The latest Watershed Winds newsletter from Penn State Extension includes articles on a wide variety of topics-- on-lot septic system maintenance, tree planting checklist for youth, choose native workshops and much more.

Homeowner Perspectives Needed - Septic Systems

Penn State Extension is looking for input from septic system users in Pennsylvania to identify barriers to maintenance of on-lot septic systems.

Many residents in Pennsylvania rely on on-lot septic systems as a way to treat the wastewater coming from their home.

The Penn State Extension Water Team is recruiting Pennsylvania residents who use on-lot septic systems for domestic sewage disposal for a survey study.

The goal of the study is to characterize user practices for care and maintenance of septic systems and to identify existing needs in Pennsylvania.

If you are a septic system user, please complete this 2-minute recruitment survey to let us know of your interest and to see if you qualify for the study.

At the end of the study, some respondents will be selected for a free well water testing.

Click Here for more information.

Tree Planting Checklist For Youth

This checklist will help you think through the steps needed to have a successful tree-planting event and healthy trees for many years to come. Work through these items with your teacher, club leader, or other guiding adult.

Click Here to learn more.

Green Infrastructure Training

Chesapeake Bay Landscape Professional (CBLP) Level 1 training and certification will take place this winter across the mid-Atlantic region. Learn how to design, install, and maintain sustainable landscapes and green stormwater systems.

Click Here for the details.

Choose Native Plant Workshops

Professional landscapers and water gardeners are invited to register for one of three regional workshops in Erie, Pittsburgh and Philadelphia focused on replacing invasive species in landscaping and water gardens with those native to Pennsylvania.

The March 2024 Choose Native workshops are free, and continuing education credits are available.

Click Here to register for the workshops.

More Education Opportunities

-- January 29: Water Cooler Talk: Green Infrastructure and Salty Stormwater Webinar

-- February 27 - March 12:  Backyard Stream Repair Webinar Series

-- Multiple Opportunities: Information Sessions On Becoming A Master Watershed Steward

Click Here to read the entire Watershed Winds newsletter.  Click Here to sign up for your own copy (bottom of page).

Related Articles - Watersheds:

-- Game Commission: Howard Nursery Seedling Sale Accepting Orders; Seedlings For Schools Program Ordering Begins Feb. 5  [PaEN]

-- PA Interfaith Power & Light, Chesapeake Bay Foundation Offering Free Native Trees & Shrubs To Plant This Spring Anywhere In PA [PaEN]

-- DCNR Begins Accepting Community Conservation Partnership Grant Applications Jan. 16; Snowmobile/ATV Grants Feb. 1 [PaEN]

-- CFA Begins Accepting Applications For Act 13 Watershed Restoration, Mine Reclamation, Sewage, Flood Mitigation, Recreation Grants Feb. 1 [PaEN]

Related Articles This Week:

-- Apply Now For Schuylkill River Restoration Fund Grants, Deadline Feb. 15  [PaEN]

-- From Trees To Teaching, Master Watershed Steward Cindy Pizziketti Makes A Difference In York County; Sign Up Now For Master Steward Spring Training  [PaEN]

-- DEP Awards $101.1 Million In Federally-Funded Grants To Support Local Abandoned Mine-Related Restoration; Deadline For Next Round Of Grants Feb. 19  [PaEN]

-- Trout Unlimited: Bipartisan Abandoned Mine Cleanup 'Good Samaritan' Bill Reported Unanimously From US Senate Committee  [PaEN]

-- CFA Approves $27 Million In Watershed, Recreation Projects Funded By Act 13 Drilling Impact Fees; Fees Dropping $104 Million In 2024; New Grant Round Opening  [PaEN]

-- Agenda Announced!  Interfaith Partners For The Chesapeake Bay Faith & Waters Restoration Summit Feb. 19  [PaEN]

-- Registration Open For March 23 Watershed Congress At Montgomery County Community College; Call For Presenters  [PaEN]

-- 2024 Woodland Owners Conference Set For Feb. 10 In Clarion  [PaEN]

-- PA Organization For Watersheds & Rivers Hosts Feb. 6 Webinar On Creating Stronger Connections: A Communication Best Practices Workshop  [PaEN]

-- DEP Releases Final Guidance On Environmental Considerations In Using Trenchless Technology To Construct Natural Gas, Other Pipelines  [PaEN]

-- Susquehanna River Basin Commission Sets Feb. 1 Hearing On Water Withdrawal Requests, Including 8 Related To Shale Gas Development; And On Cooperative Fish Nursery General Permit  [PaEN]

-- DEP Sets Feb. 21 Meeting/Hearing On Proposed Expansion Of Pierson Rheems Quarry In Donegal Creek Watershed, Lancaster County  [PaEN]

-- Penn State Extension: Homeowner Perspectives Needed For On-Lot Septic System Maintenance Survey; More!  [PaEN]

-- Berks County-based Rodale Institute, Propagate Ag Design, Implementation Firm Form Partnership To Grow Adoption Of Agroforestry  [PaEN]

-- PA Cong. Thompson, Deluzio Introduce Bipartisan Bill To Provide Flexibility To States Implementing The Federal Conventional Orphan Oil & Gas Well Plugging Program  [PaEN]

-- Help Wanted: Sign-Up Begins Jan. 29 For Pittsburgh-based Landforce Crew Member Workforce Training Program; Projects Also Wanted  [PaEN]

[Posted: January 18, 2024]

1/22/2024