The purpose of the Washington County Conservation District is to preserve our county's soil, water and related natural resources by avoiding practices contributing to soil wastage and soil erosion. We communicate with our partner conservation organizations to identify ways to achieve goals and enhance success towards sustainable natural resource management. Through the District we help local citizens manage these important resources by demonstrating proper farm practices, surveying potential land disturbances, issuing permits, and following regulations. The Washington County Conservation District continues to manage and offer programs to serve our community.
History
Washington County Conservation District was declared by the board of County Commissioners on March 25, 1947 under Act 217 and began operations on February 19, 1948. The District is a subdivision of state government funded by the combination of state, county, and District funds. The main objective in the early years of the District was to assist farmers with their land use problems. Since the early 1950's the District has been actively involved in a variety of projects.
Timeline:
1947 - The first board of directors are Edwin F. Carl, Harry Hank, Linsey Gillis, J. Nelan, and Francis Pettit.
1958 - The District became the sponsor of the first PL - 566 watershed project in Harmon Creek. This was followed by Wheeling Creek and Cross Creek.
1963 - Jay Weaver of the Soil Conservation Service came to Washington County to begin surveying the soils of the entire county.
1968 - R. L. Adamson became president of the State Association of Conservation District Directors.
1971 - The District started to publish a newsletter called Tomorrow. The newsletter came on a bimonthly basis.
1972 - Paul Onopiuk was hired as the first Executive Assistant.
1973 - The District office moved from 27 Highland Avenue to 37 Highland Avenue.
1974 - The District was authorized the duty of inspection under Chapter 102 of the Clean Streams Law.
- The District participated in the Last Acre Ceremony which signified the complete soil mapping of 548,480 acres, the entire county of Washington.
- Construction began on the first flood control dam to be built in Pennsylvania on the Wheeling Creek Watershed.
1976 - The Tomorrow newsletter placed third in the National Newsletter Contest with a $150 prize. In 1977 the Tomorrow moved to second place with a cash prize of $300.
- John Paxton took over as Executive Coordinator
1977 - The District hosted a ground breaking ceremony on the Cross Creek Watershed.
1980 - The District office changed its location to 602 Courthouse Square.
- Jean Toporcer took over as Executive Assistant
1982 - The Washington County Groundwater Study was undertaken by USGS.
- Cross Creek Lake was constructed
1983 - Gary Stokum was hired as the first full time E&S Technician.
1984 - The first office computer was purchased by the District.
- The first Youth Conservation Camp is held
1985 - The first Conservation 10K run was held at Mingo Park.
- Cokeburg Community Park is honored as the first Penn's Corner Resource Conservation and Development project.
- The District became involved with the Washington County Youth Conservation Camp.
1986 - The final flood control dam on Wheeling Creek in Pennsylvania gets underway.
- The first County Envir-Olympics (later named the Envirothon) is held at Cross Creek Park.
- The Western Pennsylvania Coalition for Abandoned Mine Reclamation (WPCAMR) is created.
1987 - Project Learning Tree and the Sportsmen's Show begin.
1988 - Flood Control project on Enlow Fork is dedicated.
- Ag Days begins
1989 - State Conservationist Richard Duncan tours Washington County and participates in the Ceder Grove groundbreaking ceremony.
- The Environmental Shopper Program is adopted by Foodland Stores, and wins the Take Pride in Pennsylvania award.
1990 - The District participated in the Washington County Earth Day Coalition
- The staff increases to four with the hiring of an Environmental Education/Gypsy Moth Coordinator.
1991 - The District wins the Take Pride in PA award for Youth Conservation Camp.
- First used oil collection undertaken as part of Earth Day Celebration.
1993 - The first no-till seeder was purchased and the District began a rental program.
1994 - The Farmland Preservation Program was adopted by the county.
- Nutrient Management study undertaken in the Pigeon Creek watershed, the Raccoon Creek watershed, and the Cross Creek watershed.
- Received Groundwater Organization of the Year award from PACD.
1995 - The first full time Nutrient Management Specialist was hired.
- The first Children's Groundwater Festival was held at California University of PA. Approximately 1,000 sixth grade students attended.
- McGuffey School District develops a nature trail with assistance from the District.
1996 - The Farmland Preservation Program moves to the Planning Commission.
- 319 Grant monies were orchestrated by the District to fund a Project Grass Coordinator for the fifteen county area.
