbin, Manager Barry Travelpiece, Resource Conservationist II Tracey Oman, Admin Asst/Bookkeeper Corey Bower, DGLVR/Watershed Specialist Kendra Craig, Resource Conservationist I Rain Escovedo, Conservation Technician Brittney Hartzell, Watershed/Education Specialist Ed Lease, Farmland Preservation

2018 ANNUAL REPORT Issue 21

ASSOCIATE DIRECTORS

Brian Campbell Ed Lease Greg Haladay Randy Young Tonya Boston-Sagar Elaine Broyan

Contact Nancy at 570-317-9477 if you are interest-ed in serving as an associate director.

COLUMBIA COUNTY CONSERVATION DISTRICT 702 SAWMILL ROAD, SUITE 204, BLOOMSBURG, PA 17815

570-317-9456 www.columbiaccd.org Join us on Facebook

MISSION STATEMENT

To lead the citizens of Columbia County in sustainable use of our shared agricultural

and natural resources through partnerships, education, and technical assistance, in order

to assure the best quality of life for future generations.

IN THIS ISSUE

2019: A LOOK AHEAD

Pg 8 Native Plant & Tree Sale Highlights Pg 9 Native Plant & Tree Sale Order Form Pg 10 Upcoming Education & Outreach Pg 11 Local 2019 Conferences Scheduled Pg 12 Kocher Park & Johnson Flats Events

2018 : A LOOK BACK

Pg 2 District News Pg 3 Agriculture Programs and Opportunities Pg 4 Flooding and Conservation Pg 4 What Can I Do in a Stream? Pg 5 Funding Available: DGLVR Pg 6 Watershed Group Happenings Pg 6 Planning for Earthmoving Activities Pg 7 Environmental Education - Envirothon Pg 8 Environmental Education and Outreach

2017 Cooperator of the Year: Jason Maciejewski

Robert Sagar Director Emeritus

Bob served as a public director for 24 years. He was a Bloomsburg University Biology professor. He was passionate about education, helping with the Envirothon, community naturalist programs,

the development of Kocher park, and was a lifetime member of Fishing Creek Watershed Association.

The Columbia County Conservation District lost two conservation champions who were dedicated to the District’s mission of protecting our natural resources. Their conservation efforts will live on through the sustainable agriculture, natural resource protection and ecological education programs in which they participated. We are grateful for their invaluable service and friendship. They will be missed.

2

DISTRICT CHANGES AND ADDITIONS

New Farmer Director - Welcome to our new

farmer director Brian Sokol. Brian joined the District board in July of 2018. He lives in Orange-ville with his wife and three sons. They keep busy

with their farm and trucking company. Thank you to all of our board directors for their continued support and dedication to the Conservation District!

Staff Changes - After 32 years of service, Mary

Wagner retired as District Manager. Thank you to Mary for all of her work for Columbia County. We wish her the best in her retirement. We also said goodbye to Watershed Specialist Heather Almer and

Resource Conservationist Jennifer Lauri in 2018 and wish them well.

Nancy Corbin was hired as the new District Manager in July. Her engineering background and

District experience as DGLVR and Watershed Specialist will serve the District well along with the experience and knowledge of Barry Travelpiece and

Tracey Oman. The District’s new staff members are excited to work on conservation programs and initiatives. They are all graduates of Bloomsburg

University and great additions to the District team. Corey Bower is our new DGLVR Technician with a degree in Biology and a minor in Chemistry. Kendra

Craig is our new Resource Conservationist with a degree in Geography and Planning and a minor in GIS. Rain Escovedo is our new Conservation

Technician with a degree in Geography and Planning. Brittney Hartzell is our new Watershed Specialist with a degree in Environmental Science

and a minor in Biology.

