Funding available for conservation work on farm!

Montgomery County Conservation District is pleased to announce that a delegation agreement has been signed with the State Conservation Commission (SCC) to implement the Agricultural Conservation Assistance Program (ACAP) within Montgomery County. In fiscal year 2022-23, the SCC was provided a one-time allocation of $154 million under the newly created Clean Streams Fund to support development of the Agricultural Conservation Assistance Program (ACAP). The original source of funding is through the American Rescue Plan Act. The program will provide financial and technical assistance for the implementation of agricultural Best Management Practices (BMPs), focusing on those which reduce nitrogen, phosphorus and sediment loss. Montgomery County will be receiving $1.4 million to be committed by December 31, 2024 and spent by December 31, 2026.

Eligible Best Management Practices (BMPs) include: Waste Storage, Heavy Use Area Protection, Grassed Waterway, Diversion, Stream Crossing and Cover Crop among several others. Practices must be installed to meet NRCS design criteria and project costs are subject to prevailing wage. Montgomery County Conservation District will be reimbursing eligible project costs at a 90% rate, with 10% match requirement by the applicant. Applications are now being accepted and will be accepted on an ongoing basis until funds are spent.

Visit the ACAP webpage on the MCCD website for the application form, policy document, and BMP list.

ACAP Program Brochure

On March 31, 2023 the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers issued a Special Public Notice (Special Public Notice-23-17) establishing a special condition to all existing authorizations under Section 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899 and/or Section 404 of the Clean Water Act authorizations/verifications in Pennsylvania.

This special condition is added to all Section 10 and/or 404 permits previously authorized or verified in Pennsylvania. It requires that for any authorization or verification where work was not completed by March 31, 2023 an updated habitat screening using the Pennsylvania Natural Diversity Index (PNDI) be conducted, and that any and all avoidance measures listed in the PNDI for northern Long-Eared Bat are conditions of these permits (including PASPGP-6) and therefore must be followed.

MCCD’s guidance from DEP Central Office is that all PNDI receipts for new applications coming in and those in queue should have a date of March 31, 2023 or later, including PNDI receipts for amendment applications which have proposed additional earth disturbance. If the receipt date is earlier than March 31, 2023, the applicant should be notified to re-run the PNDI.  Any previously unreported avoidance measures or potential impacts regarding the Northern Long-Eared Bat will need to be resolved with the jurisdictional agencies prior to permit acknowledgement or issuance.

Calling all students!

Poster Contest – Call for Entries!

The National Association of Conservation Districts is holding their annual poster contest. Montgomery County Conservation District is now accepting poster entries from all K-12 students; focused on the 2023 theme “One Water”. Posters should be 14”x22” in size, half a typical poster size.

Winner from Montgomery County will be sent to the State level, for entry into the National Competition!

Submission Details:

1. Due to Montgomery County Conservation District by June 2, 2023

2. Hand drawn 14”x22” posters accepted, with a digital option for grades 7-12

3. Official them and/or logo “One Water” should be on each poster

4. Accepting submission from all K-12 students within Montgomery County

5. Submissions can be mailed or emailed, must include Poster Contest Entry Form

Questions and submissions can be directed to: Abigail Reiter, areiter@montgomeryconservation.org, (610) 489-4506 x24

143 Level Road Collegeville, PA 19426

2023-Poster-Contest-Entry-Form

2023 One Water PowerPoint

<FILLED> MCCD is hiring a summer intern!

Click here for more information:

2023 MCCD Summer Intern Position Description

To apply, please send resume to Jessica Buck, District Manager

jbuck@montgomeryconservation.org

Under the Montgomery Awards program, the Environmental Stewardship Award recognizes a project in Montgomery County that has been completed in the past three years and exemplifies the practices of environmental stewardship and conservation for water and soil quality. The award will be given by the Montgomery County Conservation District through the Montgomery Awards Program.   

Click here to nominate a project today!