1997 - The District won the state Goodyear Award.
- The Dirt and Gravel Road program began.
- The District celebrated 50 years of service.
1998 - The Washington County Watershed Alliance was formed
- The Raccoon Creek Watershed Association was formed
- Hired a second Erosion and Sedimentation Technician, John Casagranda.
1999 - Langeloth Borehole, located in Smith Twp. in the Raccoon Creek watershed, is the first Abandoned Mine Drainage system built.
2000 - District opens separate Ag office located with USDA offices in the Meadowlands.
- Raccoon Creek AMD survey and restoration plan is completed by Skelly and Loy.
- The District hires its first Watershed Specialist, Steve Carbol
2002 - The Chartiers Creek River Conservation Plan is completed by Skelly and Loy.
2003 - The Hamilton AMD treatment system, located in Findley Twp, Allegheny County, in the Raccoon Creek watershed is completed.
- The Cross Creek watershed assessment is completed by Skelly and Loy.
2004 - JB#2 AMD treatment system, located in Smith Twp. in the Raccoon Creek watershed, is built.
2005 - The Buffalo Creek Watershed Assessment and Restoration Plan is completed by the Western PA Conservancy.
2006 - A study and proposed treatment system for the major discharges in the Raccoon Creek watershed is performed by Biomost.
2007 - The District hosted the statewide Project Grass Conference.
- The Canonsburg Lake Master Site Plan for Recreational Improvements is completed.
2008 - A stream restoration project is completed on Cross Creek at the site of the historic Meadowcroft Rockshelter.
- WCCD website created.
2009 - 40th Anniversary of the "Tomorrow" Newsletter.
- Peters Creek Watershed and Cross Creek Watershed Assessments Completed.
2010 - 1st ESCGP-1 (Erosion & Sedimentation Control General Permit) for the Oil & Gas industry was issued.
- Canonsburg Lake, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers 206 Plan completed.
2011 - Ten Mile Watershed Association and the Upper Wheeling Creek Watershed Association were formed.
- The rebuild of Dutch Fork Lake dam was started; the anchoring of Canonsburg Lake was started.
2012 - Our office moved to 2800 North Main Street, Suite 105, Washington, PA 15301 (the first time all of the staff is in the same office since 2000).
- WCCD awarded a grant from the DCNR to create a Rivers Conservation Plan for the 20D Watershed.
- The WCCD surpassed $1,000,000 in Dirt & Gravel Road Projects.
2013 - Two new employees were added to the District, an Agricultural Technician, and an E&S/Ag Technician.
Timeline:
1947 - The first board of directors are Edwin F. Carl, Harry Hank, Linsey Gillis, J. Nelan, and Francis Pettit.
1958 - The District became the sponsor of the first PL - 566 watershed project in Harmon Creek. This was followed by Wheeling Creek and Cross Creek.
1963 - Jay Weaver of the Soil Conservation Service came to Washington County to begin surveying the soils of the entire county.
1968 - R. L. Adamson became president of the State Association of Conservation District Directors.
1971 - The District started to publish a newsletter called Tomorrow. The newsletter came on a bimonthly basis.
1972 - Paul Onopiuk was hired as the first Executive Assistant.
1973 - The District office moved from 27 Highland Avenue to 37 Highland Avenue.
1974 - The District was authorized the duty of inspection under Chapter 102 of the Clean Streams Law.
- The District participated in the Last Acre Ceremony which signified the complete soil mapping of 548,480 acres, the entire county of Washington.
- Construction began on the first flood control dam to be built in Pennsylvania on the Wheeling Creek Watershed.
1976 - The Tomorrow newsletter placed third in the National Newsletter Contest with a $150 prize. In 1977 the Tomorrow moved to second place with a cash prize of $300.
- John Paxton took over as Executive Coordinator
1977 - The District hosted a ground breaking ceremony on the Cross Creek Watershed.
1980 - The District office changed its location to 602 Courthouse Square.
- Jean Toporcer took over as Executive Assistant
1982 - The Washington County Groundwater Study was undertaken by USGS.
- Cross Creek Lake was constructed
1983 - Gary Stokum was hired as the first full time E&S Technician.
1984 - The first office computer was purchased by the District.
- The first Youth Conservation Camp is held
1985 - The first Conservation 10K run was held at Mingo Park.
