Dirt, Gravel & Low Volume Roads

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The Luzerne Conservation District administers the State Conservation Commission’s (SCC) Dirt, Gravel & Low Volume Roads Program in Luzerne County.  The purpose of the Program is “to fund safe, efficient, and environmentally sound maintenance” on dirt, gravel, and low-volume paved roads to reduce stream pollution caused by runoff and sediment.  Through this program, the district provides grants and technical assistance to public agencies for work on their roads.  Our partners in this program include: the SCC, the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, and Penn State University’s Center for Dirt & Gravel Road Studies.

The program is designed to encourage municipalities and other agencies to implement environmentally sensitive road maintenance practices on roads in Luzerne County.  Once an agency has completed the required training, they are eligible to apply to the district’s Quality Assurance Board for grants to fund environmentally sensitive road maintenance projects.  Funding for this program is made available to districts through the State Conservation Commission.

GRANT ROUNDS & APPLICATIONS

The district has instituted an “open” grant application process.  Municipalities can submit grant applications for dirt & gravel or low-volume paved road projects at any time throughout the year, with grant awards usually occurring once or twice a year.

PLEASE CONTACT MIKE SCHLAUCH WITH QUESTIONS AND BEFORE SUBMITTING A GRANT APPLICATION FOR A POTENTIAL PROJECT.

PLEASE NOTE:  In order to be eligible to for program funds, agencies must have a representative who will provide on-site supervision of the project and who has attended the two-day EMS Training within the past 5 years.  (Click here for the current statewide eligibility list.)   

UPCOMING EVENTS & TRAINING

• Click here for Environmentally Sensitive Maintenance trainings (scheduled by the Center for Dirt & Gravel Road Studies)

PROGRAM CONTACT

Mike Schlauch, Program Coordinator

570-938-3018

mike@luzcd.org

FORMS & GUIDANCE

• Grant Application
• Instructions for Grant Application
• DSA Certification Forms, Traffic Count Forms, etc.
• Luzerne CD’s DGLVR Program Quality Assurance Board Policies & Procedures
• Presentation from Program Informational Meeting on 4/30/15 (large file, 6.84 MB)

For more information on the Dirt, Gravel, & Low Volume Roads Program, visit:  www.dirtandgravelroads.org