Summary
Pennsylvania’s 66 county conservation districts are among the most important support partners available to watershed organizations. They provide technical advice, watershed specialist support, grant administration, and connections to state and federal programs. For new organizations, contacting the local conservation district is often the most productive first call to make.
What Conservation Districts Do #
County conservation districts have supported local grassroots conservation efforts for over 50 years. Pennsylvania’s 66 districts offer expert technical advice and guidance across a range of programs unique to each county’s environmental needs, including: farmland preservation, stream bank fencing, wetland protection, floodplain monitoring, erosion and sedimentation control permitting, AMD monitoring and remediation projects, and environmental education.
DEP Watershed Specialists #
DEP watershed specialists, employed at county conservation districts, offer expert advice on watershed conservation practices, assist with developing action plans to protect and improve watershed health, and serve as a link between local watershed groups and the PA DEP.
Grant Administration and Fiscal Sponsorship #
Conservation districts can act as a watershed organization’s grant administrator — an important option for groups not yet incorporated as nonprofits. They can provide technical and field assistance for watershed characterization and help implement watershed protection and restoration strategies. Contacting the local conservation district early also helps increase community awareness and identify funding sources.
Find your county conservation district at paconservationdistricts.org.
Related Pages #
- Finding Assistance
- Government Partners and Agencies
- Incorporate as a Non-Profit — Districts can serve as fiscal sponsors before incorporation
- Organize a Watershed Partnership
Source and Last Reviewed
Source: AMR Clearinghouse. Migrated to AML-Connect.
Last reviewed: 2026-03 | Verify current contact information at paconservationdistricts.org.
Tags: planning, practitioner, program-manager, pa
