Showcasing Best Management Practices across the County
Westmoreland Conservation District partners with communities and conservation organizations throughout the county to identify water and erosion issues, and to install best management practices (BMP) and green infrastructure.
Explore our interactive dashboard and photo gallery to see how these projects are making a difference, and how the same can be done in your neighborhood.
Note: Our BMP Dashboard is best viewed with a desktop device. If you’re having trouble accessing the mapping features on your mobile device, you can also browse our interactive photo gallery at the bottom of this page for information on any of our BMP projects.
- Stormwater
- DG&LVR
- Watershed Restoration
- Agriculture
Andrews Run Abandoned Mine Drainage (AMD) Passive Treatment System
Anoxic limestone drain, drainable limestone bed, two open settling ponds
Watershed Restoration
Beaver Run Roads
Conveyor belt diversions, additional culverts, raising the road profile, underdrains, grading, streambank stabilization
DG&LVR
Derry Pool – Infiltration Parking Lot
Permeable paving, rain garden, trees
Stormwater
Jacobs Creek Streambank Restoration
Streambank stabilization, riparian buffer planting
Watershed Restoration
Kitz and Hutter Farms
Riparian Buffers, Stream Bank Fencing, Stream Crossings, and spring development
Watershed Restoration
Lydick Farm Sink Hole
Stream restoration, riparian buffer
Watershed Restoration
Mill Creek Streambank Restoration
Streambank stabilization, rootwads, log deflectors, rock sawtooth, riparian buffer planting
Watershed Restoration
Nature Park-Donohoe Creek Protection and Restoration
Sediment forebay, water quality detention basin
Watershed Restoration
Ridge Road Restoration
Rain garden, permeable paving, native landscaping
DG&LVR
Sherrick Run Stream Mitigation
Streambank stabilization, rock vanes and j-hooks, riparian buffer planting
Watershed Restoration
Shupe Run Streambank Restoration
Streambank stabilization, rock vanes and deflectors, riparian buffer planting
Watershed Restoration
Turtle Creek Streambank Restoration
Streambank stabilization, rock deflectors, riparian buffer planting
Watershed Restoration
Valley High School
Streambank stabilization, rock vanes, riparian buffer planting, debris basin, permeable paving
Watershed Restoration
Wolfpack Park Stream Restoration
Streambank stabilization, rock cross vanes and j-hooks, riparian buffer planting
Watershed Restoration
Frick Park Rain Gardens
Rain garden, concrete unit block wall, block weir
Stormwater
Larimer Trail Road
Raising the road profile, installation of underdrains and crosspipes
DG&LVR
2011 Conservation Farmer of the Year – Bill and Donna Hoffer
Conservation Plan, Act 6 funding for manure storage, EQIP cost share for diversion ditch and stabilized waterways, stabilized stream crossing
Agriculture
2012 Conservation Farmer of the Year – The Yuris Family
Conservation Plan, EQIP cost share for access roads, livestock fencing, stabilized stream crossing, contour strips
Agriculture
2013 Conservation Farmer of the Year – Helen Clevenger and Rick and Mary Duncan
Conservation Plan, EQIP & Growing Greener for Animal Heavy Use Area & Manure Storage Area, rotational grazing paddocks, livestock watering system
Agriculture
2014 Conservation Farmer of the Year – Barb and Dave McMillan
Conservation Plan, Forest Stewardship Plan, grazing plan; rotational grazing paddocks, livestock watering system
Agriculture
Baileys Road Restoration
Raising the road profile, installation of underdrains and crosspipes
DG&LVR
Keiper Road Restoration
Raising the road profile, installation of underdrains and crosspipes
DG&LVR
Mansville Road Restoration
Raising the road profile, installation of underdrains and crosspipes
DG&LVR
Thomas Road Restoration
Raising the road profile, installation of underdrains and crosspipes
DG&LVR
Excela Health Frick Hospital – Water Quality Basin
Water quality detention basin, forebay, circuity berm, micropool, structural energy dissipaters
Stormwater
Mt Pleasant Parking Lot Rain Gardens
Rain garden, concrete curb cuts
Stormwater
Mt. Pleasant Residential Rain Gardens
Rain gardens
Stormwater
Scottdale Library Plaza
Rain garden, permeable paving, native landscaping
Stormwater
Scottdale Parking Lot
Rain garden, bioretention, canopy trees, permeable paving
Stormwater
WCIDC South Greensburg
Permeable paving, canopy trees
Stormwater
Vandergrift Permeable Pavement Project
Bioretention, canopy trees, permeable paving
Stormwater
Westmoreland Fairgrounds Project