DISTRICT NEWS

2018 PROJECT ACCOMPLISHMENTS

$634,500 of road improvements completed or contracted to reduce stream pollution

280 acres of cover crops planted with grant fund assistance to reduce nutrients and sediment in streams and improve soil health

20 stream structures installed to reduce erosion

42 stream permits issued for responsible stabilization work in our streams

385 acres of disturbed acres for development inspected for required erosion protection measures

4 conferences promoting sustainable agriculture

30+ environmental education events reaching thousands throughout our county

Multiple presentations and talks at the various watershed group meetings

The District voted to sponsor EWP funds for eligible flood-impacted properties in 2019

Many staff trainings to administer and assist landowners with conservation projects

1 new farm in the Farmland Preservation Program

Richard Fetterman Director Emeritus

Dick served as a farmer director and served as chairman for over 23 years. He was an exceptional farmer, receiving the 2001 R.J. Campbell award for his exemplary farmland conservation practices

and was an award-winning sales representative for the Pioneer Seed Company.

CONTACT: Nancy Corbin 570-317-9477 nancy.corbin@columbiaccd.org

COVER CROP ROLLER AVAILABLE Improve your soil health and reduce production costs! The District has a six-foot wide crop roller available for use by local producers. Roll tall mature cover crops for erosion protection, enhanced weed control and better water infiltration to increase your crop yield.

3

AGRICULTURE PROGRAMS AND OPPORTUNITIES

REAP

The 2018 – 2019 Resource Enhancement and

Protection Program application round opened in August. Farmers are able to use this program to receive tax credits for the following items used or

sold by the farm:

- Equipment purchases - Install ag best management practices - Plant cover crops

The REAP program is handled through the State Conservation Commission. Conservation Districts

provide assistance to farmers throughout the application process and we are here to help you!

AG FARM INSPECTION WORKSHOPS

Agricultural farm inspections ensure that farmers

are in compliance with DEP requirements. PA law requires that farming operations have a manure management plan and agricultural erosion and

sedimentation plan in place. The District offers help and assistance at these visits to develop the required plans. A great way to ensure you are in

compliance with PA law is to come to the District’s Manure Management and Ag Erosion and Sedimentation Workshops! We will be offering assistance in writing these plans and

answering questions and concerns from farmers during these workshops.

If you have one horse, a few chickens, or a group of cows or pigs, you are in need of a

manure management plan.

If you have cropland or an animal heavy use

area greater than 5,000 square feet, you are in need of an erosion and sedimentation plan.

Call Kendra to RSVP by February 20th to reserve

your workshop space and get your plans in order.

NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT PROGRAM The District participates in the Nutrient Management Program (NMP) through the State Conservation Commission. The total weight of animals on a farming operation such as cows, horses or chickens determines the agriculture plan required by farmers or landowners to be in compliance with PA law. Nutrient Management Plan: required for more than 2,000 pounds of live animal weight per acre

Manure Management Plan: required for less than 2,000 pounds of live animal weight per acre A nutrient management plan helps farmers and landowners properly manage excess nutrients that are produced by more animals. The NMP can also offer good insight to assist farmers with everyday ag operations.

MANURE MANAGEMENT WORKSHOPS

March 6 9am-Noon

Ag Service Center Bloomsburg

March 13 5pm-8:30pm

N4C’s Community Center Benton

March 27 6pm-9pm

Ponduce Farms Numidia

CONTACT: Kendra Craig 570-317-9478 kendra.craig@columbiaccd.org

Funding support by PACD via a DEP Growing Greening Grant.

4

WHAT CAN I DO IN A STREAM?

According to the National Weather Service records, in 2018 Columbia County received 43-97 inches of rainfall, about 2–55 inches above the state average of 41.45 inches. The rain caused soil saturation, significant erosion, and flooding. Homes and businesses were damaged, crop harvests were poor, and conservation measures were disrupted. The federal Emergency Watershed Protection (EWP) program helps with the consequences of flooding. It allows the Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) to provide technical and financial assistance to help repair damage caused by natural disasters but requires a sponsor to manage the funding. District directors voted to serve as the sponsor (with support from County employees) for Columbia County projects eligible for EWP funds. Thirteen properties were determined eligible for EWP funds based on the following required criteria:

Significant damage caused by a natural disaster not present before the event such as stream bank erosion, debris in the stream channel, or damaged drainage ways

