The McKean County Conservation District is hoping to see a lot
more green – pastures and funding – this year, as it continues its
goal of protecting and maintaining the county’s environment.

The agency officially switched gears last year from a part-time
environmental and outreach organization to a full-time district
providing services in conservation education, nutrient management,
dirt and gravel roads, erosion and sediment control, watershed
services, West Nile virus monitoring and educational outreach
services.

County officials released the agency’s 2006 annual report late
last week.

“Overall, the organization is doing very well,” Commissioner
Chairman Clifford Lane said Monday. “It was definitely a year in
transition. As a full-time conservation district, it enables us to
get more grant money, meaning less has to be taken out of taxpayer
dollars. The previous board was doing a good job, but the scope (of
the organization) wasn’t big enough.”

Lane also serves on the district’s board as a director.

According to a copy of the report, the district has plans to
restore the headwaters of the Allegheny watershed and implement an
erosion and sedimentation pollution control and National Pollutant
Discharge Elimination Permitting programs.

Lane said officials would also like to reduce the number of
illegal dump sites across the county, adding the agency is working
on the final stages of developing a strategic plan to deal with the
numerous environmental issues that crop up.

“We hope to have it finalized by the end of May or first part of
June,” Lane said, adding it’s a five-year plan. Lane said the ideas
contained within the plan have been developed along with officials
from the oil and gas industries and various stakeholders. “They are
very excited about it.”

The agency is currently led by District Manager Sandy Thompson,
Watershed Specialist Heather McKean and Resource Conservation
Technician Carol Riedmiller.

“They are full of energy and ideas, which has reinvigorated the
board,” Lane said.

The district’s annual report highlights several of the programs
under its umbrella.

Under the erosion and sedimentation program, the district
entered into a new delegation agreement with the state Department
of Environmental Protection, and began implementing some of the
duties dealing with construction-related activities previously
performed by DEP.

The district reviewed 14 plans and garnered $1,175 in plan
review fees.

Meanwhile, the report indicates the county has 107 miles of
municipal dirt and gravel roads eligible for funding under the Dirt
and Gravel Roads Program. Since the inception of the program, the
district has received $216,458 to fund projects, and spent a total
of $157,795. Officials said nine projects were completed in five
townships; the agency has a contract with one township for
$49,980.

Also this year, the agency will be taking over the
administration of the West Nile virus program on the county level.
Last year, according to the report, more than 3,500 mosquitoes were
collected and nearly 1,100 were tested. A total of 45 larvicide
applications were also performed, and traps were set up at more
than 100 different sites across the county.

The agency will also be taking over the reins of the nutrient
management program, which was previously performed in agreement
with neighboring Potter County, according to the report.

Officials said the multi-county delegation agreement ended on
Dec. 31, 2006. Under the new format, effective Jan. 1, the district
took the lead in evaluating plans and technical assistance to
ensure compliance with regulations, namely on farmland and sites
where animals and livestock are kept.

Also, the district was awarded $20,000 to implement an
Environmental Education Outreach Program for students and
residents. With the assistance of the University of Pittsburgh at
Bradford, the funding will be used to create a county-wide stream
monitoring program with the public schools, according to the
report.

The district will also administer the stream bank stabilization
program, which will demonstrate erosion solutions to local
landowners. The main goal of the program is to improve overall
water quality by addressing erosion/sedimentation issues on the
various county watersheds.