Penn Soil RC&D Council: 60 Years of Bringing The Pieces Together

For Community Improvements!

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Penn Soil Resource Conservation & Development (RC&D) Council is a registered 501(C)3 not-for-profit organization formed in 1964, serving the residents of eight northwestern Pennsylvania counties including Clarion, Crawford, Erie, Forest, Lawrence, Mercer, Venango and Warren. Penn Soil RC&D Council actively seeks and manages grants for projects proposed by local communities and organizations which are consistent with the RC&D mission. Primarily, we provide assistance to community groups pursuing projects in one of four elements of our Strategic Area Plan: Community Development, Water Management, Land Management, and Land Conservation.

Financial and technical assistance provided by Penn Soil RC&D Council may include assisting a group to develop project plans, implement fundraising plans, developing and managing grant proposals, facilitating contractual arrangements, creating an escrow fund to hold and maintain funds raised by partner groups or contributing donors for the purpose of supporting an event or project. We also act as a fiscal agent for groups that do not have a 501(c)3 designation, such as The Toy Shoppe of Warren, The Allegheny Outdoor Club, and most recently the Girl Scouts of Western Pennsylvania - Kinzua Country Service Unit 3628 (Warren Co.), The Kinzua Heritage Festival and the Allegheny Greenhouse senior volunteer group.

Penn Soil RC&D has operated as a true stand-alone charitable organization since losing federal funding through the USDA in 2011. Since that time, Penn Soil has been able to remain afloat without any constant, direct funding sources. Raising money through writing grants for proposed projects and soliciting donations are our main funding sources to currently pay two part-time, Co-Executive Directors (one of whom is getting ready to retire in the next year while training the new, incoming Executive Director) and pay a part-time office assistant AND fund all of the projects that we have made possible in an 8 County region! Since 2011, Penn Soil has secured over 4.3 million dollars in grants and donations and has leveraged that funding to support projects at a ratio of 10:1 compared to our annual administrative budget! Penn Soil RC&D has had an influx of requests for assistance from many groups and organizations over the last 6 months. We have several new community projects in the works already and are quickly reaching our capacity of how many projects we can plan, write grants for and manage with two part-time Co-Executive Directors during this transition phase, which will soon be down to one part-time Executive Director.

The Storywalk Trail Toy Shoppe 25th Anniversary Float New & Beginning Farmer Outreach

Some of the dozens of projects that Penn Soil RC&D has been a sponsor or partner of include:

