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Wednesday, 04 May 2016 18:19

About Elk County Conservation District

Contact Information:

Elk County Conservation District
Elk County Recycling Center
850 Washington Street
Saint Marys, PA 15857
Phone: (814) 776-5373
Fax: (814) 245-2410
Email: .

 

The Elk Conservation District is one of sixty-six conservation districts statewide.  All districts function in accordance with the Conservation District Law, Act 217 of 1945.  The District acts as a legal subdivision of state government under the supervision of the State Conservation Commission.  Operational funding for District programs is obtained from the Elk County Commissioners and The Department of Environmental Protection.

Responsibilities and programs differ widely within each individual conservation district.  The reasoning behind this is that while every county faces many similar problems, there are also many that remain unique to a particular county or area of the state.   This is where the District's role in conservation issues comes into play.  Districts can step in to fill many voids where other state, federal, and local agencies may be unable to become involved and provide assistance.  Districts are able to tailor many of their programs and activities to assist with local conservation problems and their solutions.

The Elk Conservation District's programs include:

  • Abandoned Mine Restoration
  • Erosion and Sedimentation Pollution Control
  • Dirt & Gravel Roads Program
  • Gypsy Moth Monitoring & Suppression
  • National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Permitting
  • Public Education
  • Watershed Monitoring
  • Waterways & Wetland Permitting
  • Noxious & Invasive Weed Survey
  • Agriculture Manure Management Planning Assistance
  • Agriculture Conservation Planning, and Erosion and Sediment Control Planning Assistance
  • Nutrient Management Program

Article I, Section 27 of the Pennsylvania Constitution:

The Environmental Rights Amendment
(Adopted May 18, 1971)

“The people have a right to clean air, pure water, and the preservation of the natural, scenic, historic and esthetic values of the environment. Pennsylvania’s public natural resources are the common property of all the people, including generations yet to come. As trustee of these resources, the Commonwealth shall conserve and maintain them for the benefit of all the people”

Background:

Pennsylvania's conservation districts were established in 1945 when the General Assembly passed the Soil Conservation District Act, commonly known as the Conservation District Law. For over 55 years the state's 66 conservation districts have served as leaders, addressing local natural resource concerns at the county level. The county conservation districts work to help people and communities take care of the natural resources in their area including soil, water, wildlife, trees and other plants. Using natural resources wisely helps to insure their availability well into the future.

County conservation districts operate under the belief that conservation works best when local people, those who live and work in the area, play an active role in managing their natural resources. Because conservation districts are familiar with local issues they are able to manage the resources of a particular area.

Conservation districts stand ready to offer technical assistance and educational guidance to land owners and managers, local governments, teachers, students and people from every walk of life. They can provide information and help on matters such as reducing soil erosion, protecting water quality, acid mine drainage or preventing hazardous situations such as floods.

Conservation districts work to better the community as a whole. They help citizens identify available natural resources and establish plans for their wise use. Because conservation districts have established a solid network of available human resources, they frequently work cooperatively across county and state lines.

County conservation districts are efficient and effective. They work with private citizens, partner with state and federal government agencies and facilitate the work of many private organizations and other conservation districts. The Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts, Inc. provides the collective voice for conservation districts at the state and national level.

Conservation districts were initially established to promote the value of conserving soil and water to farmers. Today's districts have evolved; their areas of interest and expertise involve almost every area of natural resource conservation imaginable.

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