Grants
Overview
The Snyder County Conservation District (SCCD) is governed by a seven member board of volunteer directors. The Board of Directors meet monthly to plan and direct local conservation issues. To accomplish their goals and objectives, the board relies on their staff, paid employees of the Conservation District, and cooperating agencies such as the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), PA State Conservation Commission (SCC) PA Game Commission, PA Fish & Boat Commission, PA Bureau of Forestry, Farm Service Agency, Penn State Cooperative Extension, among others.
Funding for the conservation district’s programs is obtained from the Snyder County Commissioners, PA Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and other agencies.
Services
Agricultural Conservation Assistance →
Agricultural Erosion Prevention (Agriculture Erosion & Sedimentation) →
Agricultural Nutrient Management →
Agricultural Land Preservation →
Dirt, Gravel & Low Volume Road Improvement →
Worksite Erosion Prevention (Excavation Erosion & Sedimentation) →
Upcoming Events & Programs
The Snyder & Juniata County Conservation Districts will be holding a 4-day early evening camp for Snyder & Juniata County students entering 1st through 4th grades at Basom Memorial Park in Richfield. It runs from Monday, June 12 through Thursday, June 15, 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Hands on and interactive activities are planned such as “Make it Rain,” “Build-a-Rain Gutter Garden,” seeing what critters live in streams, and a wildlife scavenger hunt.
On Thursday, June 15, a family night is planned with rain barrel building & planting, taking home a rain gutter garden, and much more! (Click here for a flyer.)
Registration for kids’ Enviro Camp 2023 is officially open!
Use this link to register your campers: https://forms.gle/gQ4VjBU6EjcZw9ax5
All campers must submit a signed waiver prior to the start of camp on June 12! Waivers can be uploaded at the time of registration or mailed to Snyder County Conservation District at 10541 Route 522, Middleburg, PA 17842. The waiver can be downloaded here .
For more information: Contact the Snyder County Conservation District at 570-837-3000.
Financial and other support has been provided by the Department of Environmental Protection’s 2022 Environmental Education Grants Program.
The Snyder County Conservation District (SCCD) will hold a conservation practice tour for farmers on Wednesday, June 28. It starts at the Whispering Pines Fruit Farms parking lot, 1652 Martin Brothers Road, Mt. Pleasant Mills, at 10:00 a.m. This tour will visit several farms that had conservation practices, called best management practices (BMPs), installed on their farms to prevent nutrient and sediment pollution with technical and financial assistance from the SCCD and the USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS).
To practice safe farming, we will ride in vans from Whispering Pines. Biosecurity measures will be taken at all stops. Participants are asked to be good neighbors and practice personal biosecurity before attending the tour.
Refreshments and lunch will be provided. There is no fee to attend. Reservations are required and are due by Wednesday, June 21, by calling the SCCD at 570-837-3000 x0.
For more information, contact Barry Spangler, SCCD Ag. Conservation Technician, at 570-837-3000 x5.
Financial and other support for the CREP Outreach Program Office Mini-grant Program is provided by the Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts, Inc. through a Growing Greener Watershed Protection grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and with additional support from USDA-NRCS. Conservation District staffing for this project promoting agricultural environmental compliance was financed by in part by an EPA grant provided by the DEP. The views expressed herein are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of EPA, DEP, or any of its subagencies. All Conservation District & USDA programs and services are offered on a non-discrimination basis. USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
The Snyder County Conservation District’s (SCCD) 4th annual Faylor Lake Loop Trail Run around the lake will start at 9:00 a.m., Saturday, July 22 at 800 Shale Pit Road, Beaver Springs. (40.760231, -77.228069) Participants can sign up for the 3.5-mile walk/run or 7.5-mile run.
Registration and additional details for this race can be found through this Run Signup page
Event swag for 2023 — Race performance tanks! Pre-register before July 9 for the opportunity to select a women’s racerback or men’s regular cut performance tank.
For more information: Contact the Conservation District at 570-837-3000.
