Lehigh County Conservation District

Our Purpose

To protect, conserve, and provide leadership for the sustainability of our natural resources.

Spotted Lanternfly

The spotted lanternfly quarantine in our area has been expanded.

Educational Programs

Learn about our exciting upcoming educational opportunities for all ages!

Announcements and Events

See what’s happening at the LCCD.

Announcements

Over 1,200 native perennials planted to create a meadow habitat

The Lehigh County Conservation District’s Ecologist and Watershed Specialist are thrilled to announce the successful planting of more than 1,200 native perennial landscape plugs on public land — a major step in transforming a wet site into a thriving wet meadow...

400 native trees and shrubs planted to support wildlife and watershed health

The Lehigh County Conservation District, in partnership with the Wildlands Conservancy and dedicated local volunteer groups, recently completed the planting of 400 native trees and shrubs on a property in Allentown. This exciting project is part of a broader effort to...

5th graders dive into water quality education at orefield middle school steamm expo

Several hundred 5th grade students learned about water quality through an interactive indoor stream experience led by our Environmental Education and Outreach Coordinator. During this hands-on activity, students participated in a mock stream study, identifying and...

Events

There are no upcoming events at this time

To protect, conserve and provide leadership for the sustainability of our natural resources.

The Lehigh County Conservation District was established by the Lehigh County Commissioners on September 26, 1946, at the request of a significant number of landowners in the county. It is one of sixty-six conservation districts in Pennsylvania and nearly 3,000 nationwide. At that time, its primary purpose was to address soil erosion from mostly agricultural properties. Governed by a volunteer board of citizen directors, it was staffed by employees of the Soil Conservation Service in the US Department of Agriculture, who worked with farmers to develop farm conservation plans.

The past half-century has seen the District employ its own staff to address a variety of resource management concerns: agricultural nutrient management, biosolids application, as well as soil conservation; erosion and sediment control from urban development sites, farmland preservation, conservation education, and watershed protection. Currently, fourteen employees work in these program areas, most under delegation agreement or contract with state agencies.

The District is funded by three major sources: county government, state government and user fees. Donations and fundraising activities help fund educational programs. The current board consists of three farmers and three public directors and one county commissioner. Directors, appointed by the County Executive, serve four-year terms, and meet monthly to set policy, hear progress reports, and plan the District’s work. The Pennsylvania State Conservation Commission guides them in their operations, and they belong to both the Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts and the National Association of Conservation.