The damage incurred from the flooding must pose a threat to life or property

Residence or permanent business structure threatened within 50 feet of the erosion problem

A sponsor must be willing to provide part of the funding for the projects in the county Erosion and flooding are watershed-wide problems that need a broad approach for solutions. The EWP program is key in helping those who are immediately threatened, but what about preventing the threat in the future? This is where other essential programs come into play to work with producers and landowners to better manage land to help prevent flooding and erosion. Since we cannot stop rain from falling, we have to protect and nurture the land to withstand the rain. The District cooperates with NRCS and others to administer programs to provide resources to better manage land. Contact the District for help creating customized plans and implementing practices to resolve water issues where they begin, in the watersheds.

FLOODING AND CONSERVATION

STREAM ACTIVITIES ALLOWED WITHOUT DEP APPROVAL This year brought several flooding events and as a result, many questions on what can I do to protect my property and what permits do I need.

DO remove litter or other man-made debris from a stream

DO remove woody vegetation such as trees, log or brush from a stream

DO enter the stream with chain saws or other hand tools but DON’T enter with heavy equipment

DO use heavy equipment to work from the stream bank to pick up debris but NOT to dig into the stream

DO clean out a permitted culvert and areas near the culvert to allow the culvert to allow proper function

DO cut and remove trees that are undercut and leaning, but leave the stump in place to protect the bank

DO ford a stream after a flood to access your property but only if the conditions are safe

DO winch large woody debris from a stream bank

STREAM ACTIVITIES THAT REQUIRE A DEP PERMIT Some activities need verbal or written approval before being undertaken but DEP will work with landowners to provide approval as soon as possible in emergency situations.

Removing gravel bars with heavy equipment or redirection of flow by reshaping the stream or moving gravel bars

Rebuilding roads or bridges across streams/Repairing or removing a bridge or culvert

Placing concrete or other similar materials along the streambank to stabilize it

Installing a new crossing using either a culvert or bridge

Streambank stabilization projects

Installing riprap in emergency situations

Moving, damming, dredging, or diking a stream

Dep pamphlet on these questions:

http://files.dep.state.pa.us/

Newsroom/NewsroomPortalFiles/

StreamMaintenanceBooklet.pdf

CONTACT: Rain Escovedo 570-317-9494 Rain.Escovedo@pa.usda.gov

CONTACT: Barry Travelpiece 570-317-9469 barry.travelpiece@columbiaccd.org

2

Purpose: To eliminate stream pollution caused by runoff and sediment Pennsylvania contains more than 86,000 miles of streams-second in the US only to Alaska. This is equivalent to three-and-a-half trips around the equator. Sediment is the largest pollutant by volume to the waters of PA. Dirt and aggregate from rural roads have a major impact on our water quality and overall stream health. The Dirt, Gravel, and Low Volume Roads program provides funding from the State Conservation Commission (SCC) to help reduce pollution in our streams and waterways through municipal roads projects.

Funding: Approximately $405,000 available annually for Columbia County municipalities Through the recommendation of our Quality Assurance Board, the District administers SCC funds to improve the water quality of our streams. The District receives approximately $80,000 for low volume road projects (paved or sealed roads with less than 500 cars per day) and $325,000 for dirt and gravel road projects that negatively impact a stream. In 2018, $371,956.20 was paid to eligible municipalities for DGLVR projects.

Eligibility: Projects must meet environmental requirements to be considered for funding Projects considered must negatively impact a stream and reduce environmental impacts. Environmentally Sensitive Maintenance (ESM) training is required, and permits, if needed, must be obtained.

Training: Training is required and available Upcoming regional ESM training sessions are posted on the Center for Dirt and Gravel Roads Center website at www.dirtandgravel.psu.edu. Register with the Center for free ESM training to be eligible for funds. ESM training must be renewed every five years. Grader Blade Loan Program: Save time and money, protect water resources Borrow the District’s rotating carbide-tipped grader lades to maintain roads with a refundable $150 deposit.

Project Highlights: Buck Road dirt and gravel project, Orange Township Nearly 7,000 ton of fill was added to raise the severely entrenched road nearly 4 feet in some locations.

