The DCNR Conservation and Natural Resources Advisory Council is scheduled to meet on March 26 to hear updates on the Chesapeake Bay Program and the state budget.

Matt Keefer, Assistant Director of the Bureau of Forest and Jill Whitcomb, Acting DEP Deputy Secretary for Water Management, and Doug Wolfgang, Executive Secretary of the State Conservation Commission will provide the update on the Chesapeake Bay Program.

Mike Walsh, DCNR Deputy Secretary for Administrative Services, will provide the update on the state budget.

Cindy Adams Dunn, Secretary of DCNR, will provide a general update on agency activities.

Click Here for the full agenda.  Click Here to sign up for email updates on Council activities.

Public Comments

If you would like to share a public comment during the CNRAC meeting, please contact cnrac-admin@growconservation.com  by close of business on March 25.

Joining The Meeting

The meeting will be held in Room 105 of the Rachel Carson Building from 10:00 a.m. to Noon.  Click Here to register to join the meeting online.

Visit DCNR’s Conservation and Natural Resources Advisory Council webpage for more information on Council activities.  Questions should be directed to: cnrac-admin@growconservation.com.

Visit Explore PA Trails and Get Outdoors PA for recreation areas near you.

Visit the PA Parks & Forests Foundation’s Events webpage and DCNR’s Calendar of Events for activities happening near you.

For more information on state parks and forests and recreation in Pennsylvania, visit DCNR’s website.

Related Articles:

-- With Some Federal Recreation Facilities Closed Due To Staff, Funding Cuts, DCNR Encourages Pennsylvanians To Explore Options At State Parks, Forests  [PaEN]

-- DCNR Conservation & Natural Resources Advisory Council To Hear Update On State Budget, Chesapeake Bay Program March 26  [PaEN]

-- DCNR Unveils New Forests For All Plan To Connect People To Pennsylvania’s Forests And More Outdoor Recreation Opportunities

-- DCNR Grants News: Grants Director Tom Ford Retires; Mapping For Meaningful Outreach; Last Call For Grant Applications

-- DCNR State Parks Environmental Ed Newsletter Blooming With Spring Teaching Ideas, Exploring Outdoors, Educator Workshops  [PaEN]

-- DCNR: Pennsylvania Outdoor Corps Creating Job Training, Conservation Opportunities For More Young People

-- Lancaster Conservancy Now Accepting Applications For Susquehanna Riverlands Conservation Landscape Mini-Grants  [PaEN]

-- Natural Lands Preserves 2 Forested Properties Totaling 151 Acres In Berks, Lancaster, Lebanon Counties  [PaEN]

NewsClips:

-- PennLive Letter: Where Did $100 Million In State Conservation Funds Go? - By Richard Martin, PA Forest Coalition

-- Inquirer - Frank Kummer: $1.8 Million Federal Grant To North American Land Trust To Help Preserve Historic Farm In Chester County

-- DCNR Trails Advisory Committee To Hold Public Forums April 10 On Trails In And Around Centre County, Boalsburg, 3:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m.

-- Tribune-Democrat: Cambria County Brush Fires Keep Crews Busy

-- KDKA: Washington County Fire Chiefs Asking People To Avoid Burning Amid Increased Fire Risk

-- WVIA: Maple Farmers Celebrate Nearly 190 Years Of PA Agriculture As Possible State Funding Boost Looms

-- Tribune-Democrat: Long Timeline Ahead To Revitalize Struggling Tree Areas At Flight 93 National Memorial

-- Registration Open!  PA Interfaith Power & Light May 1 to 31 Caring For Every Body Moving Through Nature Bike & Hike

-- Friends Of Drake Well: Registration Open For May 17 Oil Creek 5 & 13 Stacked Trail Races In Crawford County 

-- Wilkes-Barre Times: Thursday Public Meeting Will Outline Oliver Mills To Mountain Top D&L Trail Segment Project

-- Inquirer: An Invitation To Walk 100 Miles Around Perimeter Of Philadelphia Combines Lessons In Ecology, Infrastructure, Civis, History

-- Lehigh Valley’s Wildlands Conservancy Highlights April Educational Programs; Tree Planting; Hikes; Summer Camps

-- PittsburghUnionProgress.com: It’s Spring!  Enjoy The Outdoors And Learn Too With Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy Activities, Events

-- LancasterOnline: 10 Spring Wildflowers To Find And 2 To Avoid In Lancaster County

-- PA Wilds Artisan Collaborative to Hold Pre-Launch Celebration In Saint Marys, Elk County On April 8

-- Warren Times: PA Wilds Ends Wilds Are Working - A Remote Lifestyle Experience Program Having Introduced 27 Remote Workers To Life In PA Wilds

-- Wilkes-Barre Times: Thursday Public Meeting Will Outline Oliver Mills To Mountain Top D&L Trail Segment Project

-- Inquirer: 425+ Campsites Across PA Are Closed Indefinitely Due To Federal Cuts At Raystown Lake, Seven Points, Susquehannock, Nancy’s Boat-to-Shore Campgrounds, Tompkins Campground on Tioga-Hammond and Cowanesque Lakes

-- LancasterOnline: Raystown Lake Federal Recreation Area Campgrounds To Close Due To Federal Hiring Freeze In Huntingdon County 

-- Altoona Mirror: Part Of Raystown Lake Federal Recreation Area Camps To Close Due To Staff Cuts 

-- Post-Gazette Guest Essay: Our National Parks Are National Treasurers DOGE Must Not Cut - By John Plonski

[Posted: March 17, 2025]

3/24/2025