Two Mile Run Dam project that created Justus Lake in Venango Co.
Two Mile Run Park Nature Lodge Accessibility project, Venango Co.
Clarion River Canoe Access project in Forest Co.
Creating a Value-Added Dairy program offering cheese making classes in several counties
Tionesta Public Boat Launch in Forest Co.
The Storywalk Trail at Chapman State Park, Warren Co.
Akeley Swamp Water Control Structure, Warren Co.
Allegheny Geo Trail Project in 10 counties in PA
Amish Gray Water Treatment System Research Project
180 Rural PA Dry Fire Hydrants installed statewide
Bollinger Enterprises Concession Stand project at Chapman State Park
9 years of coordinating the Nature Art Showcase and Sale in Franklin, PA in conjunction with Franklin On Ice, Venango County
Big Bend Bird Viewing Platform and ADA compliant Big Bend Riverside Watchable Wildlife Trail Paving project, Warren Co.
Bevington Boat Launch Access Area on Beaver River in Lawrence Co.
Conewango Creek & Allegheny River Cleanups, Warren Co.
Sponsoring & winning the Allegheny River as PA River of the Year 2017 designation and providing 13 mini-grants to multiple counties for community projects
Chandlers Valley Community Assoc. Dam Repair project, Warren Co.
Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) Outreach project, Area Wide
Energy Harvest Solar Powered Water Pumping project for intensive grazing
Alternative Energy Education for Erie County Envirothon
Fuels for Schools Educational Program at Edinboro Energy Fair, Area Wide
Hosting Geo Woodstock IX Event bringing 5,000 visitors to Northwest PA in 2011
Tionesta Handicapped Accessible Fishing Pier in Forest Co.
Tionesta Beach Recreation Area Improvement project, Forest Co.
Local Agriculture as An Integrating Concept Educational Project, Warren Co.
Meadville Market House, Crawford Co.
Tionesta Valley Snowmobile Club Trail Grooming Equipment project, Forest & Warren, Co.
Morrison Trail Improvement Project, Warren Co.
Kellettville Re-Route of the North Country Trail project in Forest Co.
Lowlands Trail North County Trail Connector project, Chapman State Park, Warren, Co.
Northwest PA Nutrient Reduction Demonstration project, Area Wide
PA Wilds Trail Conference, Area wide
Kinzua Beach Pathways project on the Allegheny Reservoir, Warren Co.
Northwest PA Project Grass initiative and field days, Area Wide
5-year research project with the USDA and Michigan State University's Forest Carbon and Climate Program team to analyze ecosystem services management options as it pertains to carbon sequestration and climate change
Tri-State Poultry Assoc. Exhibit, NWPA, NEOH, & WNY
Upper Shenango River Water Trail Project, Mercer Co.
On-Farm trials of Warm Season Grass Varieties, Area Wide
Numerous projects at the PA Fish and Boat Tionesta Fish Hatchery, Forest Co.
Erie Bluffs State Park Trail Improvement project, Erie Co.
Pennsylvania Crude, Boomtowns and Oil Barons Book publishing
Hatch Run Conservation Demonstration Area improvements, Warren Co.
New and Beginning Farmer's and Women in Agriculture project working in conjunction with multiple county NRCS and Conservation District offices and staff
Outdoor Safety Day program to rotate around at least 9 Northwest PA counties
Many years of organizing Warren Co. Winterfest at Chapman State Park, Warren Co.
DRINC - an EPA grant project to address water treatment concerns in Fryburg, Pa, Clarion Co.
Adding value to local switch grass production technology project, Area Wide
and many, many, MANY more!!

From top left: New mobile switch grass poultry bedding production technology, Big Bend Bird Viewing Platform, Nature Art Showcase and Sale, Dry Hydrant, Erie Bluffs State Park Trail Improvements, one of the numerous cheese-making classes, Meadville Market House and the Polar Plunge at Warren Co. Winterfest.

River of the Year:

Some of you might remember back in 2017, that the Allegheny River won the designation of PA River of the Year, for the first time. What you probably don’t know or remember, is that Penn Soil RC&D was the sponsoring organization of that 8 county-wide effort! Here is a breakdown of the innovative approach Penn Soil RC&D used to get the most bang for our buck with the $10,000 grant that came with winning that honor to promote the northwest region of Pennsylvania and the Allegheny River. This is an impactful example of how Penn Soil stretches donation and grant dollars to the MAX when planning projects, organizing events or educational outreach!

Since Penn Soil RC&D had previously been involved in supporting the Conewango Creek Watershed Association efforts which resulted in their successful nomination of the Conewango Creek as the 2015 PA River of the Year, we had a good idea of what was involved in carrying out not only the successful campaign for River of the Year, but also in managing the River of the Year Celebration.

It was decided that dividing up the $10,000 grant award into mini-grants, which were offered to the 8-county region, would increase the number of events and organizations that could reap the benefits of this award. As a result, 12 proposals by local organizations and municipalities were submitted for consideration for a $500 mini-grant. 11 of them fit nicely with the parameters of the original DCNR River of the Year grant, thus receiving a $500 award!!

The impact that this $10,000 grant made in our area is substantial! With the support of the great partnerships we developed, we were able to host or co-host a total of 24 separate days or events focused on the Allegheny River. These events attracted 1560 participants which included water safety training, education about water quality and other benefits of the river to the communities, individuals donating their time to plant riparian buffer trees and helping to clean up the rivers by removing a total of 449 abandoned tires, 105 cubic yards of trash, and 5,350 pounds of recyclable metal and steel to improve water quality, public safety, and the overall health of the river!