5

2019 FUNDING ROUND APPLICATION DEADLINES: April 15, July 15, September 15

Call the District to schedule a site visit and begin the application process

Before After

FUNDING AVAILABLE FOR ROAD PROJECTS FOR CLEANER STREAMS! CONTACT: Corey Bower 570-317-9468 corey.bower@columbiaccd.org

Catawissa Creek Restoration Association (CCRA) CCRA continues their work to improve water quality impacted by acid mine drainage and concentrates their efforts on the upkeep and maintenance of three passive water treatment facilities that feed into Catawissa Creek. Recently the group renovated the Onieda 1 facility at Eagle Rock by having a new outflow system installed and its intake cleaned. The Oneida 3 system had a major overhaul with a new electric system installed that automatically flushes and fills the system vs. the existing manual operation. CCRA meets the 3rd Wednesdays on even months.

Roaring Creek Valley Conservation Association (RCVCA) RCVCA has been busy at work revitalizing the miner’s trails at Weiser State Forest’s Roaring Creek Tract, as well as displaying information at the annual October DCNR Roaring Creek Tract drive-thru. In addition to community outreach, the group began water quality monitoring throughout the watershed that will continue into 2019. Results will be posted and updated on their website, and will support the group by identifying and prioritizing problem areas within the watershed. RCVCA meets the 3rd Thursday of the month.

Briar Creek Association for Watershed Solutions (BCAWS) BCAWS continues to

implement recommendations from their Coldwater Conservation Plan to improve water quality in the Briar Creek Watershed. Two streambank projects were completed this year at the Edwards and Broyan properties installing in-stream structures, stabilized water access, an ag stream crossing and streambank fencing. Members volunteered at the 4th annual Water Ed Day held at Briar Creek Lake. The group is planning continued watershed work in 2019 with sights on improving stormwater runoff issues. BCAWS meets the 4th Wednesday of each month.

Fishing Creek Watershed Association (FCWA) FCWA had many projects in 2018 including Kocher Park

cleanups, Fish n Fun, Water Ed Day, a pruning workshop, and talks on tick safety and vernal pools. FCWA continued work to educate about the importance of pollinators to our ecosystem

and crop production. They planted 250 native milkweed seeds and distributed the seedlings in

the watershed. FCWA plans to distribute more milkweed in 2019 for pollinator habitat. Up-

coming events include a presentation on flood stories, a second annual Knotweed Cook-off,

and nature journaling. FCWA meets the second Monday of the month.

6

WATERSHED GROUP HAPPENINGS

PROPER PLANNING REQUIRED FOR EARTHMOVING ACTIVITIES

Effective methods for controlling sediment on an earthmoving project starts with proper planning of the work. A good erosion and sediment control plan should include the following factors and methods:

Avoid or minimize working near existing streams and drainageways

Consider prior land use to determine potential pollutants that could be released by earthmoving

Consider site characteristics such as slope and soil limitations that will impact the project Erosion and sediment control plan requirements that are needed before any earthmoving can occur on a site are:

The estimated disturbed area of the project exceeds 5,000 square feet

The project is near a high-quality stream (check with the District for stream designation)

An E/S plan is required by another permit or approval process

The E/S plan must be prepared and available on site

Official review of E/S plans by the District or DEP is not required unless the total project disturbance is over one acre, or if it is required by another approval process such as a subdivision or land development ordinance.

www.fcwa.net

http://www.thecatty.org.

www.rcvca.org

www.columbiaccd.org/bcaws

CONTACT: Brittney Hartzell 570-317-9491 brittney.hartzell@columbiaccd.org

CONTACT: Barry Travelpiece 570-317-9469 barry.travelpiece@columbiaccd.org

SUSQUEHANNA VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL ENVIROTHON

The 2018 High School Envirothon was held on April 24, 2018 at Shikellamy Marina State Park in Sunbury. 51 teams from 5 counties competed. Congratulations to Central Columbia High School for placing first overall and for our County! The team traveled to Selingsgrove to represent Columbia County at the State Envirothon held at Susquehanna University May 22 and 23. The current issue was the Benefits of Grassland and Pastureland Management. Participating schools included Benton, Bloomsburg Christian, and Southern Columbia. The 2019 HS Susquehanna Valley Envirothon will be at Shikellamy Marina State Park on April 30. The current issue is Agriculture and the Environment: Knowledge and Technology to Feed the World. The 2019 State Envirothon will be held at University of Pittsburgh Johnstown, May 21 and 22.

