SUNBURY - The Northumberland County Conservation District (NCCD) held its first legislative luncheon on Thursday. The district plans to make this an annual event where local legislators, conservation district staff and board members and AgLand Preservation Board of Directors meet to discuss issues that affect the conservation district and the work that it does throughout the area.
The luncheon opened with conservation district Chairman Dave Crowl welcoming everyone and stating the three objectives of the luncheon: to thank elected officials for their support; remind everyone that the conservation district is not only a steward of water and air, but also stewards of taxpayers' dollars, and finally, to have a larger discussion on conservation.
After lunch was served, NCCD Manager Judy Becker gave a presentation on the conservation district that included events planned this year, including a tree sale during the week of April 23 at the Rockefeller Township building; two envirothons in the month of May at Shikellamy Park Overlook, and several manure management workshops.
Becker also discussed several projects the NCCD is doing this year, including the Little Shamokin Creek Ag Improvement Project, stream bank restoration/fencing projects and Chesapeake Bay farm visits.
Becker then thanked representatives Kurt Masser and Lynda Schlegel Culver and state Senator John Gordner for helping to pass Impact Fee Legislation HB1950. All three were in attendance and spoke briefly. Northumberland County Commissioner Rick Shoch and County Planning Director Pat Mack also spoke.
After the luncheon, a $195,153 Growing Greener check was presented to the NCCD. The grant will enable the district to undertake three projects along the Little Shamokin Creek Watershed to reduce sediment and nutrient runoff. Gordner presented the conservation district with the grant. He was accompanied by Schlegel Culver and Kurt Masser.
Little Shamokin Creek is listed by the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) as impaired due to siltation and nutrient runoff, partly caused by nearby beef and pork farms. Gordner said the Growing Greener Grant will enable the district to implement best management practices at three farms to reduce the nonpoint pollution.
"Improved manure storage, stream bank fencing, planting of additional vegetation along the banks of the creek and improved stream crossings will reduce nutrients entering the watershed and help improve bank erosion," said Gordner in a press release. "These improved conservation techniques will assist the farmers and improve the watershed."
Growing Greener, authorized by the General Assembly in 1999, provides funding for watershed restoration and abandoned mine reclamation through the DEP, farmland preservation projects through the Department of Agriculture, state park improvements through the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and water and sewer system improvements through PENNVEST.