Contact

Clinton County Conservation District
45 Cooperation Lane
Mill Hall, PA 17751

Phone: 570-726-3798
Fax: 570-726-7977 (Fax)

Email: conserve@clintoncountypa.gov

Hours
8:00am - 5:00pm (Mon, Tues, Thurs, Fri)
8:00am - 12:30pm (Wed)

For the hearing impaired, please dial 7-1-1 (PArelay.net)

Conservation District

Font Size: + -

Feedback Print

The Clinton County Conservation District provides quality leadership, education and service for the stewardship and conservation of the county’s natural resources.

Hot off the press

Agri-Brunch Flyer

Conservation District Updates its Strategic Plan and Publishes 2023 Annual Report and Newsletter

The Clinton County Conservation District has updated it Strategic Plan and published it's 2023 Annual Report and 2023 Newsletter. Click on the links below to view each document.

Clinton CD Strategic Plan 2023 -2026

Clinton Cons District Annual Report 2023

Annual Newsletter 2023

If you wish to become a subscriber of our Newsletter, please contact Charly Bloom at CBloom@ClintonCountyPA.gov

Kettle Creek Watershed Association Publishes Newsletter

The Kettle Creek Watershed Association has published its annual newsletter. To read the newsletter, click on the link below. The Kettle Creek Watershed Association is an all-volunteer organization that pledges to enhance, preserve, monitor, protect, and restore Kettle Creek in north central Pennsylvania. The Kettle Creek watershed is in the Deep Valley Section of the Appalachian Plateau physiographic province in northcentral Pennsylvania. At approximately 244 square miles, over 90% of the watershed lies within state forest and state park lands. The main stem of Kettle Creek traverses nearly 43 miles beginning in southwestern Tioga County, flowing through Potter County, and then emptying into the West Branch of the Susquehanna River in northwestern Clinton County. Kettle Creek and its tributaries represent some of the most pristine waters in Pennsylvania.

KCWA 2023 Newsletter

District Teams with PA Fish and Boat and Mill Hall Borough to Begin the Restoration of Fishing Creek

Late in 2022, members of Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission's Stream Habitat Section began discussions with the Conservation District about restoring the section of Fishing Creek that runs through Mill Hall Borough. Despite having excellent water quality, dredging and widening of the stream after the 1972 St. Agnes flood, combined with aggressive de-vegetation of the streambank, resulted in almost total loss of fish habitat and accelerated erosion. In 2023, the District secured $121,000 in grant money through Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection's (DEP) Countywide Action Plan (CAP) funding which was established in 2021 and outlines four priority initiatives to work toward water quality improvements, while also highlighting stream restoration, storm-water management, and agricultural projects. With strong support from Mill Hall Borough Council, a design from Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission and funding from the District through DEP, the restoration began in August of 2023. Our project installed 8 log-faced rock cross-veins and a modified mudsill to stabilize more than 1,800 feet of stream-bank. These structures both reduce accelerated erosion while simultaneously enhancing fish habitat. Phase 2 of the project is set for 2024.

To Get a Bird's Eye View of the Project, click on the video link: Fishing Creek Project Aerial View

Pictured above are modified mud-sills placed behind the Mill Hall Volunteer Fire Station. Below is an aerial view of Fishing Creek after the placement of the in-stream structures.

Fishing Creek

The District Partners with U.S. Fish and Wildlife and a Landowner to Address Stream-bank Erosion

RIMG2343

During the last week of May, the Clinton County Conservation District and the US Fish and Wildlife Service worked to install Modified Mudsills to an eroding streambank in the Fishing Creek Watershed near Lamar. These mudsills will work to stabilize and protect the streambank, prevent pollutants like sediment from entering the watershed, and provide habitat and cover for cold-water species of fish such as trout. The funding for the project was provided through the Department of Environmental Protection.

