 |
                    |
2008 Conservation Team for Sullivan County
The Sullivan County Conservation District was formed in 1961 by a group of local residents concerned about the protection and conservation of agricultural land in the county. The first board of directors included county commissioner George Bahl, Raymond Laurenson, William Saxe, David Vough and Harold Morgan. This original board was comprised of all farmer members. It was not until 1970 that the first “urban member”, now “public member” came into being. The first urban member of the board was John Peterman, Sr. The Sullivan District was the 53rd district to be formed in Pennsylvania.
The conservation district is a legal subdivision of state government responsible, under state law, for conservation work within Sullivan County. Every county in Pennsylvania, with the exception of Philadelphia, has been declared a conservation district.
Click for more information on Act 75, PA Conservation District Law.
Conservation Districts focus attention on land, water and related resource issues, and develop or implement programs to address those identified issues. Districts coordinate both public and private assistance to achieve county specific goals. Conservation Districts also strive to make all citizens aware of the interrelationship between human activities and the natural environment.
The Sullivan County Conservation District is managed by a seven member board of citizens familiar with local concerns. The County Commissioners appoint four farmer directors and two public directors to four year terms. One County Commissioner serves as the seventh board member. District directors are responsible for developing annual work plans, obtaining assistance and coordination of governmental agencies, and assigning priorities to requests for assistance and resource development efforts. At monthly meetings of the board, which are open to the public, directors plan the work of the district, receive reports from district staff and cooperating agencies, and discuss conservation issues needing attention.
The Sullivan County Conservation District oversees a staff consisting of a District Manager, Erosion and Sedimentation Control Technician, Watershed Specialist, Agricultural Conservation Technician, and a Chesapeake Bay Program Technician.
The district’s effectiveness is due to its ability to work with local, state and federal agencies to solve local environmental problems. In most cases, the assistance available and the district’s obligations to the agency are outlined in a memorandum of understanding with the agency.
Agencies having current memorandums of understanding with the district include the PA Department of Environmental Protection, PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, PA Game Commission, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, Penn State Cooperative Extension, and county municipalities.
While the original concern of the conservation district was that of soil erosion control, the district has increased its involvement in many more environmental issues affecting the county. At the present time, the district continues to work with its agricultural community in promoting soil erosion control, and nutrient management. The district has also become involved in water quality, habitat improvement, public health, forest management and protection, farm land preservation, and conservation education.
The goals set by that first board of the conservation district have really not changed that much. However, the extent of today’s conservation district is involved in meeting those goals has increased immensely.
If not for the dedication of the volunteers that have made up the County’s Conservation District board of directors, both past and present, the exceptional quality of our environment that we enjoy so much today, would not be possible.
RECOGNIZING CONSERVATION
The conservation district is proud of the work that so many have provided to protect the land and waters of Sullivan County. Since 1965, the conservation district has selected an individual or group by acknowledging their roles in promoting conservation. These recognitions were first given to farm operators, as that was the main focus of conservation needs. The following is a list of those recognized as either Farmer of the Year or Conservationist of the Year:
1965 – Fred Otten
1966 – Allen Dyer
1967 – Edward Anjeski
1968 – George Peterson
1969 – Richard D. McCarty
1970 – Earl Insinger
1971 – Bill Hart
1972 – Art Saxe
1973 – Jack McMahon
1974 – Pardoe Brothers
1975 – NO AWARD
1976 – NOAWARD
1977 – Saxe Crest Farms
1978 – Warburton Farms
1979 – Bob-Wood Acres
1980 – Rouse Farms
1981 – William Frazier
1982 – Robert Epler
1983 – John Young
1984 – Vough Farm
1985 – Robert Woodhead
1986 – Art Rohe
1987 – Bruno Najaka
1988 – NO AWARD
1989 – Hillsgrove Ranger Station
1990 – Herb and Mark Eby
1991 – Milo and Betty Reibson
1992 – Walter Dacheux
1993 – White Ash Land Association
1994 – David Hewitt
1995 – High Hart Farm
1996 – Kevin Dangle
1997 – Gordon Durland
1998 – Vough Acres Farm
1999 – Warburton Farms
2000 – Dr. T.W. Shoemaker
2001 – Henry & Ann Street
2002 – Muncy Creek Watershed Association
2003 – Betty Reibson
2004 – Robert Insinger
2005 -- Dennis and David Hottenstein
2006 -- George Kramer
2007 -- Dwight Lewis Lumber Company 2008 -- Saxe Farms
2007 Annual Report
As published in the Sullivan Review Newspaper
Pennsylvania Right to Know Law Policy and Sullivan County Conservation District
The Sullivan County Conservation District has developed and approved a policy in compliance with the Pennsylvania Right to Know Law as it pertains to public access to information held on file in the office of the Conservation District. Below are links to both the policy and request for information form.
Questions pertaining to the policy should be directed to the Conservation District's Open Records Officer at 570-928-7057 or via email at district@sullcon.com.
To read, review, and/or print the Conservation District's Right to Know Policy click here.
To download and print a copy of the request form, click here.
Downloadable Files are in Adobe Acrobat pdf. format. To download a free version of 
, click here.
