PROTECTING SOIL & WATER
Berks County Conservation District celebrates 75th anniversary
From soil conservation to scholarships, the Berks County Conservation District celebrates its 75th anniversary pursuing its mission to protect the county’s soil and water.
It is one of the oldest conservation districts in the state.
The district got its start on Aug. 13, 1946, at the request of a group of conservationminded farmers.
Clarence Althouse, Curtis R. Bashore, Clarence S. Dietrich, John Grubb and James E. Lesher served as the first board of directors. They held their first meeting in 1947.
Conservation districts have their roots in the devastating Dust Bowl of the 1930s that saw the loss of 100 million acres of topsoil.
That led to establishment of the Soil Conservation Service — which later became Natural Resources Conservation Service — and other efforts to address the problem of soil erosion. States began enacting legislation that would allow local agencies to oversee and educate farmers on erosion control.
In Pennsylvania, Potter County became the first in the state to create a conservation district on Nov. 28, 1945.
The next year eight more districts were created in Allegheny, Berks, Clarion, Clin
ton, Fulton, Jefferson, Lehigh and Tioga.
In addition to soil erosion, Berks County’s district now educates and works in insect management, best farmland practices, and other general conservation methods to protect the land and water.
Rain barrels and native plant sales are popular outreaches but the agency also coordinates the county Environthon, a competition for students.
“Berks County is one our premier counties and we are so proud of them,” said Brenda Shambaugh, executive director of Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts, at the conservation district’s anniversary celebration and annual banquet held at the Oley Fairgrounds on Monday.
About 130 people attended.
Commissioner Christian Leinbach spoke about the district’s focus on farmers and it’s unique approach to financial stability and encouraging compliance with best practices.
Other conservation district boards don’t have to run financial aspects of the agency but the Berks volunteer board does, he said.
“I cannot emphasize (enough) that this particular conservation district is unlike any other in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania,” said Leinbach, who has been on the board of the district since 2008. “Because back in 2009 they became an independent organization reformulated in October of 2009 and the volunteers that sit on the board led the organization from top to bottom.”
In July 2009, the county ended its contract with the agency, which freed it to reorganize and take control of its finances.
The economic crisis at the time had pushed the district to the point where it couldn’t sustain itself, according to the meeting minutes. The Conservation District Board thought it could better deliver agriculture and erosion and sediment control service if unencumbered by the county contract.
With a staff of 17, the conservation district’s responsibilities are wide ranging, including enforcing the Clean Streams Law; promoting the development and implementation of conservation and nutrient management plans on farms; reviewing erosion and sediment control plans and conducting erosion and sediment inspections on earth-moving projects; providing environmental education to schools, and administering the West Nile Virus Surveillance program.
State Sen. David Argall brought an official Senate citation. He said progress in improving waterways like the Schuylkill River need local work such as what the conservation district does.
“These are not policies that can be implemented in Washington or Harrisburg. These require experts and volunteers at the local level,” Argall said. “And when I think of the conservation district that is exactly what you are. Congratulations on this historic milestone.”
Scholarships
Among the awards announced Monday, the conservation district awarded more than $20,000 in scholarships, supplemented with scholarships from the Pine Creek Valley Watershed Association. Board President Piper Sherburne thanked Pine Creek for its support and pledged to plant a tree in the Oley area as gesture of appreciation.
Erin Horak, a Conrad Weiser High School graduate who will be attending Penn State Berks to major in biotechnology, received a $10,000 BCCD scholarship and $500 Reading Science Fair award.
Olivia Kardohely, a sophomore at Paul Smith’s College studying wildlife sciences and a Kutztown High School graduate, received a $6,000 BCCD scholarship and a $1,500 scholarship from Pine Creek.
Madison Davidson, a senior at Penn State studying agricultural sciences and a graduate of Schuylkill Valley High School, received $4,000 BCCD scholarship and a $1,500 scholarship from Pine Creek.
Samuel Ruemmler, a freshman at Roger Williams University and Fleetwood High School graduate, received a $1,000 BCCD / John Schueller Scholarship.
Mikayla Traini, a student at Drexel University and graduate of Gov. Mifflin High School, received a $500 BCCD Memorial Endowment Scholarship and $1,500 from Pine Creek. She is studying carbon sequestration of biofouling organisms.