Water quality basins, French mattress, conveyor belt diversions
Watershed Restoration
Lowber AMD
Passive Wetland Treatment System
Watershed Restoration
Brinkerton AMD
8- acre Wetland Treatment System
Watershed Restoration
Kinlock Basin
400,000- gallon detention pond
Watershed Restoration
Westmoreland Conservation District Permeable Parking Lot Demonstration
Permeable paving
Stormwater
2015 Conservation Farmer of the Year – Mike and Ina Bazley
Conservation Plan, EQIP cost share for high tunnels, livestock fencing & watering system, riparian buffer
Agriculture
2016 Conservation Farmer of the Year – The Stahl Family
Conservation Plan contour fields riparian stream buffer, rotational livestock paddocks, livestock watering system
Agriculture
2017 Conservation Farmer of the Year – John and Suki Jamison
Conservation Plan grazing plan rotational grazing paddocks livestock watering system animal walkway tillage eliminated
Agriculture
2018 Conservation Farmer of the Year – The Forejt Family
Conservation Plan contour fields w/ buffer strips stream crossing livestock fencing precision nutrient application
Agriculture
2019 Conservation Farmer of the Year – Lewis and Kate Lobdell
Conservation Plan Forest Stewardship Plan
Agriculture
2020 Conservation Farmer of the Year – The Frye Family – Pleasant Lane Farms
Conservation Plan EQIP cost share for animal walkways, diversions, manure storage, animal heavy use area, stabilized stream crossing riparian buffer fencing
Agriculture
St James Evangelical Lutheran Church Parking Lot Rain Gardens
Rain gardens
Stormwater
Westmoreland County Community College Riparian Buffer and Stormwater Retrofits
Rain garden, permeable paving, infiltration swales, riparian buffer plantings.
Stormwater
Cherry Creek Stream Mitigation
Streambank stabilization, riparian buffer
Stormwater
Latrobe Transfer Station Streambank Stabilization Remediation Project
Streambank stabilization
Watershed Restoration
Ligonier Valley School District finished rock-lined channel
Retrofitted storm water basins, vegetated channel, rock lined channel, and new outlet structures
Stormwater
Winnie Palmer Nature Reserve stormwater basin and trail
Educational sign on stormwater basin, riparian buffer, native tree planting and trail
Stormwater
First Presbyterian Church Murrysville stormwater retrofit
Rock lined channel installation and 80 foot pipe replacement
Stormwater
Derry Borough permeable paving
Permeable paving, retaining wall, native tree and shrub planting
Stormwater
Shupe Run log vane deflector installation
Streambank stabilization along the Coal & Coke Trail
Watershed Restoration
Hempfield Park stormwater retrofits
Rain gardens and pollinator garden, streambank stabilization with educational area
Stormwater
Irwin Park streambank stabilization
Rip-rap, log vane deflectors and parking lot infiltration swales
Watershed Restoration
Manor Borough stormwater retrofit
Permeable parking spots, rain gardens and lawn expansion
Stormwater
T. Matty Animal Walkway Improvement Project
Approximately 3,520 square feet of animal walkway was improved with the additions of stone and three conveyor belt diversions.
Agriculture
Kitz Farm Spring Development
The Kitz Farm Project was Westmoreland County’s first Agriculture Conservation Assistance Program (ACAP) project.
Agriculture
E. Erdman Riparian Buffer Tree Planting
A riparian forest buffer of 325 trees and 114 shrubs within approximately 2.25 acres was installed on prior cropland.
Agriculture
2021 Conservation Farmer of the Year – The John Starr Family – Starr Valley Farms
Restoring 125 acres of fallow farmland into lush, productive pastures through sound conservation practices and hard work. The Starrs raise grass-fed, organic beef.
Agriculture
2022 Conservation Farmer of the Year – The Lash Family Farm
Operated by the same family since 1796, conservation practices include contour strip cropping, rotational grazing and grassed waterways.
Agriculture
2023 Conservation Farmer of the Year – John D. Kitz – The Kitz Farm
Conservation practices include rotational grazing, streambank protection, fencing, and animal crossings, and a roofed animal heavy use area. The first Westmoreland County farm in the PA Agriculture Conservation Assistance Program (ACAP)
Agriculture
2024 Conservation Farmer of the Year – Marla & Todd Frescura, Dante & Evan
A 100 acre certified organic dairy farm - conservation practices include rotational grazing with 53 paddocks, streambank fencing, riparian buffers and grassed waterways.
Agriculture