At its March 30, 2026 meeting held at A&W West End Grill, the Coudersport Rotary Club welcomed Jason Childs, District Manager of the Potter County Conservation District, as guest speaker.

Childs provided an overview of the Conservation District’s role and history. He explained that conservation districts were established in response to the environmental devastation of the Dust Bowl, when widespread soil erosion contributed significantly to the hardships of the Great Depression. In Pennsylvania, this effort was formalized through Act 217 of 1945, known as the Conservation District Law. Potter County holds the distinction of being the first county in the state to form a conservation district; today, there are 66 such districts across Pennsylvania.

The Potter County Conservation District is governed by a board consisting of one county commissioner, four farmers, and three non-farmers. Dr. Pete Ryan serves as Board Chair. Other board members include Commissioner Rossman, Stan Hess, Betty Long, Jeff Cady, Jon Blass, and Glenn Dunn.

Childs also highlighted the staff and their respective roles. Morgan Jones oversees dirt and gravel roads; Katy Sasala manages communications, outreach, social media, and school programs; and Tom Kisiel handles administration, permitting, erosion management, bridges, and pipes.

The District administers a wide range of programs, including Agricultural Conservation, Nutrient Management, Farmland Preservation, Dirt and Gravel/Low Volume Roads, Watershed Protection, Earth Disturbance, Stream and Watershed Encroachment, Education and Outreach, and Invasive Species management.

The Nutrient Management program promotes practices such as no-till farming to improve soil health and reduce erosion. Through Farmland Preservation, farmers can sell development rights while continuing to work their land; currently, more than 1,400 acres are protected in Potter County. Funding for this program becomes available every two to three years.

Childs noted that the Dirt and Gravel Roads program receives approximately $860,000 in funding from the gas tax. These funds help improve road conditions while protecting nearby waterways. Efforts led by the District, including those supported by the Cold Water Heritage Partnership, focus on reducing sediment in trout streams and ensuring proper pipe placement to allow for fish migration.

He also discussed the Emergency Watershed Protection Program, which was activated following flooding from Hurricane Debbie. The program coordinated with landowners, facilitated contractor bidding, secured permits, oversaw construction, and distributed funds for recovery efforts.

During the question-and-answer session, Childs explained that issues are identified through surveys conducted by the Fish and Wildlife Commission as well as reports from the public. In response to a question about recurring flooding at the baseball field in CARP Park, he clarified that the Conservation District addresses erosion-related concerns but does not handle flooding issues. He noted that the field is located in a high-risk floodplain, contributing to its ongoing challenges.

The program provided Rotarians with valuable insight into the important work being done to protect and preserve Potter County’s natural resources.