The Department of Environmental Protection’s exhibit at the 102nd Pennsylvania Farm Show focuses on steps that farms, towns, industry, and residents can take to help clean up local streams and rivers.

The exhibit is in the Main Hall of the Farm Show Complex and Expo Center from January 6 to 13.

“Although Pennsylvania is making some progress in cleaning up the thousands of pollution-impaired rivers and streams in the Commonwealth, much work remains to be done,” said DEP Secretary Patrick McDonnell. “All individuals and organizations are part of the solution to help reduce sediment, nutrients, and chemicals in our local waters.”

The exhibit, created by the DEP Environmental Education Center, includes a beanbag toss game for kids and panels presenting simple steps that can help clean up water at home, on the farm, at work, and in communities.

Four clean water success stories are highlighted:

-- Mark and Beth Steck, who earned a 2017 Clean Water Farm Award for sediment and nutrient reduction measures at their Green Valley Farm in Franklin County;

-- Mack Trucks Remanufacturing Center, Middletown, Dauphin County, for stormwater pollution reduction on plant grounds;

-- Lemoyne Borough, Cumberland County, for their numerous rain gardens and other stormwater management measures; and

-- John and Barbara Schleicher, who use rain barrels at their home in York County.

One panel addresses the special challenge of cleaning up local water in Pennsylvania’s 43 counties in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed.

The exhibit was created with funding support from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

The following is a list of DEP public activities:

Daily

-- 8:00 a.m. to close, Clean Local Waters in Pennsylvania, DEP Exhibit (Booth 705, near butter sculpture), Main Hall: Interactive educational exhibit with beanbag toss game.

January 7

-- 7:00 p.m., Bunny Hop, Small/Sale Arena: Secretary McDonnell participates in the Celebrity Rabbit Hopping Contest.

January 9

-- 3:30–4:00 p.m., Tips to Be Stormwater Smart, Lancaster Farming/Ag 101 Stage, Expo Hall: Environmental Education Director Bert Myers demonstrates actions anyone can take to reduce or reuse stormwater runoff from their roof, driveway, and street and help clean up nearby streams.

January 10: Public Officials Day

-- 8:30–9:00 a.m., Secretary McDonnell Media Availability, DEP Exhibit (Booth 705), Main Hall.

-- 11:00 a.m., Secretary McDonnell’s participation in Public Officials Luncheon, Expo Hall.

January 12: Resource Conservation Day

-- 11:30–noon and 2:30–3:00 p.m., Agricultural Plan Reimbursement Program, Lancaster Farming/Ag 101 Stage, Expo Hall: TeamAg shows how farmers in Pennsylvania’s 43 counties in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed can get reimbursed for the cost of developing manure and/or nutrient management plans.

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[Posted: Jan. 5, 2018]

1/8/2018