Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts, Inc.

10/15/2026

Letters of Intent are now being accepted for the 2026-27 Strategic Planning Grants Program, which will reimburse up to $2,500 in expenses related to the development of a district strategic plan.

Visit Building for Tomorrow for more information. The deadline to submit a Letter of Intent is December 31, 2026.

10/14/2026

On September 23-24, 2026, PACD Director of Operations Holly Miller attended the Northeast Mid-Atlantic Forest and Water Forum in Williamsport, PA. Holly facilitated a breakout session with forestry groups and non-governmental organizations (NGOs).

The Northeast Mid-Atlantic Partnership for Forests and Water is a collaborative effort involving multiple agencies and partners aimed at enhancing coordinated, science-based restoration of vital forest landscapes and watersheds across 13 states.

10/13/2026

Leaders communicate to inform, influence, persuade, and inspire. Why do some messages motivate people while others are ignored? The 2026 Management Summit keynote, presented by Dr. Stephany Santos, Ph.D., will explore the answers to this question and discuss how to intentionally frame messaging and presentations that connect emotionally, communicate purpose, and inspire action.

Management Summit is open to all district management and partner staff and is free to attend. The registration deadline is October 16.

Visit Building for Tomorrow for more information:

July 28, 2026 Register Now for 2026 Management Summit Uncategorized Registration is now open for the 2026 Management Summit & PreCon, October 27 -29 at the Wyndham Garden State College Conference Center in Boalsburg. This year’s program features a dedicated New Manager Training day on Tuesday, a W...

10/12/2026

Bradford County Conservation District and Lancaster County Conservation District will receive funding through The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation’s (NFWF) 2026 Chesapeake Small Watersheds Grants Program.

PACD will receive funding through the 2026 Innovative Nutrient and Sediment Reduction Grants Program.

Click here to read the press release:

EPA Deputy Administrator David Fotouhi was joined by U.S. Representative Jen Kiggans (R-VA-02) and others to announce more than $90 million for the Chesapeake Bay watershed.

10/09/2026

PACD submitted an article, “Pennsylvania’s Conservation Districts: Local Partners Protecting Natural Resources and Supporting Communities,” to the County Commissioners Association of PA (CCAP). It was published in the fall issue of the Pennsylvania County News.

Click here to read the article (pages 14-15):

Sustainable Pennsylvania: Preserving Land, Retaining Communities, Powering Innovation

10/08/2026

PACD Executive Director Amy Brown participated in a state partner panel discussion at the National Association of State Conservation Agencies (NASCA) 2026 Annual Conference, held October 4–7 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Brown joined Denise Coleman, State Conservationist, at the PA USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and Marty Qually, Executive Secretary of the State Conservation Commission (SCC) for the panel, which brought together conservation leaders to share perspectives, experiences, and insights on conservation efforts across the country.

10/07/2026

PACD Ag Plan Reimbursement Program Outcomes

In just under two years, the PACD Ag Plan Reimbursement Program funded 437 grants totaling $900,000. These grants provided cost-share reimbursement for 782 plans covering just over 99,000 acres across the state—639 in the Chesapeake Bay, 94 in the Delaware River Basin, and 49 in the Ohio River Basin.

Of these, 179 plans covering 23,847.95 acres were on a preserved farm or being considered for easement sale through the Farmland Preservation Program.

The program concluded in September, but PACD hopes to receive funding in the future to continue the program.

The Ag Plan Reimbursement Program is administered by the Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts, Inc. through a grant from the Pennsylvania State Conservation Commission.

10/06/2026

Congratulations to Cumberland County, PA - Conservation District on another successful golf tournament! The district raised a record $17,668 for environmental education.

10/05/2026

Bucks, Clearfield, and Lancaster Conservation Districts receive Section 319 Nonpoint Source Management Grants

-Bucks County Conservation District received $161,325 for the Watershed Implementation Plan (WIP) Revision
-Clearfield County Conservation District received $790,612 for the Morgan Run State Game Lands 98 AMD Treatment Construction Phase 1
-Lancaster County Conservation District received $171,050 for the Lancaster WIP Partnership Implementation project to support the construction of two 1,000 linear foot stream restoration projects
-Lancaster County Conservation District received $281,570 for the Connecting Projects and Restoring the Pequea

More:

Eight projects across Pennsylvania will treat abandoned mine drainage, restore streams and floodplains, reduce pollution and improve fish and wildlife habitat.

10/02/2026

The October installment of the Board Development Video Series presents important information for directors on the Pennsylvania Public Official and Employee Ethics Act.

Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=idf9SUSnr3s

Financial and other support for the Building for Tomorrow Leadership Development Program is provided through a grant from the Pennsylvania State Conservation Commission. Guidance for the Program is provided through the Pennsylvania Conservation Partnership’s Leadership Development Committee.

Building for Tomorrow: Leadership Development for Pennsylvania's Co...