- Cokeburg Community Park is honored as the first Penn's Corner Resource Conservation and Development project.
- The District became involved with the Washington County Youth Conservation Camp.
1986 - The final flood control dam on Wheeling Creek in Pennsylvania gets underway.
- The first County Envir-Olympics (later named the Envirothon) is held at Cross Creek Park.
- The Western Pennsylvania Coalition for Abandoned Mine Reclamation (WPCAMR) is created.
1987 - Project Learning Tree and the Sportsmen's Show begin.
1988 - Flood Control project on Enlow Fork is dedicated.
- Ag Days begins
1989 - State Conservationist Richard Duncan tours Washington County and participates in the Ceder Grove groundbreaking ceremony.
- The Environmental Shopper Program is adopted by Foodland Stores, and wins the Take Pride in Pennsylvania award.
1990 - The District participated in the Washington County Earth Day Coalition
- The staff increases to four with the hiring of an Environmental Education/Gypsy Moth Coordinator.
1991 - The District wins the Take Pride in PA award for Youth Conservation Camp.
- First used oil collection undertaken as part of Earth Day Celebration.
1993 - The first no-till seeder was purchased and the District began a rental program.
1994 - The Farmland Preservation Program was adopted by the county.
- Nutrient Management study undertaken in the Pigeon Creek watershed, the Raccoon Creek watershed, and the Cross Creek watershed.
- Received Groundwater Organization of the Year award from PACD.
1995 - The first full time Nutrient Management Specialist was hired.
- The first Children's Groundwater Festival was held at California University of PA. Approximately 1,000 sixth grade students attended.
- McGuffey School District develops a nature trail with assistance from the District.
1996 - The Farmland Preservation Program moves to the Planning Commission.
- 319 Grant monies were orchestrated by the District to fund a Project Grass Coordinator for the fifteen county area.
1997 - The District won the state Goodyear Award.
- The Dirt and Gravel Road program began.
- The District celebrated 50 years of service.
1998 - The Washington County Watershed Alliance was formed
- The Raccoon Creek Watershed Association was formed
- Hired a second Erosion and Sedimentation Technician, John Casagranda.
1999 - Langeloth Borehole, located in Smith Twp. in the Raccoon Creek watershed, is the first Abandoned Mine Drainage system built.
2000 - District opens separate Ag office located with USDA offices in the Meadowlands.
- Raccoon Creek AMD survey and restoration plan is completed by Skelly and Loy.
- The District hires its first Watershed Specialist, Steve Carbol
2002 - The Chartiers Creek River Conservation Plan is completed by Skelly and Loy.
2003 - The Hamilton AMD treatment system, located in Findley Twp, Allegheny County, in the Raccoon Creek watershed is completed.
- The Cross Creek watershed assessment is completed by Skelly and Loy.
2004 - JB#2 AMD treatment system, located in Smith Twp. in the Raccoon Creek watershed, is built.
2005 - The Buffalo Creek Watershed Assessment and Restoration Plan is completed by the Western PA Conservancy.
2006 - A study and proposed treatment system for the major discharges in the Raccoon Creek watershed is performed by Biomost.
2007 - The District hosted the statewide Project Grass Conference.
- The Canonsburg Lake Master Site Plan for Recreational Improvements is completed.
2008 - A stream restoration project is completed on Cross Creek at the site of the historic Meadowcroft Rockshelter.
- WCCD website created.
2009 - 40th Anniversary of the "Tomorrow" Newsletter.
- Peters Creek Watershed and Cross Creek Watershed Assessments Completed.
2010 - 1st ESCGP-1 (Erosion & Sedimentation Control General Permit) for the Oil & Gas industry was issued.
- Canonsburg Lake, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers 206 Plan completed.
2011 - Ten Mile Watershed Association and the Upper Wheeling Creek Watershed Association were formed.
- The rebuild of Dutch Fork Lake dam was started; the anchoring of Canonsburg Lake was started.
2012 - Our office moved to 2800 North Main Street, Suite 105, Washington, PA 15301 (the first time all of the staff is in the same office since 2000).
- WCCD awarded a grant from the DCNR to create a Rivers Conservation Plan for the 20D Watershed.
- The WCCD surpassed $1,000,000 in Dirt & Gravel Road Projects.
2013 - Two new employees were added to the District, an Agricultural Technician, and an E&S/Ag Technician.
Additional Information:
| PA Conservation District Law |
