The Lancaster County Conservation District board of directors has announced the promotion of Matt Kofroth to assistant district manager - a new position - and Amanda Goldsmith to watershed specialist.

Kofroth's time with the conservation district includes 22 years as a watershed specialist. He joined the district as volunteer community-based watershed associations were developing in the county. Kofroth has played an integral role in fostering new watershed associations and mentoring volunteers facing challenges with stream restoration funding; he has also worked on community involvement. As a watershed specialist, he led countless watershed educational events, launched the website http://www.lancasterwatersheds.org, completed numerous stream improvement projects, wrote and partnered on several watershed implementation plans, and worked with many partnering organizations developing local and regional water resource improvements. Kofroth's leadership enabled the district's watershed program to grow from one to three full-time staff members solely focused on water resources in Lancaster County with strategic plans to increase the staff in the future.

Kofroth was appointed to the assistant district manager position this past spring. He will support the conservation district manager and directors on the board, in addition to the many conservation district projects, and providing leadership for staff members.

Goldsmith has spent three and half years at the conservation district working in education, watershed, and agriculture programs. For the past year, as the assistant watershed specialist, she initiated projects, finalized permits, and collaborated on stream restoration projects in the Conowingo, Pequea, Big Beaver, and Mill Creek watersheds and other watersheds. The leadership transition will allow her to advance grants for projects, connect watershed associations, and continue to develop a water quality monitoring program. Goldsmith is the third watershed specialist for the county since the position was created 25 years ago.