Follow the link below to watch a time-lapse video of the installation of the project. Installing Mudsills

Kettle Creek Project Featured by the PA DCNR

Screenshot 2023-06-15 105955

In celebration of Rivers Month, the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources has decided to spotlight Kettle Creek and the project that the Conservation District helped get funded and installed. Last September, The Kettle Creek Watershed Association, along with the Clinton County Conservation District and TU installed close to 400 feet of modified mudsill along Kettle Creek. This project helped to improve fishing access, and will ultimately provide cold-water fishes with better habitat and cleaner water. This project is estimated to eliminate close to 20 tons of sediment per year to the watershed.

Conservation District Receives Community Foundation Grants

The Clinton County Conservation District recently received news that it had been awarded two grants from the Clinton County Community Foundation in 2024.

A $1,500 grant was secured to plant a 30-foot by 40-foot no-till garden at the Sugar Valley Rural Charter School which will be fully incorporated into their education and classroom programs. Students will team with staff from the Conservation District to prepare, plant and maintain the garden as well as harvest the produce. The school cafeteria will utilize the produce from the garden and have a “homegrown” option for the children to eat at school and the school will initiate public outreach programs and use some of the produce from the garden in classes offered to the public throughout the summer that will teach members of the community how to cook and preserve the harvest.

Students will also use funds to plant a native plant garden to support pollinators. These strategically positioned native plant areas will serve to both pollinate the no-till garden, thereby, increasing its yield, and to emphasize the importance of those plants to students through lesson plans and through public programming (photo above: monarch caterpillar)

The second grant was secured in the amount of $1,500 to help support the Conservation District's annual Farm-City Event, which saw over 400 county residents in 2023. The event celebrates agriculture’s relationship to its urban neighbors in creating stronger and healthier communities.

Both grants will help support the Conservation District's mission and reach it's goals for 2024.

HELP FOR LOCAL FARMERS - APPLICATIONS BEING ACCEPTED.

ACAP

Are you a farmer in need of manure storage? Are you interested in installing streambank fencing and a low water crossing in your pasture? Do you need a grazing plan? Do you have an un-vegetated heavy use area that need addressed? The new Agricultural Conservation Assistance Program (ACAP) has been established to provide financial assistance to help you implement these practices. The Program’s goal is to keep soils and nutrients on your land and out of Pennsylvania waterways.

Although it is a state-wide program, ACAP will be carried out locally by the Clinton County Conservation District. The District will be receiving $932,533 in ACAP funds over the next 5 years to support local farmers. All interested participants will be required to fill out an application and submit it to District in order to be considered for funding.

The District will be accepting applications between now and March 24^th for those wishing to apply. Applications are available at the District office (45 Cooperation Lane Mill Hall, PA 17751). Each application will undergo a quarterly ranking process carried out by the ACAP advisory committee. The ACAP advisory committee is made up of conservation professionals specializing in agricultural operations. Ranking criteria will be based upon greatest environmental resource concerns and farmer needs.

In order to be eligible for funding, your agricultural operation must be in compliance with Pennsylvania state agricultural planning requirements. Please contact the District for an application or if you need assistance updating your Manure Management or Agricultural Erosion & Sedimentation plans.

For more information, please contact the Clinton County Conservation District at 570-726-3798.

TEAMING UP TO HELP KETTLE CREEK

Kettle Creek Stream Restore

A 2017 bank pin study determined stream bank in this section of Kettle Creek was being lost at a rate of approximately two feet per year.

To end the erosion, mudsill structures and root ball deflectors were installed along 400 feet of stream, the bank was regraded and approximately 350 trees covering more than an acre were planted to stabilize the reconstructed bank and channel, slow water velocity, and allow floodplain access. Invasive shrubs were also removed as part of the project.

An estimated 17 tons of sediment per year will be reduced and this section of stream will provide much needed habitat for trout and other aquatic species.

Project partners included the Clinton County Conservation District, Kettle Creek Watershed Association, Native Creations, Lucky 7 Hunting Club, and the Kettle Creek/Tamarack Sportsman’s Club.