Proceeds from the race benefits the SCCD’s environmental outreach programs for youth such as Kids’ Enviro Camp, Snyder County Trout in the Classroom, 2nd grade ecology days and Midd-West Outdoor Education.
Pennsylvania farmers are hearing news about the need to reduce nutrient and sediment pollution in our streams, rivers and the Chesapeake Bay by the end of 2025. PA Farmers also hear that additional funding is available for farmers to install conservation practices that improve their operations as well as water quality. What is the next step?
In Snyder County, the Snyder County Conservation District (SCCD) is making a list of farmers interested in improving their farm operations with the installation of conservation practices, a.k.a. best management practices (BMPs). These BMPs include:
- Manure Storages & Stacking Areas
- Streamside Riparian Buffers
- Barnyard Improvements & Animal Heavy Use Areas
- Streambank Fencing
- Milkhouse Wastewater Treatment
- Silage Treatment
- Cattle Stream Crossings
- Roof Gutters & Outlets
- Pasture Watering Facilities
- Cattle Walkways
- Streambank & Fish Habitat Restoration
Once a farmer contacts the SCCD and its staff visit the operation, both farmer and the SCCD can work together to see what BMPs and plans are needed, how much it costs, and how to secure potential funding. SCCD District Manager Jason Winey notes that this is the largest amount of funding available for agricultural conservation practices in recent memory. Please contact the SCCD at 570-837-3000 x0 (sccd@snydercd.org) and our staff can start the process in helping local farmers.
Some staffing for this project promoting agricultural environmental compliance was financed by in part by an U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) grant provided by the PA Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). The views expressed herein are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of EPA, DEP, or any of its subagencies.
Farmers, you may have heard about soil health and how it can help both environmentally and economically. Maybe you are curious on whether your crop field’s soils are healthy now or needs some help? Or you just want to talk to someone face to face about soil health outside a meeting room.
The Snyder County Conservation District (SCCD) is offering a free opportunity for farmers to bring our “Soil Health Bucket” and conduct soil health tests and discuss opportunities and options for future improvements. (While the SCCD is willing to help, our technician with the “Soil Health Bucket” is not a substitute for your local agronomic consultant or Extension field crops educator.)
If you are interested in having a SCCD technician stop by on your farm with our “Soil Health Bucket,” please contact Barry Spangler, Ag. Conservation Technician, at 570-837-3000 x5 to set up an appointment.
Financial and other support for this project is provided by the Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts, Inc. through a grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection under Section 319 of the Clean Water Act, administered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
Any Snyder County farmer interested in having necessary plans to follow PA Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) regulations can sign up at the Snyder County Conservation District. The Conservation District will connect you with a commercial plan writer to develop a manure management plan (MMP) and/or agricultural erosion & sedimentation (Ag. E&S) plan.
The pressure is on farmers to comply with new agricultural environmental regulations enforced by DEP and the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). This will also help farmers thinking of seeking financial assistance from programs such as the PA Chesapeake Bay Program Countywide Action Plan (CAP) Implementation Grants to install or improve their operations.
Interested farmers must complete an application with the Conservation District. Additional information is available at the office at 10541 Route 522, Middleburg. Contact Barry Spangler, Ag. Conservation Technician at 570-837-3000 x5, or by viewing this fact sheet .
To see a map of Middle Creek Watershed within Snyder County, click here .
Plan funding statement: The views and conclusions contained in this document are those of the authors and should not be interpreted as representing the opinions or policies of the U.S. Government or the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and its funding sources. Mention of trade names or commercial products does not constitute their endorsement by the U.S. Government, or the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation or its funding sources.
For those who do not qualify for the Middle Creek Watershed planning program: Farmers may hire a qualified consultant to develop or update their MMPs, Ag. E&S plans, nutrient management plans (NMPs) and conservation plans offered through the PA Association of Conservation Districts, Inc. (PACD). CAOs and CAFOs may participate. The only stipulation is that the operation cannot have participated in a similar program recently offered by DEP.
