PA Environment Digest Blog: Allegheny County Conservation District, Partners Host 5-Part Building Vibrant Communities Workshops Starting Sept. 24

The Allegheny County Conservation District, Tree Pittsburgh, Sustainable Pittsburgh, Green Building Alliance and Allegheny Land Trust are hosting five workshops for municipalities and citizens to promote sustainability, secure funding for climate-resilient, vibrant communities and enhance resident health.

Topics Include:

-- Development trends and stormwater management

-- Environmentally meaningful ordinances

-- Maximizing benefits from greenspace

-- Strategic tree planting for climate resilience

-- Creating and achieving sustainability goals

-- Sustainable energy, building standards and development

The Schedule

-- September 24 - Flow of Development in Allegheny County: Attend a workshop on county development patterns, stormwater infrastructure and protective stormwater ordinances. ACCD will present on distribution and analysis of development and Stormwater Control Measures in Allegheny County from 2020-2023. Additionally, ACCD will provide examples of protective stormwater ordinances adopted by municipalities in Allegheny County. The municipality of Monroeville will present on specific ordinance changes they have enacted, their stormwater program and lessons learned in municipal stormwater management. 9:00 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. Click Here to register.

-- October 23 - Free Trees, Canopy Data, Tour and More! Canopy Resources for Your Community and Tree Adoption Event: To better understand the local resources available to support community plantings and maintenance, this workshop will highlight the canopy decline in Allegheny County and share strategies for growing the urban forest. Attendees will discover how to manage and protect trees through best practices and policies, followed by a walking tour of the five-acre riverfront campus and tree nursery. A tree adoption will accompany this workshop for attendees to receive free trees at the event. 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. Click Here to register.

-- January 16 - Avenues to Protecting Sensitive Habitats: Why It’s Vital and How It Can Save Everyone Money: In this workshop, participants will learn what constitutes a sensitive area or habitat and how to evaluate sites to determine this designation. In addition, Allegheny Land Trust will explore conservation and protection options for these habitats and how they can provide funding and recreational opportunities for your municipality or group while reducing expenditures and risks. 10:00 to 11:30 a.m. Click Here to register.

-- March 1 - Sustainable Pennsylvania: Planning and Prioritizing Projects Through Sustainability Assessments: Join Sustainable Pittsburgh for a comprehensive overview of the Sustainable Pennsylvania municipal certification program and how it helps municipalities create and achieve sustainability goals, empowering them to save money, conserve resources and innovate. Learn more about the benefits of earning recognition, including improving grant eligibility; tracking and measuring sustainability progress; access to a community of peers; technical assistance; and connections to resources that can support resilient, thriving and healthy communities for all residents. Registration coming soon.

-- April 3 - Resilient Space Strategies: Join Green Building Alliance for a workshop on climate vulnerability and adaptation strategies for municipal buildings and schools. Topics include clean energy, green building standards, sustainable development best practices and "third spaces." The session will cover examples of resiliency planning and climate adaptation projects in action, including at Pittsburgh Public Schools. Registration coming soon.

Click Here for more information on these workshops.

Visit the Allegheny County Conservation District, Tree Pittsburgh, Sustainable Pittsburgh, Green Building Alliance and Allegheny Land Trust website for more information on natural resource protection and sustainability initiatives.

Upcoming Events

-- NOW: Penn State Master Watershed Stewards Offer Native Trees, Shrubs In Annual Fundraiser

-- Penn State Extension: Upcoming Training And Events For Agriculture Conservationists

-- Chesapeake Bay Landscape Professionals: Only A Few Seats Left: Level 1 Training [PaEN]

-- August 27-- Penn State Extension 5-Part Backyard Stream Repair Webinar Series Starting Aug. 27

-- August 27: Penn State Center For Agricultural Conservation Assistance Training Hosts 3-Part Conservation Cornerstone Webinar Series For Ag Professionals Starting Aug. 27 [PaEN]

-- September 4: Penn State Master Watershed Stewards Webinar On Watershed Friendly Lawn Care To Protect Drinking Water [PaEN]

-- September 5: Penn State Extension Hosts Webinar On Watershed Friendly Native Planting [PaEN]

-- September 5: Interfaith Partners For The Chesapeake Bay Webinar On Watching Out For Winter Road Salt [PaEN]

-- September 6: Penn State Extension Hosts Webinar On Classic Biological Control Of PA Invasive Species [PaEN]

-- September 10: Penn State Extension Hosts Webinar On Proper Native Tree Planting For Long-Term Success [PaEN]

-- September 10-- Penn State Extension (1 of 10) Pennsylvania Forests Webinar Seminar Series - Using Geographic Information Systems to Track Management and Assess Attributes of Forested Property. Noon and 7:00 p.m.

-- September 11-- Penn State Extension Hosts Rain Barrel Discovery - Explore & Learn Webinar [PaEN]

-- September 12-- Penn State Extension Webinar: On A Few Acres - Permaculture & Risk Management [PaEN]

-- September 14-- Celebrate The World Of Insects At Penn State's Annual Great Insect Fair In State College [PaEN]

-- September 19-- Penn State Extension Master Gardeners of Cumberland County Gardening With Nature - Stormwater-Friendly Lawn Care Workshop. Cleve J. Fredricksen Library, 100 N. 19th Street in Camp Hill. 7:00 to 8:30 p.m.

-- September 24: Penn State Extension Hosts Webinar On Community Forestry - TreeKeeper - A Tool For Tree Canopy Management [PaEN]

-- September 26-- York Master Watershed Stewards Host Tap Talk - Preserving York County Landscapes & Waterways With The Farm & Natural Lands Trust [PaEN]

-- September 26-- Eastern PA Consulting & Industrial Forester Conference At Dauphin County Conservation District [PaEN]

Resource Links:

-- Penn State Extension Watershed Friendly PA Certification

-- Penn State Extension: Why Did My Young Riparian Buffer Tree Die?

-- Penn State Extension: Guide Provides Advice On Managing Spotted Lanternfly

-- Penn State Extension: Shade Tree Commission Spotlight - Lewisburg Borough