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Pennsylvania Director of Outdoor Recreation Nathan Reigner this week announced that the Commonwealth’s Office of Outdoor Recreation was recently welcomed into Confluence of States — a national coalition of states working to grow the $1.1 trillion outdoor recreation economy and drive collective goals and strategies forward.
As he promised in his first budget proposal, Gov. Josh Shapiro launched the Office of Outdoor Recreation in 2023 to make Pennsylvania the national leader in outdoor recreation.
Gov. Shapiro joined Reigner recently to announce the Commonwealth’s Outdoor Business Alliance to organize businesses within and supporting Pennsylvania’s outdoor economy, which contributes $17 billion to the economy and supports more than 164,000 jobs in the Keystone State.
“We are thrilled to join the Confluence and look forward to continuing our push to grow our outdoor economy and harness its power for economic and workforce development, public health, and conservation,” Reigner said. “With the full support of Governor Josh Shapiro and the widespread enthusiasm of Pennsylvania’s outdoor industry and economic development community, Pennsylvania is excited to with the Confluence at the national level to help grow our outdoor economy.”
Pennsylvania joined the Confluence of States by signing the Confluence Accords in May, which embody 15 principles contained in the five pillars of conservation and stewardship; education and workforce training; economic development; public health and wellness; and opportunity and experience.
The Confluence Accords were developed in 2018 to promote and advance best practices for all states to sustainably grow their outdoor recreation economies.
“I am extremely proud of the work done to launch this office and the sustaining actions to help grow outdoor recreation in Pennsylvania,” Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn said. “Pennsylvania has some of the most beautiful natural resources in the nation and it is increasingly important that we see them as assets for building up Commonwealth communities through the health and wellness opportunities they provide, as well as the economic benefits.”
Pennsylvania is home to 124 state parks, 2.2 million acres of state forestland and more than 12,000 miles of trails, which make it a leader in the region for outdoor assets.
The original Confluence Accord signatories were outdoor recreation directors from the states of Colorado, Montana, North Carolina, Oregon, Utah, Vermont, Washington, and Wyoming in July 2018. The second signing included Maine, Michigan, Nevada, New Mexico, and Virginia in October 2019. The third signing included Arkansas, Maryland, and New Hampshire in May 2022. Pennsylvania and Massachusetts joined in May bringing the total number of states in the Confluence to 18.
Pennsylvania DEP establishes Customer
Experience Management Advisory Council
The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is establishing a Customer Experience Management Advisory Council (CXMAC) to advise DEP’s Acting Secretary and Chief Customer Experience Officer on strategies and improvements to enhance service delivery to the public.
CXMAC brings together a team of experts from private businesses, non-profit organizations, and government agencies.
Pennsylvanians should be able to easily access government services — and there should be no wrong door to reaching help.
The CXMAC will convene quarterly to regularly evaluate DEP’s customer service experience, make recommendations for improvements, and then evaluate their success. The goal is to ensure DEP’s services are accessible to Pennsylvanians and that DEP is quickly and effectively doing its job for the public — everything from permitting to plugging wells to investigating environmental complaints.
“CXMAC will play a key role in DEP’s modernization efforts and will help our agency deliver services more efficiently while still maintaining important environmental protections to better serve Pennsylvanians,” said DEP Acting Secretary Jessica Shirley. “The executive expertise and experience on CXMAC will guide DEP in improving the customer’s experience by applying private-sector management principles. The Commonwealth should be moving at the speed of business.”
CXMAC is composed of members with extensive experience and knowledge in customer experience, including human-centered design, large-scale organizational change, digital experience, and customer advocacy. Their combined expertise will be instrumental in shaping the DEP’s future and fostering a more efficient and user-friendly experience for all.
The launch of CXMAC is a prime example of the how private sector can support government agencies. With the guidance of the CXMAC, DEP is committed to transforming its services to serve Pennsylvanians more effectively and efficiently. Incorporating CXMAC’s expertise is one step in an ongoing effort to “delivering every promise” when it comes to achieving operational excellence.