Interested farmers must complete an application with the Conservation District and their consultant. Additional information is available at the SCCD office by reaching out to Barry Spangler, Ag. Technician at 570-837-3000 x5.
Financial and other support for the Ag Plan Reimbursement Program is provided by the Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts, Inc. through a Growing Greener Watershed Protection grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection. Some staffing for this project promoting agricultural environmental compliance was financed by in part by an U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) grant provided by the PA Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). The views expressed herein are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of EPA, DEP, or any of its subagencies.
All meetings will be held at the Conservation District Office, 10541 Route 522, Middleburg, PA 17842, starting on 4:00 p.m., unless noted otherwise.
- July 5, 2023
- August 1, 2023
- September 5, 2023
- October 3, 2023
- November 7, 2023 (Changed from November 8)
- December 5, 2023
News
High schoolers from schools representing 63 counties competed in the PA Envirothon. The contest consisted of oral presentations given remotely during the week of May 15 and in person/on-site components at Camp Mount Luther west of Mifflinburg on May 24.
Each competing team first participated and won their respective county Envirothon competition. Topics that the students were tested in were wildlife, forestry, aquatics, soils, and 2023’s current issues topic: Adapting to a Changing Climate.
A team from Penncrest High School of Media, PA in Delaware County won the state title this year. As the PA winner, they will compete against other US state and Canadian provincial & territorial winners in the (National Conservation Foundation) NCF-Envirothon to be held on July 23 to 29, at Mount Allison University in Tantramar, New Brunswick, Canada.
Snyder County’s Susquehanna Valley Homeschoolers placed 26th overall, were 10th at the Forestry station and 16th at the Soils station.
The Snyder County Conservation District (SCCD) was invited to West Snyder and Middleburg Elementary Schools to coordinate and teach approximately 155 2nd graders several aspects of nature and organize an environmental education competition for approximately 155 5th graders in May 2022. SCCD staff, as well as staff from cooperating agencies, visited West Snyder Elementary School in Beaver Springs on May 11 and Middleburg Elementary School on May 12, 2023.
For details, please check out this write-up . For further information, contact the SCCD at 570-837-3000.
Forty-three (43) teams involving nearly 215 students from various schools in five central Pennsylvania counties arrived at the Shikellamy State Park Marina for the annual Susquehanna Valley High School Envirothon held on April 25, 2023. (The Marina is located near Sunbury, PA on Packers Island.)
Topics that the students were tested in were wildlife, forestry, aquatics, soils, and a specific current issues topic that changes yearly. The current issue topic for this year is “Adapting to a Changing Climate.”
Several cooperating agencies helped out with the event. They were: PA Game Commission (Wildlife station), PA (Department of Conservation & Natural Resources) DCNR-Bureau of Forestry (Forestry station), PA Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) (Current Events station), and USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) (Soils station).
Staff members from the five conservation districts oversaw planning, coordination and logistics of the Envirothon, as well as the Aquatics station.
Each conservation district awarded medals to the highest scoring team from its county. This year, the Snyder County winners were from Susquehanna Valley Homeschoolers. (They placed eleventh overall out of 43 teams that competed.) A team from Central Columbia High School in Columbia County won the overall title this year.
A wrap up with photos and additional details can be viewed and downloaded here . For additional information, contact your county’s conservation district office.
The Snyder County Conservation District (SCCD) held its annual tree/seedling sale again this year. The pickup days were April 19 and 20 at the Conservation District office.
To view what was offered, please check out this summary .
Proceeds from this sale go towards SCCD education outreach.
The Snyder County Conservation District (SCCD, Conservation District) Board of Directors approved a new fee schedule for Erosion & Sediment Pollution Control (E&S) plan reviews and NPDES (National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System) permits during its March 7, 2023, regular scheduled meeting.
You may view and download the new fee schedule submission form here . The new fee schedule is effective May 1, 2023.
Questions may be forwarded to SCCD Resource Conservation Technician Tim Hornberger at 570-837-3000 x4.
Other Thoughts
Are you building a new house? Perhaps you are expanding your farming operation with a new barn or manure storage facility. Are you moving soil to expand a parking area for your store or business? Any of these activities may require a permit or an approved plan.
