Summary: The PA Association of Conservation Districts (PACD) represents Pennsylvania’s 66 county conservation districts — local units of government that provide technical and financial assistance for conservation, watershed restoration, and natural resource management. For AML/AMD practitioners, county conservation districts are often the most accessible and locally knowledgeable source of technical support, grant administration help, and project coordination. Finding and working with your county conservation district is one of the most practical steps any watershed organization can take.
What Conservation Districts Do for AML/AMD Work #
- Technical assistance for watershed assessment, monitoring, and restoration projects
- Grant writing and grant administration support for watershed organizations
- Fiscal sponsorship for organizations without 501(c)(3) status
- Coordination with PA DEP regional offices and BAMR on AML/AMD projects
- Landowner outreach and project coordination in their counties
- Erosion and sediment control permitting (relevant to restoration construction)
- Education and outreach programs for communities and schools
How to Find Your County Conservation District #
Every Pennsylvania county has a conservation district. The level of AML/AMD-specific activity varies significantly by county — districts in the coal-mining regions of western, central, and northeastern PA tend to have more active AMD programs. PACD maintains a directory of all 66 districts.
PACD website and district finder: https://pacd.org/
Conservation Districts and Fiscal Sponsorship #
One of the most valuable but underutilized services conservation districts provide is fiscal sponsorship — serving as the fiscal agent for watershed organization grants when the organization lacks its own nonprofit status or grant management capacity. This allows small volunteer groups to apply for and manage grant funding they would otherwise not be able to access. Ask your county conservation district whether fiscal sponsorship is available.
How to Connect #
PACD: https://pacd.org/ (Dauphin County)
Find your district: Use the PACD district finder or search for “[your county] conservation district Pennsylvania”
Related Pages #
- Schuylkill Conservation District — example of a highly active AMD-focused district
- PA DEP Bureau of Abandoned Mine Reclamation
- Finding Assistance (Organizational Development)
- Where to Get Help
Source and Last Reviewed: pacd.org; AMLConnect Organizational Capacity reference document (2026-03). Last reviewed: 2026-03.
Tags: practitioner, program-manager, funding, aml, amd, pa
