The bucolic rolling hills, wandering waterways and abundant natural resources of Greene County are part of the rural charm that has attracted settlers and visitors to the area for centuries. The Greene County Conservation District’s mission is the protection, stewardship, and conservation of those natural resources and to ensure a wise balance between environmental protection and the needs and desires of county landowners.
The District serves the public trust, promotes awareness of conservation practices, offers technical assistance to landowners and municipalities and offer a first-line assessment of environmental complaints. The Board of Directors and staff work diligently and thoughtfully to promote and protect a diverse range of natural resources within the County. The core value of the District is that conservation works best when the people living and working in the area come together to collectively manage their natural resources. Partnerships created through this core value bring diversity to the conversation and decision-making process.
“We are not an ‘environmentalist organization’ but instead a conservation-lead organization. Our office is here to assist landowners, educators, political leaders and construction companies in making wise land-use decisions,” says Lisa Snider, district director. “We are connected with many different organizations and can help find an expert to guide and assist with projects be they a farm project, stream project, school project, construction project, bridges and ponds or anything that is related to soil and water concerns.”
“Our department is proud of the positive and helpful staff that guides Greene County citizens. We are here to help in any way we possibly can,” Lisa adds. “We are also tremendously proud of the only program in the state that gives back to the taxpayers in the form of best management practices for farming operations. The program is GRACE and is the highlight of our past three years of work.”
Greene County’s Reinvestment in Agriculture: Cost Share Enhancement Program (GRACE) is a conservation-based cost-share program designed to enhance soil health within the agriculture community. Active farmers, farmers that rent or new farmers with animals may apply for livestock conservation fencing, lime, water development projects and fertilizer. The program also funds various forestry practices, such as invasive species control, planning and planting. It is the goal of the Conservation District to apply funds received from Act 13 the oil and gas “Impact Fee”, back to the land that has been impacted by oil and gas development.
FMI on the Greene County Conservation District and GRACE Program, call 724-852-5278 or visit www.co.greene.pa.us.