The Snyder County Conservation District (SCCD) is here to help you through this process. Any project involving 5,000 sq. ft. of earth disturbance requires an erosion and sediment (E&S) plan to be utilized and available onsite. There are times when this plan may need to be submitted to the SCCD for review.
When the earth disturbance reaches one (1.00) acre or more, an NPDES (National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System) Permit is required and must be submitted for review and approval through the SCCD.
Your local municipality may have further regulations that could affect your project. For more information or assistance, please contact SCCD Resource Conservation Technisian Tim Hornberger at 570-837-3000 x4.
Note: You can also find additional information on our Worksite Erosion Prevention → web page.
The Snyder County Conservation District wants to remind farmers and agricultural, livestock and equine operations that they need the following plans:
- A manure management plan (MMP) or nutrient management plan (NMP) if you produce or utilize manure, and
- An agricultural erosion & sedimentation plan (Ag. E&S Plan) or conservation plan if you raise crops or hay or graze pastures.
If you do have these plans, check if they are up to date and reflect your current operation.
If you do not have these plans or are not sure if your plans are sufficient to satisfy PA regulatory requirements, please call the Conservation District and set up a meeting with Barry Spangler, Ag. Conservation Technician, at 570-837-3000 x5.
You can also visit our Agricultural Erosion Prevention → and Agricultural Nutrient Management → web pages.
Staff funding statements: Staffing for this project promoting agricultural environmental compliance was financed by in part by an U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) grant provided by the PA Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). The views expressed herein are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of EPA, DEP, or any of its subagencies.
If you, a farmer or agricultural/equine operator, is thinking of building a new facility, manure storage or stacking structure, or other work that involves earth disturbance, please make an appointment with the Snyder County Conservation District (SCCD) during the planning stages. If you are gaining or losing pasture and/or cropland, check with the SCCD staff to see what changes are needed in your plans.
- Depending how much land is disturbed, you will need an excavation erosion & sedimentation control plan (Excavation E&S Plan) and possibly a federal excavation (NPDES, National Pollutant Discharge Eliminating System) permit before building your new facility.
- If you add more animals, you will need to reflect that change in your manure management plan (MMP) or need to hire a nutrient management specialist to develop a nutrient management plan (NMP) because you will be a concentrated animal operation (CAO) due to animal density numbers.
- For certain animal expansion plans, you may need to apply for an NPDES concentrated animal feeding operation (CAFO) permit through the PA Department of Environmental Protection (DEP).
- Any work near, along or in a perennial or intermittent stream may be required a general permit through DEP.
- New CAOs, expanding CAOs or expanding CAFOs will need to hire a certified odor management specialist to develop an odor management plan (OMP).
- If a new liquid or semi-liquid manure storage is planned, a P.E. (Professional Engineer) must be hired to design and certify the new structure.
- For new construction, check with your local municipality to see if you are required to secure a building permit and/or land development plan.
- No matter the situation, you must have your conservation or agricultural erosion & sedimentation plans (Ag. E&S Plans) updated to reflect what you are doing.
The take home message: Check with the SCCD (570-837-3000) early so we can point you in the right direction. We may also be able to point you toward some funding or tax credit options available for farmers who hire a plan writer or install certain farm best management practices (BMPs) such as barnyard improvements, manure storage structures or stream buffers.
Snyder County CAP
Taken from PA DEP CAP Website:
“Forty-three of Pennsylvania’s counties contain waterways that drain to either the Susquehanna or the Potomac rivers. This effort is part of the Phase 3 Watershed Implementation Plan (Phase 3 WIP). State agencies, led by the PA Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), are working with interested parties in the counties whose local waters run to the Chesapeake Bay to create Countywide Action Plans (CAPs). These plans will outline how each county’s share of the state’s 2025 pollution reduction goals will be met. EPA’s Chesapeake Bay Program has modeled Chesapeake Bay pollution sources including pollution entering Pennsylvania’s waterways and where it originates. Each Pennsylvania county has its own goal to reduce its share of pollution. Some counties have more work to do than others. The Phase 3 WIP Steering Committee grouped the 43 counties into tiers. Tier 1 counties have the most pollution to reduce, and Tier 4 counties have the least.
