Lebanon
County
Lebanon County recognized as a Groundwater Guardian Community since 1996
Explanation of Groundwater Guardian Award
Community Profile: http://www.groundwater.org/active/community.asp?id122
Contact: Stephanie Harmon
Lebanon Co. GW Education Team
2120 Cornwall Road
Lebanon, PA 17042-9788
Phone: 717-272-3908 x.4 Fax: 717-272-5314
Email: stephanie.harmon@pa.nacdnet.net
Website: www.lccd.org
Lebanon County Conservation District, Lebanon Co, $3350
Funded by: LWVPA-CEF WREN Project, Watershed Protection Project 2007-2008
Project Title: Lebanon County Rain Barrel Workshops
Area(s) to be protected: watersheds throughout Lebanon County
Partners: North Cornwall Township and Penn State Master Gardners of Lebanon County
Focus: hold workshops to educate homeowners and businesses in Lebanon County how the use of rainbarrels can reduce the amount of nonpoint source pollution entering the waterways of the county. Rain barrels will be provided at an affordable rate to attendees completing the workshop.
Read the Final Report. See the Evaluation Report
Contact: Stephanie Harmon 717-272-3908x4, stephanie.harmon@pa.nacdnet.net
Lebanon County Conservation District, Lebanon and Lancaster Counties,
$2,210
 Funded by: LWVPA-CEF
WREN Project, Watershed Protection Project 2003-2004
Project Title: Lebanon/Lancaster County Watershed Forum
Area(s) to be protected: watersheds throughout Lebanon and Lancaster
Counties
Partner(s): Lancaster County Conservation District and Heidelberg Township
Focus: coordinate and conduct a Lancaster/Lebanon County watershed
forum for individuals, watershed protection organizations and local
officials that will provide tools for subsequent community education
initiatives about nonpoint source pollution prevention
Note: In October 2008, Lebanon and Lancaster counties hosted their 6th Annual Watershed Forum. See their brochure.
Contact: Stephanie Harmon, 717-272-3908 x 4, email: stephanie-harmon@pa.nacdnet.org
Lebanon
County Groundwater Education Team
From
WREN Grant - Wellhead Protection
and Drinking Water Education - 1998
Coalition
Partners:
Lebanon County Conservation District, Lebanon County
Planning Department, Myerstown Water Authority, Penn State Cooperative
Extension, League of Women Voters of Lebanon County.
Contact:
Charles W. Wertz, 717-272-3377
Lebanon County Conservation District
2120 Cornwall Road
Lebanon, PA 17042-9788
Grant: $3,000
Focus:
This project conducted a public workshop on wellhead protection and
small water systems in Lebanon County in response to a lack of wellhead
protection programs in this area. The workshop built upon one held
earlier where the participants suggested that they needed more information
on ways to implement wellhead protection.
Accomplishments:
The workshop was held in June 1998. The workshop activities included
- Presentation of groundwater behavior using a tabletop flow model
- Demonstration of GIS technology
- A delineation of wellhead areas for two communities
- A self-assessment exercise on groundwater protection for property
owners
- Distribution of a packet of resource materials on water resources
Greater
Lebanon Refuse Authority
From
a WREN Grant
-
Nonpoint Source Pollution Prevention
Grants - 1997-1998
Coalition Partners: Harrisburg Area Community
College, Lebanon County Conservation District, Lebanon County Planning
Commission, Swatara Creek Watershed Association
Contact: Michael Pavelek, 717-867-5790
Grant: $ 3,000
Focus: An educational program to abate point
and non-point source pollution from numerous sinkholes on individual
properties that impact the water quality of the local aquifers and
the Swatara Creek.
Accomplishments: Documented sinkholes on USGS
7.5 minute topographical maps; provided the GIS-compatible maps to
Conservation District and County Planning staff for use in evaluating
land use practices involving sinkholes (agricultural, construction,
waste disposal). An index of current sinkholes and closed depressions
was provided for use by relevant agencies. No new sinkholes were identified
that are being used for waste disposal.
Several outreach efforts to property owners resulted in: inspections
of several properties coupled with information on recommended closure
steps; photographs of several properties to illustrate ground water
protection practices (including one closure project); increased public
awareness of role of sinkholes in protecting ground water quality,
as well as the need for enforcement of current public policies protecting.
A Risk Priority Assessment Checklist was developed for use during
the voluntary inspections.
A seminar on sinkhole management and water quality protection issues
was held for public officials, landowners, and sinkhole users. About
30 agencies or municipalities were represented. Three additional seminars
were presented to community groups. The presentation Sinkholes
of Lebanon County, a summary of the project's results, was submitted
for publication to the Solid Waste Association of North America. Provided
information to agricultural landowners to encourage voluntary protection
and closure.
Successes, Obstacles, and Unanticipated Outcomes: Public
responses to the outreach efforts and the seminars were very positive.
Unanticipated outcomes included private citizens seeking guidance
on proper closure methods (information was provided from current resource);
and questions regarding liability for sinkholes potentially caused
by development (beyond the scope of this project).
Municipalities represented at the seminars have been seeking information
about, and taking action on sinkhole remediation, including one site
that contained potentially damaging materials. Regulations have been
enacted that provide for a penalty of $2,000 per occurrence for commercial
disposal of waste materials into sinkholes. This gives local municipalities
a tool for preventing ground water contamination originating via sinkholes.
Groundwater
Education Team
Funded
by LWVPA-CEF WREN Project
-
Ground
Water and Wellhead Protection Grants-
1995 & 1996
The Groundwater Education Team hosted a workshop for local
officials and the public in November, 1995 and hosted a downlink site
for the teleconference "Watershed '96 On the Air" from the National
Watershed Conference in Baltimore in June, 1996. The Team developed
a display for the Swatara Watershed Expo and participates in the newly
formed Swatara Watershed Association.
The Team also distributed information about groundwater and
wellhead protection at the Lebanon Area Agricultural Fair and Department
of Agriculture sponsored Pesticide Container Drop-off Days. The Team
plans to continue to sponsor educational activities about protection
of groundwater in 1997. Team members include: the Lebanon County Conservation
District, League of Women Voters, Lebanon County Planning Department,
PSU Cooperative Extension, Myerstown Water Authority.
Contact: Charles Wertz, Lebanon County Conservation
District, 717-272-3377
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