7

SUSQUEHANNA VALLEY MIDDLE SCHOOL ENVIROTHON

A total of 31 teams from 4 counties participated in the Susquehanna Valley Middle School competition May 8th. Teams consist of 3 to 5 members in the 7th and 8th grade. Congratulations to Bloomsburg Christian School Team A for placing first for Columbia County and second overall! Bloomsburg Christian Team B placed 2nd for Columbia County!Other Columbia County schools participating were Benton, Central Columbia, Millville and St. Columba. Middle school students are tested on the same subject areas except the current issue. Each station has an instructional presentation before the test. The non-testing discovery station was a stream table model that encouraged students to get their hands wet and see the power of water to change landforms. The 2019 MS Susquehanna Valley Envi-rothon will be held at Montour Preserve on May 14.

ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION - ENVIROTHON

Thank you to the following sponsors for supporting the CCCD’s 2018 Envirothons:

The Envirothon is a hands-on environmental problem-solving competition that provides team building and leadership experiences for students. Each year, high school and middle school students from Columbia, Montour, Northumberland, Snyder and Union counties compete at our Susquehanna Valley Regional Envirothon competitions. The winning high school team from each county goes on to compete at the PA State Envirothon competition. The Envirothon is comprised of five subject areas including aquatics, forestry, soils, and wildlife and a current environmental issue.

L to R: Mary Wagner, CCCD, 2018 CCHS Team: Mackenzie Fish, Abigail Yoder, Pete Six, Carson Farr, Owen Yorty

MS WinningTeam

L to R : BCMS Team B: Kathryn Polstra, Melissa Araniva (sponsor), Amber Heath, Brooke Rhoads; BCMS Team A: Andre Araniva,

Micah Stouffer, Ryan Fluke, Trevor Leatherman

Bloomsburg American Legion Post 273, Sons of the American Legion Post 273, Bloomsburg VFW Post 804, Catawissa American Legion Post 541, Sons of the American Legion Squad 541, Central Susquehanna Woodland Owners Assoc, First Columbia Bank, Fishing Creek Watershed Assoc, Roaring Creek Valley Conservation Assoc, Stackhouse & Son

Well Drilling, Bloomsburg Elks #436, Fishing Creek Sportsmen’s Assn, Columbia County Trout Unlimited

CONTACT: Nancy Corbin 570-317-9477 nancy.corbin@columbiaccd.org

We have new varieties that are sure to please! Use the order form on the next page or download from our website.

Deadline April 12th Pick Up May 2nd - 4th

Sale proceeds support environmental education in Columbia County!

8

Provide food and shelter for wildlife! Why NATIVES:

-Native plants require less maintenance like fertilizers, pesticides or watering. -Native plants are critical to pollinators and crop production. -We offer native varieties not typically available at retail stores and nurseries. -Non-native evergreen and fruit trees are also available.

2019 HIGHLIGHTS:

-Peach trees are new this year. The 'Coral Star' variety is an all-purpose peach; perfect for all your baking, canning & fresh eating needs. -Sugar Maple yield 1 gallon of syrup annually from just 3 to 4 mature trees!

-Balsam Fir native evergreen is a favorite Christmas tree variety. -Mountain Laurel is a beautiful evergreen shrub and Pennsylvania's state flower. -Mason Bee Houses support native pollinators and are maintenance-free, handmade by Central Columbia's Ag Science students. -Color and bloom guide to help you enjoy a var iety of colors and blooming April-September! Check out our catalog for in-depth descriptions and pictures.

NATIVE PLANT & TREE SEEDLING SALE NOW IN PROGRESS

Support environmental

education!

ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION & OUTREACH

Water Education Day 2018 The 4th Good Water = Good Life Water Ed Day for 8th grade students was September 12 at Briar Creek Lake. Event highlights include the return of 6 Columbia County schools, 500+ students, 50+ volunteers, 6 water quality and conservation themed stations, and Press Enterprise and WNEP coverage. The event was featured October 12 on WNEP’s “Power to Save” and can still be viewed on their website. Many thanks to the volunteers who gave their time to share the importance of clean water and provided information about their organizations that are in the business of water protection and distribution. Columbia-Montour Coalition for Source Water Protection (CMCSWP) CMCSWP is planning more events following the reoccurring theme of Good Water=Good Life. Stay tuned for our upcoming Good Water=Good Wine event on February 27th and Good Water=Good Fish on April 6th. CMCSWP meets quarterly. Safe Medication Disposal Project- CCCD and CMCSWP promote the safe disposal of unused medications at designated take-back centers so they don’t end up in our water supply. An updated list of take-back locations is on our website. Signs were installed at Briar Creek Lake, Columbia Park, and Hess’ Field in addition to the 2017 signs at Town Park and Kocher Park. Radio PSAs via WHLM and WVIA aired January 2019, and senior center workshops continue.

www.columbiamontourswp.org

CONTACT: Brittney Hartzell 570-317-9491 brittney.hartzell@columbiaccd.org

10

DISTRICT OFFERS SCHOLARSHIPS

Due April 12, 2019

Edgar Fenstermacher Scholarship - $400 High school senior pursuing a degree in agriculture

Lavere McClure Scholarship - $400 High school senior pursuing a degree in natural sciences, environmental or agricultural education

Maryruth Wagner Scholarship - $400 High school senior planning to pursue a degree in environmental sciences

Conservation Leadership School - 2 $300 ea High school students that completed 9th grade. One week session on natural resource issues, conservation, and wildlife. Two $300 scholarships toward tuition offered - sign up with a friend!!

Congratulations to the 2018 recipients! Carson Farr– Edgar Fenstermacher

Abigail Yoder - Lavere McClure

ANNUAL AG BANQUET April 11, 2019

Join us as we celebrate the farming community at the Columbia-Montour Vo-tech High School. Congratulations to 2017 Cooperator of the Year Jason Maciejewski and 2018 Educator of the Year Curt Turner! It is a fun night of great food, friends, and entertainment. For tickets call CCCD, FSA or the Penn State Extension office.

JOIN US FOR THE 10TH ANNUAL

WOODCOCK WATCH

March 27, 2019

Attention local birders, wildlife naturalists, scouts, and other interested people. Come and enjoy an evening hike to seek out the wonderful mysterious woodcock at the home of Chris and Pam Young in Orangeville at 6:00 pm. Chris will provide a presentation on their land management to enhance wildlife on their property. Practices that have been created to bring in birds, animals, and vernal pools will be discussed. Representatives from Woodcock Limited of PA and PA Game Commission will also be there to talk about available programs. RSVP to the CD office.

EARTH DAY POSTER CONTEST

Deadline April 26, 2019

Thank you to Brian Campbell (Farmer Moofy) and wife Erika for their continued sponsorship of the CCCD Poster Contest with cash prizes and corn certificates for participating students. 507 Columbia County students K-12th grade participated in the 2018 contest. See the winning posters at http://www.columbiaccd.org/poster-contest.html. 2019 contest posters will be accepted at the District office until April 26th. Students will incorporate art and science as they learn about the importance of healthy soil in our daily life, such as food, clothing, clean water, and more.

Contest rules are on our website. Winning posters will be forwarded to PACD and entered into the State and National Poster Contest.

UPCOMING ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION & OUTREACH

GOOD WATER = GOOD FISH April 6, 2019

Kick off the trout season ONE WEEK EARLY at Kocher Park April 6th from 10am-2pm! There will be FREE fly casting lessons courtesy of PFBC, Mike’s Food Truck fish menu, t-shirt fish printing, educational stations, and more! This event is in conjunction with PA Fish and Boat's Statewide Mentored Youth Fishing Day - proper licensing for youth and anglers 16+ required - visit our website at www.columbiaccd.org for more information. This event is part of a program series with the reoccurring theme of Good Water=Good Life in partnership with the Columbia-Montour Coalition for Source Water Protection.

