Turning Conveyor Belts Into Conservation Tools
From Trash to Tool
When it comes to conservation, innovation doesn't always mean creating something new; it often means finding a new purpose for what already exists. Old conveyor belts, once destined for the landfill, are proving to be a powerful tool for managing stormwater on Pennsylvania's dirt and gravel roads. These belts might have outlived their usability in industry, but they're just getting started in conservation.
The Belt Advantage
Conveyor belt diversions are simple yet effective. Installed at an angle across unpaved roads, they channel stormwater off the driving surface and into stable areas, preventing ruts, erosion, and sediment from washing into nearby streams. Unlike traditional water bars built from soil or stone, these reclaimed belts are flexible, durable, and long-lasting. Think of them as the "workhorses" of road conservation, tough, reliable, and not afraid to get dirty. With proper installation, they can withstand years of traffic and weather while keeping roads passable and waterways protected.
Building Skills, Structures and Capacity
On August 20, 2025, conservation professionals from several county conservation districts gathered at the Mytrysak Family Tree Farm in Indiana County to put this practice into action. The Conveyor Belt Diversion Workshop brought together staff from across agencies for a hands-on training. After a safety briefing and field walk to evaluate the site, participants learned the design basics and then teamed up for a group build. By lunchtime, the belts weren't just repurposed, they were repurposed with purpose. By the end of the day, five diversion belts had been constructed and were ready for future installation.
The workshop wasn't just about building structures; it was about building capacity. Participants left with practical knowledge, troubleshooting skills, and confidence to bring conveyor belt diversions back to their own counties. They didn't just take home information, they took home inspiration. "The beauty of this practice is its simplicity. Farmers and conservation professionals can install these belts with basic tools, and the benefits, better roads, cleaner streams, speak for themselves." - Dana Flowers, educator, Penn State Extension's CACAT.
Conservation With Traction
By turning industrial "waste" into conservation infrastructure, this practice closes a loop: less material in the landfill, more resilient roads, and cleaner streams. What once carried commodities such as coal, stone, or grain now carries water safely off our roads. That's conservation with traction. It's a solution that's as sustainable as it is practical—and it's rolling out across Pennsylvania, one belt at a time.
About the Farm
At the Mytrysak Family Tree Farm, stormwater has been carving ruts in their farm lanes, puddling in low spots, and carrying sediment toward nearby Cheese Run. Looking for a solution, the landowners heard about the Agricultural Conservation Assistance Program (ACAP) and contacted Indiana County Conservation District to apply. They were awarded a contract to install conservation practices that will lessen stormwater impacts on their farm.
A Holistic Approach
In addition to the conveyor belt diversions constructed at this workshop, other farm lane improvements will be made, including adding surface material, additional stormwater diversions such as broad-based dips and culvert pipes, and an underdrain to alleviate a frequently water-logged section of road. A steep, heavily eroded lane will be retired and replanted, and a culvert stream crossing will be installed at a low point where the road often gets overtopped with stormwater. Around farm headquarters, new gutters will direct roof runoff into underground outlets that will discharge into rock sumps, allowing the collected stormwater to infiltrate back into groundwater.
Ripple Effects
These improvements will not only preserve laneways and make management for the farmers easier, but also protect nearby streams from sediment pollution. And the impact doesn’t stop there. This project has been selected to receive supporting demonstration project funds from the Center for Agriculture Conservation Assistance Training (CACAT). Beyond the improvements on the ground, the site will continue to serve as a training and education resource.
The event was hosted by the Indiana County Conservation District, sponsored by Penn State Extension CACAT, and the main presenter, Dave Morrison, was from the Center for Dirt and Gravel Road Studies at Penn State. This collaboration sparked cross-agency teamwork, reinforcing that conservation is most effective when ideas and resources are shared.
"What once carried rocks out of a rock quarry is now carrying water safely off our roads. That transformation reminds us that conservation is about more than protecting land, it’s about rethinking what’s possible." - Jacob Tomlinson, educator with Penn State Extension’s CACAT.
