Potter County Conservation District Celebrated
One of the area’s longest-running success stories was recently celebrated as another Pennsylvania Conservation District Week came and went. The occasion was noted by (from left) Potter County Commissioners Barry Hayman, Nancy Grupp and Paul Heimel with the traditional proclamation along with words of praise and appreciation for the staff and volunteer directors of the Potter County Conservation District. Potter was the first county in Pennsylvania to establish a conservation district back in November 1945, as traditional farming practices were fouling headwaters streams with soil and sediment. Its founders would scarcely recognize the organization of 2023. Today’s PCCD’s youthful staff consists of specialists who are energetic and dedicated to the district’s expanded mission.
District manager Jason Childs (second from right) and his team are on the cutting edge of innovative conservation practices in partnership with farmers, other landowners and communities. Potter County pioneered a concerted effort to protect stream quality through improved maintenance of dirt and gravel roads, working with the local Trout Unlimited chapter. The local practices have since been adopted across much of the state. A partial list of other activities includes measures to curb agricultural erosion and sedimentation entering the Chesapeake Bay watershed; no-till farming techniques; nutrient management; invasive species control; crops and planting clinics; farmland preservation; agricultural conservation; stream rehabilitation; Conservation Field Days; Junior Conservation School, and many others.
Staffers include Glenn Dunn II, Jared Dickerson, Andrew Mickey, Emily Shosh. Directors are Earl Brown (chair), Barry Hayman, Phil Lehman, Stan Hess, Chris Robbins. Jeff Cady and Jon Blass. Associate directors are Donald Heiner Jr., Dr. Peter Ryan, Bart Ianson, CC Felker, Charlie Tuttle and Betsy Long.