In addition to the project partners listed above, funding was provided by by DCNR through the Community Conservation Partnerships Program and by the Pennsylvania Coldwater Heritage Partnership, which is a collaborative effort between DEP, the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, the Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission (PFBC), the Pennsylvania Council of Trout Unlimited, and the Foundation for Pennsylvania Watersheds.

Be-on-the-Lookout: AVIAN FLU HITS PENNSYLVANIA

The highly contagious and deadly avian influenza has been detected in Pennsylvania and is an urgent, high-level threat to Pennsylvania’s poultry farmers. Known outbreaks have been identified in both Lancaster (April) and Berks (May) counties.

Avian influenza, commonly known as “bird flu,” is caused by an influenza type A virus. Avian influenza viruses occur naturally in wild birds, especially waterfowl and shore or wading birds. Wild bird species (such as ducks and geese) can carry and spread Avian Influenza viruses without becoming ill. However, in recent months certain types of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza viruses have been affecting the wild waterfowl as well as domestic poultry species. Avian influenza in birds is very contagious and can cause serious disease and high mortality in domestic poultry such as chickens, quail, pheasants, guinea fowl and turkeys.

State, federal and county government, as well as private poultry industry representatives, remain on high alert and are taking strict measures to protect Pennsylvania’s poultry industry.

If you see any sudden increase in bird deaths in your flock; signs of sneezing, gasping for air, coughing, and nasal discharge; watery and green diarrhea; lack of energy and poor appetite; a drop in egg production or soft- or thin-shelled, misshapen eggs; swelling around the eyes, neck, and head of your birds; purple discoloration of the wattles, comb, and legs; or ruffed feathers, listlessness, or lethargy: call the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture Hotline immediately! There is no penalty for calling and testing for surveillance is free. Do not move the birds. The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture emergency number is 717-772-2852 (press option 1 to reach the veterinarian on call).

For more information on recommended biosecurity as well as avian influenza, click on the following attachments.

Poultry Biosecurity

Avian Flu

AMERICORPS SENIORS / CONSERVATION DISTRICT PARTNERSHIP

Late in 2021, AmeriCorps Seniors, Diakon Community Services and the Clinton County Conservation District unveiled a new 3-year partnership that strengthens the District’s ability to provide services to residents of Clinton County and also offers local seniors the ability to help protect the county’s natural resources. That partnership was in full swing in this year.

In 2022, nine volunteers donated more than 300 hours assisting the District with administrative tasks, staffing informational booths at the County Fair, Earth Day, the Best of Clinton County and the Labor Day Regatta. AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers also assisted with tree plantings, fish stocking, maintaining a community garden from which the harvest went to a local food pantry and provided support to the District’s tree sale.

For more information, check out the article below!

A Partnership in Conservation

Help your Streams and County- Become a Volunteer!

The Middle Susquehanna Riverkeeper Association Inc. and the Alliance for Aquatic Resource Monitoring (ALLARM) are looking for volunteers to help with monthly water quality monitoring in Lycoming and Clinton Counties. All training and equipment is included for those who are willing to commit to the program. If you are interested in becoming part of the volunteer Monitoring Team, follow the link below and fill out the quick interest form!

Lycoming & Clinton County Stream Teams Interest Form

View the attachments to learn more!

Stream Team Fact Sheet

Lycoming-Clinton Stream Team

google-update

CONSERVATION DISTRICT BOARD MEETING

Board-meeting

Board Meeting, THURSDAY,NOVEMBER 21, 2024 @ 3:00PM

This meeting will be held via zoom and in-person at the Mary Ann Bower Learning Center (45 Cooperation Lane, Mill Hall, PA 17751). For more information, call us at 570-726-3798. The meeting Agenda can be viewed by following the link below.

11-November Agenda(NEW)

facebook-transparent-like-us-31