Pa. Game Commission announces CWD
changes for 2024-2025 deer seasons
The Pennsylvania Game Commission this week announced the expansion of several Chronic Wasting Disease Management Areas (DMAs) due to new detections of the disease.
Disease Management Area 2 (DMA 2) will expand following the detection of CWD in several road-killed deer along the eastern boundary.
The boundary will generally expand east to state Route 94, east along U.S. Route 30, and north along the west shore of the Susquehanna River to meet the current boundary.
• DMA 2 is located in south-central Pennsylvania and includes all or portions of Adams, Bedford, Blair, Cambria, Centre, Clearfield, Cumberland, Franklin, Fulton, Huntingdon, Indiana, Juniata, Mifflin, Perry, Snyder, Somerset, Union, Westmoreland, and York counties. The new boundary can be found at arcg.is/1G4TLr.
• DMA 3 will expand following the detection of CWD in a road-killed fawn in Armstrong County. The boundary will generally expand south along state Route 286 near Saltsburg, north along the east shore of the Kiskiminetas River, north along the east shore of the Allegheny River, north along U.S. Route 422, and east along state Route 85 to meet the current boundary. DMA 3 is located in western Pennsylvania and includes portions of Armstrong, Cambria, Clarion, Clearfield, Elk, Indiana, and Jefferson counties. The new boundary can be found at arcg.is/1G4TLr.
• DMA 8 will expand following the detection of CWD in a road-killed adult female deer in Dauphin County. The boundary will generally expand south to Interstate 81, south along Mountain Road, west along U.S. Route 22, south along Interstate 83 to Interstate 283 to Interstate 76, and west to the west shore of the Susquehanna River to meet the current boundary. DMA 8 includes portions of Dauphin, Lebanon, Northumberland, and Schuylkill counties. The new boundary can be found at arcg.is/1G4TLr.
Within all DMAs and the CWD Established Area (EA), it is unlawful to:
• Remove or export any deer or elk high-risk parts (e.g., head, spinal column, and spleen) unless going to a Game Commission-approved cooperating processor.
• Deposit high-risk parts on the landscape away from harvest location.
• Use or possess deer or elk urine-based attractants.
• Directly or indirectly feed wild, free-ranging deer. It is already illegal to feed elk regardless of DMA location.
• Rehabilitate wild, free-ranging deer or elk.
While the antlerless harvest has increased in some WMUs with CWD over the past five years, the overall harvest in these WMUs has not been sufficient to reduce populations.
Delaware Highlands Conservancy
hosting July community programs
The Delaware Highlands Conservancy has announced community programs for July 2024 at the Van Scott Nature Reserve at 571 Perkins Pond Rd, Beach Lake.
Events require advance registration. For program details and to register, visit DelawareHighlands.org/events or call Conservation Programs Associate Steven Gosch at 570-226-3164 ext. 8.
• Saturday, July 20 — 10:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m., Designing with Nature: Permaculture Workshop with Maria Grimaldi
Join Maria Grimaldi, Garden and Permaculture Consultant, to develop an understanding of permaculture design principles for your property based on nature’s perfect design. This three-hour session will give you the tools to create a 5-year plan for your outdoor living space by using nature as a guide.
Please bring a map or survey of your property, if available, to use during the session, as well as a packed lunch. Handouts and tools for creating your own design will be provided.
Space is limited for the workshop and advance registration is required. Event fee is $25 for Conservancy members and $35 for non-members.
• Monday, July 29 — 2 p.m.-4 p.m., Composting and Soil Health Workshop
Join Michelle Proscia, Cornell Cooperative Extension Sullivan Agriculture Program Manager, to learn about the principles, methods, and Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) regulations of on-farm composting and soil health.
The workshop will include aerobic and anaerobic composting, small scale vs. large scale composting, and the basics of vermiculture (composting using worms). Soil testing bags will be available to identify pH and nutrients in your soil and how to improve them. Space is limited for the workshop and advance registration is required.
Event fee is $10 for Conservancy members and $15 for non-members.