CONTACT: Tracey Oman 570-317-9456 tracey.oman@columbiaccd.org

11

7:30am - 4:00pm Pine Barn Inn

1 Pine Barn Place Danville

LOCAL 2019 CONFERENCES SCHEDULED

COLUMBIA COUNTY AG CONFERENCE

Sponsors: CCCD, FSA, NRCS, Pheasants Forever

Women in Agriculture

March 20, 2019

9:00am – 2:30pm

Registration at 8:30am

St. Luke Lutheran Church

9 St. Luke Way

Bloomsburg

Door Prizes * Kombucha Tasting * Take Home Gifts * Fly Casting

· Women’s Outdoor Initiatives

· Sustainable Beekeeping

· Kombucha Making 101

· Delicious Hot Lunch

· Meaningful Marketing

· Farming and Time Management

Free native plant 4-pack for the first 30 registrants!

Ponduce Farms 270 White Church Rd

Elysburg

February 20, 2019

8:30am—2:30pm

Stream Stabilization on Your Farm Pesticide Label & Exposure Protection Ear Rots & Mycotoxin Management Impact of Water Quality on Pesticides Delicious Hot Lunch Buffer Bonus Program Farms, Floods and Agriculture BMPs Managing Insect Pests in Soybeans CD Programs to Help Your Farm Operation FSA Update

Sponsored by AgChoice Farm Credit

Sponsors: AgChoice Credit & First Columbia Bank

CONNECTING SOILS & PROFITS Soil Health Conference

No-Till Cover Crops Soil Health Grazing

PRESENTATIONS BY NATIONAL KEYNOTE SPEAKER AND AGRICULTURE EXPERTS

- Soil Erosion & Runoff Demonstration - To Graze or Not & How to Improve - Managing Herbicide Resistant Weeds - Producer Panel Discussion - Delicious Hot Lunch - IPM & Soil Health: An Argument for Avoiding Preventative Insecticide Use - Extending the Grazing Season & Case Studies

Sponsors: CCCD, MCCD, NCCD, NRCS, USDA Supported by a PA DEP Growing Green Grant

FREE PROGRAM AND DINNER MARCH 28, 2019 2:00PM—7:30PM

Come learn what’s new with CREP

administratively and technically, including

new mid-contract management, and see

how landowners can use CREP to improve

wildlife habitat and water quality.

Montour Preserve Environmental Building 700 Preserve Road Danville

Come to all or some of the talks – enjoy a FREE hot meal either way!

March 14, 2019 Earn Pesticide &

Nutrient Mgmt

CONTACT: Tracey Oman 570-317-9456 tracey.oman@columbiaccd.org

COLUMBIA CONSERVATIONIST Columbia County Conservation District 702 Sawmill Road, Suite 204 Bloomsburg, PA 17815

NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION U.S.POSTAGE PAID BLOOMSBURG, PA 17815 PERMIT No. 147

CURRENT RESIDENT OR

HELP US UPDATE OUR MAILING ADDRESSES. CALL WITH ADDRESS CHANGES OR BETTER YET—HOW ABOUT AN

EMAIL ADDRESS?

Enjoy Kocher Park & Johnson Flats - your local creek side nature experience! 1519 State Route 487 Orangeville, PA

Kocher Park is one of the few places in

the area that offers public access to the

creek for recreation. It is a great place to

bird, canoe, fish, kayak, picnic, walk or

just relax and observe nature. The park

is maintained by volunteers, private

donations and public grant funds. Thank

you to our dedicated park volunteers who

work to enhance wildlife habitat and

maintain park grounds.

Great things are happing at Kocher Park! Check our website or Facebook for upcoming events. March 30 Spring Cleanup April 6 Good Water = Good Fish June-July Summer Day Camps June Nature Journaling Fall Community Hike

Be a Friend of Kocher Park!