“The state believes that the path to success starts at the local level. County partners understand their communities, economy, waterways, and challenges better than anybody. If you get involved in this process at the local level, you will have a say in how the county’s pollution reduction goals are met. You can shape the mix of solutions that are chosen within your county—and make a difference for your community.
“It is important to note that the county clean water goals do NOT establish any new requirement of regulatory obligations on counites. The goals are simply a way for Pennsylvania to engage with local partners on shared issues and focus resources on efforts that help Pennsylvania reach its Chesapeake Bay goals. This empowers communities to lead efforts to improve their own local water quality using the most beneficial methods for their stakeholders and residents Designated countywide groups (partnerships, local governments, county conservation districts, and other identified stakeholders) will utilize the following templates, to report priority initiatives and planned actions to achieve necessary reductions.”
To view the Snyder County CAP, click here to go to the DEP CAP website .
Rapid Stream Delisting Program
From Chesapeake Conservancy’s website:
“Chesapeake Conservancy is a nonprofit organization based in Annapolis, Maryland. We are a team of conservation entrepreneurs. We believe that the Chesapeake is a national treasure that should be accessible for everyone and a place where wildlife can thrive. We use technology to enhance the pace and quality of conservation, and we help build parks, trails, and public access sites.”
The Conservancy uses technology to identify small watersheds (currently containing DEP identified impaired streams) where a.) nutrient and sediment conservation best management practices (BMPs) are installed (such as streambank fencing, riparian buffers, etc.) and b.) when implemented, these stream segments can be removed from DEP’s impaired streams list.
Three small watersheds within Snyder County were identified by Chesapeake Conservancy. They are:
- Western section of North Branch Mahantango Creek
- Western section of West Branch Mahantango Creek
- Headwaters of Susquehecka Creek
To view these and all the central PA watersheds identified with hopes to have them delisted if more BMPs are on the ground, go to the Chesapeake Conservancy arcgis.com site here . For more information about Chesapeake Conservancy and its Rapid Stream Delisting Program, contact Adrienne Gemberling, Senior Project Manager, Natural Sciences Center at Susquehanna University, 514 University AVE, Selinsgrove, PA 17870 (570-444-9200).
Forms, Documents & Links
Publications
NEW E&S Plan Review Fees (Effective May 1, 2023)
May 2023 Newsletter, Newly Published!
Snyder County Countywide Action Plan (DEP Website)
Rapid Stream Delisting Program (Chesapeake Conservancy Website)
Conservation District Directors & Staff
Cooperating Agencies
PA Dept. of Environmental Protection
PA State Conservation Commission
PA Dept. of Conservation & Natural Resources
PA Dept. of Community & Economic Development
PA Dept. of Transportation (District 3-0)
Penn State Cooperative Extension (Snyder Co.)
Other Groups
PA Association of Conservation Districts, Inc.
National Association of Conservation Districts
PA Nutrient Management Program
PA Manure Management Plan Web Page
PA Center for Dirt & Gravel Road Studies
PA Woodland Owners Associations
Spotted Lanternfly: PDA Website
Spotted Lanternfly: Penn State Extension Website
Other Interesting Sites
Snyder County Countywide Action Plan (DEP Website)
Rapid Stream Delisting Program (Chesapeake Conservancy Website)
Contact
- (570) 837-3000
- (570) 837-7300 (Fax)
- sccd@snydercd.org
-
10541 Route 522
Middleburg, PA 17842 - Monday - Friday: 8 am - 4 pm
Conservation District Staff
Dan Brundage
Watershed Specialist
- (570) 837-3000 x8
- watershed@snydercd.org
Courtney Raker
PA Envirothon Executive Director/Conservation Techncian
- (570) 837-3000 x9
- constech@snydercd.org
