By: Jonathan VanNoy, Natural Resource Specialist
In 1972, the Environmental Protection Agency published regulations to reduce pollution through a new program; the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES, for short).  This new program took aim at reducing pollutants to waters of the United States.  In Pennsylvania, the NPDES program is administered by the State Department of Environmental Protection (DEP).  In Bradford County, the Conservation District has a delegation agreement with DEP to administer the NPDES program at the County level.  This allows people applying for earth disturbance permits in Bradford County to submit NPDES plans to the Conservation District for review and approval, speeding up the permit process.  Today we are going to look at the NPDES program in Bradford County as it relates to earth disturbance and the resulting stormwater from construction activities.  Stormwater, simply put, is runoff from precipitation, snowmelt, surface runoff and drainage.

By: Jonathan VanNoy, Natural Resource Specialist
     If I were to tell you to close your eyes and describe what comes to mind when you hear the word “wetland”, what would you describe?  A stagnant, slimy waterbody?  A grassy, soupy area with cattails?  Maybe that lower field that you can only make hay on every few years?  How about that special place that you love to hunt ducks, or trap muskrats?  You may have an archery stand on the edge of a swamp that comes to mind.  You might describe that spot in your woods that pools water each spring, and for one or two warm nights a year is just crawling with toads or salamanders as they congregate to lay masses of eggs.  (Go to a local vernal pool, pond, swamp or wetland on a warm, spring evening and pull up a chair and just listen and watch.  There is NOTHING that can compare to the sound you will hear if the frogs or toads have congregated!)

By: Brad Cummings, Conservation Technician

Have you ever wondered who to call if you have a complaint or permit related question?  With all the different regulatory agencies and complex organizational charts within some of those agencies, this can sometimes be a daunting task.  We realize it can be frustrating if you don’t know who to contact, so we’ve created this brief guide to hopefully help point you in the right direction.
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By: Tess Flynn-Belles, Natural Resource Specialist
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   Hey all! It’s your old Uncle Conservation here and I’ve got a secret for you. And let me tell you, it’s a good one. Especially if you or someone you know lives near a stream which, let’s be honest, is the entire county. Ok, gather ‘round now. Ready for it? You can clear trees and woody debris out of a stream… WITHOUT A PERMIT!!! Holy Cow!! Did I just blow your mind?! I did, didn’t I?

By: The Bradford County Conservation District
If you read last week’s article discussing stream permit options, there was mention of a “new” permit option for Bradford County. In this week’s article, we’ll discuss the evolution of that permit, what it is, and how you would go about qualifying for it.​

By: Jonathan VanNoy, Natural Resource Specialist
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Last week we talked about how stream regulations protect people, and what NOT to do in streams.  This week’s topic is about how to get permits when stream work IS needed.  The first call you should always make with any stream work questions is to the Conservation District at 570-485-3144.