A total of 3046 hours of volunteer time was reported for all River of the Year Celebration events. Combining the value of volunteer time and cash & donated services by other event partners, the $10,000 DCNR 2017 PA River of the Year Leadership grant generated a total of $92,337.40 in Cash & In-Kind match to help bring awareness and stewardship of the Allegheny River to western Pennsylvania!

Those events included:

Eagle Watch Event at the Big Bend Recreation Area – This event attracted 200 participants to view a stretch of the Allegheny River that sees a dramatic increase in eagles fishing the open waters below the Kinzua Dam since it does not freeze over the
winter.
Allegheny College Creek Connections Symposium – 352 students & teachers from 40 different schools attended this event which emphasized hands-on, inquiry-based investigation of local waterways.
Warren Conservation District Annual Meeting
Allegheny Reservoir Cleanup – 92 volunteers volunteered 736 hours, picked up 352 tires and 55 cubic yards of trash.
Kayak Safety Instruction Event – 8 volunteers participated in a 6-hour training course.

Council on Greenways & Trails Award Program – Awards were focused on those outstanding projects, persons, or organizations with project results along the Allegheny River in Clarion or Venango Counties. A local historian presented a program entitled “How the Allegheny River Shaped Human History” and a Serviceberry tree was planted along the bank of the Allegheny River.
River Flowing North Event – This event included information on water quality testing & river life, learning about riverside tree & shrub species, fly fishing & casting, as well as riparian tree planting for river health. A canoe/kayak paddle and river cleanup were also part of the day’s festivities.
East Brady Allegheny River Mural Dedication – The old town slogan of “Playground of the Allegheny” was resurrected as the theme of a mural unveiled in downtown East Brady which was attended by 150 people. The mural showcases four seasons of outdoor recreation including motor boating, kayaking, wake boarding, water skiing, fishing, snow skiing, hunting and bicycling taking place on this famous bend in the Allegheny River.
Allegheny Wilderness Sojourn – A 3-day, 26-mile paddle down the Allegheny River included a lot of education and the option to enjoy primitive camping for a night on a Wilderness designated island. 80 people attended this event, either for 1 day or up to all 3 days, which also included an inside tour of the Kinzua Dam facilities.

Emlenton Anything That Floats Race – Participants and onlookers enjoyed a day of fun on the Allegheny River as paddlers navigated their home-made boats down a 5-mile stretch of the river!
Upper Allegheny Watershed Association Cleanup – 20 volunteers collected 2 tires and 5 cubic yards of trash off the Allegheny River from Burtville to Port Allegany, PA covering 5.6 miles.
Allegheny Valley Conservancy River Cleanup – 20 volunteers collected 10 cubic yards of trash off the Allegheny River from the Oil City Marina to Franklin covering six miles.

Allegheny River Cleanup in Warren & Forest County – 317 volunteers, 1268 volunteer hours over 10 days, cleaning the Allegheny River, the Conewango Creek & the Brokenstraw Creek, removing 94 tires, 5350 lbs. of recyclable metals & 35 cubic yards of trash!!
Art on the Allegheny Event – This event allowed the public to witness artists creating river themed art in real time on the banks of the Allegheny while demonstrating plein air painting. For folks who are physically unable to participate in boating and fishing, the event provided a wonderful opportunity to make a personal connection with the River of the Year through their appreciation of beautiful artwork and a day of relaxation by the river listening to live musical performances. 57 people attended the day’s festivities.

Tri-Anglers Celebration - The event was held along the Three Rivers Heritage Trail next to the Roberto Clemente Bridge along the Allegheny River in Pittsburgh on September 27, 2017. Thirty-seven people participated in the River of the Year Celebration which featured fishing lessons, live music, awards, and distribution of River of the Year posters and brochures.
Three Rivers Quest Stakeholders Meeting - The Upper Allegheny Watershed Association and the God’s Country Chapter of Trout Unlimited participate, held a stakeholder’s meeting at the Kinzua Bridge State Park Visitors Center and provided an educational program outlining their water quality monitoring program and sharing some of their findings.

Growing Your Community Connections

By Penn Soil RC&D Council

Growing Your Community Connections

Giving Tuesday kicks off our first year- end fundraiser!