PACD partnered with the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay to offer a virtual riparian buffer training on October 9, 2025. Ryan Davis, Associate Forests Program Director for the Alliance, was the instructor for the event. Thirty-two conservation district staff and partners attended the training to learn more about buffer planning, site preparation, planting, and maintenance, as well as buffer funding programs. The training was recorded and will be available soon for those who were unable to join us. Email hmiller@pacd.org for a link.

This summer, Chester County Conservation District planted 0.36 acres of multi-functional riparian forest buffer in the White Clay Watershed. The project cost $5,256.00 and was paid for through PACD’s multi-functional buffer sub-grant program. 

 

Warren County Conservation District planted 3 acres of conventional riparian forest buffer this summer in the Conewango Creek Watershed. The project cost $5,454.95 and was paid for through PACD’s multi-functional buffer sub-grant program. Click here to learn more about the program. 

Financial and other support for this project is provided by the Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts, Inc., through a grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Bureau of Recreation and Conservation.

Missed it? Join a webinar on October 9.

PACD partnered with the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay to offer a riparian buffer boot camp in Snyder County. Nine conservation district staff attended the field day to learn how to complete new site visits, develop a planting plan, use flags to mark the site, and conduct maintenance. Participants planted and sheltered trees as part of the hands-on learning experience.

If you were unable to attend the in-person training, please join us for a virtual riparian buffer training for conservation districts by registering using the link below. 

Riparian Forest Buffer Training for Conservation Districts
October 9, 2025 | 9:00 a.m. to Noon

This training is partially financed by a grant from the Community Conservation Partnerships Program, Environmental Stewardship Fund, administered by the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Bureau of Recreation and Conservation.

 

PACD was awarded a $200,000 Community Conservation Partnerships Program (C2P2) grant from the PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources to continue to offer both programs to conservation districts. This round of grants will have three categories of funding you may apply for:

• Installation of lawn conversion and/or riparian buffer projects with a maximum of $25,000
• Post-planting establishment for DCNR or non-DCNR funded projects with a maximum of $5,000
• Education & Outreach events with a maximum of $1,000

The grant also includes training for conservation district staff. Once again, the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay has partnered with us to offer lawn conversion and riparian buffer training. Please stay tuned for future training events!

Please visit our website here to find program information such as guidelines, applications, planting & maintenance plan templates, mid-term & final report templates, resources, etc. 

All applications and supporting documents should be emailed to hmiller@pacd.org. There is no online application. Applications will be approved on a rolling basis until funds are expended.

Thanks to conservation district staff, these programs have been incredibly successful in completing smaller-scale lawn conversion and riparian buffer projects across Pennsylvania. During the last round, conservation district projects covered almost 18 acres of lawn conversion and almost 12 acres of riparian forest buffer. Since 2018, conservation districts have installed nearly 150 acres of riparian forest buffers across PA!

Please get in touch with Holly Miller at hmiller@pacd.org with questions.

PACD has $36,000 available in the current riparian buffer grant. If any conservation districts are planting buffers this year, please apply for funding to install riparian forest buffers in conjunction with landowners. Multi-functional riparian forest buffers are encouraged, but conventional buffers are also accepted. This grant is first come, first served. The grant round will stay open until funds are expended or June 30, 2025, whichever comes first. 

Click here for more information or email Holly Miller hmiller@pacd.org.

Financial and other support for this project is provided by the Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts, Inc. through a grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Bureau of Recreation and Conservation.

Indiana County Conservation District planted seven multifunctional riparian forest buffers in Indiana County last year. The projects covered almost 13 acres and were paid for through PACD’s Multifunctional Riparian Buffer Sub-grant Program.

1.4 acres along Cheese Run = $2,555.97
0.91 acres along McCarthy Run = $1,972.48
0.74 acres along Cherry Run = $1,407.21
0.72 acres along Weirs Run = $927.30
3.5 acres along Leasure Run = $3,842.59
3.3 acres along Reeds Run = $6,109.69
2.25 acres along Reeds Run = $4,505.87

Click here to see more photos from the projects. 

Financial and other support for this project is provided by the Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts, Inc. through a grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Bureau of Recreation and Conservation.

Elk County Conservation District planted 0.13 acres of multifunctional riparian forest buffer along Bennett’s Branch in Bennezette, Elk County. The project cost $1,751.48 and was paid for through PACD’s riparian buffer sub-grant program.

Financial and other support for this project is provided by the Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts, Inc. through a grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Bureau of Recreation and Conservation.

Warren County Conservation District planted one acre of multifunctional riparian forest buffer on a farm in Glade Township, Warren County. The project cost a total of $13,433 with $4,958 funded by a sub-grant through PACD’s Riparian Buffer Sub-grant Program https://pacd.org/?page_id=69 and a $8,474 match from the Warren County Conservation District.

Financial and other support for this project is provided by the Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts, Inc. through a grant from the Community Conservation Partnerships Program Environmental Stewardship fund, under the administration of the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Bureau of Recreation and Conservation.

Potter County Conservation District planted 5 acres of multi-functional riparian forest buffer along Oswayo Creek on a farm in Potter County. The project cost $7,878 and was funded through PACD’s Riparian Buffer Sub-grant Program. 

Financial and other support for this project is provided by the Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts, Inc. through a grant from the Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority under the administration of the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Bureau of Recreation and Conservation.