ABOUT US
The St. Joseph County Conservation District was established in 1948 to assist farmers in developing soil and water conservation plans. Since then, the District has expanded its focus to include a wide range of stakeholders across the County and throughout the St. Joseph River Watershed. While agriculture remains a core focus, we also collaborate with partner organizations to protect and conserve the county's most vital natural resource—water.
Guided by a volunteer board of five members and supported by a dedicated staff, The St. Joseph County Conservation District works with partners to promote the preservation of ground and surface water, sustainable agricultural practices, irrigation efficiency, environmental education, ecological stewardship, and community-centered initiatives.
Our services are made possible through community support, including volunteer efforts, local financial contributions, and grant funding. Throughout the year, the Conservation District organizes several fundraising events, such as the spring tree sale, annual meeting, and local food dinner, to further our mission.
RECENT event Highlights
SPRING TREE SALE 2024
The St. Joseph County Conservation District would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone who attended our 2024 Spring Tree Sale! Your continued support allows us to give back to the community through our events and our efforts to preserve Michigan's natural resources.
A special thank you goes to Chupp's Herbs & Fabrics, located at 27521 Londick Rd, Burr Oak, MI 49030, for generously donating over 200 reusable tote bags for this year's tree sale orders!
We appreciate each and every one of you for continuing to help make these annual events a success!
2024 ANNUAL MEETING
We extend our sincere gratitude to everyone who attended our Annual Meeting on April 10, 2024! Our guest speaker, Mike Connor, delivered an enlightening presentation titled Meadows in the Sky, offering a specialized perspective on the crucial role flowering trees play for all pollinators.
We would also like to congratulate this year's awardees…
* Volunteer of the Year: Richard Livermore
* Beginning Farmer of the Year: Ryan Clark
* One Water Art Contest Winner: Weston Cupp
VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR
We are thrilled to announce that Richard Livermore has been named the St. Joseph County Conservation District's Volunteer of the Year! Richard has shown exceptional dedication through his active involvement in lake monitoring of Sturgeon Lake. This summer, he will continue his hard work by conducting one test per week for 16 weeks. We thank Richard for his invaluable contributions across several SJCCD programs and look forward to continuing our work together.
BEGINNING FARMER OF THE YEAR
We are delighted to announce that Ryan Clark has been named St. Joseph County Conservation District's Beginning Farmer of the Year! Ryan has shown great initiative purchasing his own farm ground and is dedicated to continuing no-till practices, understanding the crucial role cover crops play in yield production. We commend Ryan for embarking on his farming journey and look forward to seeing his continued success!
ONE WATER ART CONTEST
A special thanks to Weston Cupp, the One Water drawing contestant who impressively placed third overall for his beautiful artwork, which was put on display along with the other three top contestants’ pieces at our annual meeting!
RIVER CLEANUP EVENTS
We are looking forward to another great season
kayaking our way to healthier waterways in 2025!
Event dates to be released early spring!
If you'd like to become a river cleanup volunteer,
please call the office to be put on our list!
(269) 467-6336 Ext. 5
PARKVILLE DAM REMOVAL
CELEBRATE THE ST. JOE
Over 100 community members came to watch the new PBS documentary, 'Then, Now, and Always...The St. Joseph River Story' at Covered Bridge Farm Park. Thank you to all who attended and donated!
ST. JOSEPH RIVER INVENTORY
Our SJCCD team has successfully surveyed the entire length of the St. Joseph River, mapping invasive species distributions, water quality trends, and potential areas of concern along the 206-mile mainstem.
MONTHLY BOARD MEETING
MONTHLY BOARD MEETING
MONTHLY BOARD MEETING
Topic: November Board Meeting
Wednesday, November 18th, 2024
3:00PM - 4:30PM
OUR MISSION
MONTHLY BOARD MEETING
MONTHLY BOARD MEETING
THE ST. JOSEPH COUNTY CONSERVATION DISTRICT PROVIDES EDUCATION, TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, PARTNERSHIPS, AND CONTACTS FOR LOCAL RESOURCES TO HELP OUR RESIDENTS CONSERVE THEIR LANDS AND OUR SHARED ENVIRONMENT FOR A CLEANER, HEALTHIER, ECONOMICALLY STRONGER COUNTY.
SJCCD PHOTO GALLERY
MONTHLY BOARD MEETING
RIVER CLEANUP EVENT SCHEDULE
Check out our photo gallery!
Click on pictures to see what SJCCD has been up to!
RIVER CLEANUP EVENT SCHEDULE
SOUTHERN MICHIGAN INVASIVE SPECIES TEAM
RIVER CLEANUP EVENT SCHEDULE
Event dates to be announced in spring 2025!
CALL OUR OFFICE TO BECOME A RIVER CLEANUP VOLUNTEER!
(269) 467-6336 Ext. 5
*Snacks, lunch, kayaks,
and life jackets provided!
Program Contact: Eric Pretzlav
SOUTHERN MICHIGAN INVASIVE SPECIES TEAM
SOUTHERN MICHIGAN INVASIVE SPECIES TEAM
SOUTHERN MICHIGAN INVASIVE SPECIES TEAM
Questions regarding invasive species?
Call or email at
(269) 467-6336 Ext. 5
-or- shaun.grace@macd.org
Program Contact: Shaun Grace
MACROINVERTEBRATE EVENT SCHEDULE
SOUTHERN MICHIGAN INVASIVE SPECIES TEAM
SOUTHERN MICHIGAN INVASIVE SPECIES TEAM
Event dates to be announced in spring 2025!
CALL OUR OFFICE TO BECOME A STREAM MONITORING VOLUNTEER!
(269) 467-6336 Ext. 5
*No previous experience necessary; equipment and training provided!
Program Contact: Kaitlin Renehan