Michigan Association of Conservation Districts

06/11/2026

Conservation District Spotlight: Alpena-Montmorency Conservation District

The Alpena-Montmorency Conservation District helps connect residents with programs and resources that support local land, water, forests, and wildlife habitat.

In FY25, the district completed 12 MAEAP/RAP farm visits and 12 RAP soil health samples, supporting local conservation planning and agricultural stewardship in Alpena and Montmorency Counties.

What conservation resources would be most helpful in your community: soil health, forest management, water quality, or wildlife habitat?

06/10/2026

Running for office on the board of Directors, and voting in your local Conservation District election both are ways to make a significant difference in your community! Each Conservation District has different dates for voting in their elections, so look up your local District to see when you are able to vote.

Our annual meeting is coming up and our election for ACD board members is currently underway. Voting for board members will take place during the annual meeting on July 22nd 3-5 pm at our office in central lake.

If you are unable to attend the annual meeting absentee ballots are available now. To obtain an absentee ballot, please email [email protected] or call the Antrim Conservation District (231 533-8363 ext.1) or stop by our office currently located at 7915 Cameron Street in Central Lake, MI 49622 during regular business hours. Please note before stopping in that we are closed on all county holidays.

There are four (4) Director positions available:

One (1)Director position is available for 3 years
Candidates:
Kelly Doyle
Jesse Anderson

One (1) Director position is available for 4 years
Candidates:
Adrienne Wolff
James Michanowicz

Two (2) Director positions are available for 2 years
Candidates:
Kathleen Peterson
Heidi Shaffer
Patricia Wiltse
Amy Drake
Bryan Smith

Residents must be individuals of legal age who can demonstrate residency in the Antrim Conservation District service area via one (1) piece of identification.

06/10/2026

Michigan is home to more than 460 species of bees, and each plays a role in supporting pollination, native plants, agriculture, and healthy ecosystems.

From gardens and wildflowers to farms and natural areas, native bees help keep Michigan ecosystems growing.

What native flowers or pollinator-friendly plants are growing near you?

06/09/2026

Apply now to join the Midwest Cover Crops Council 2026 cohort for Cover Crop Essentials, a multi-state, online course on all things cover crops! Designed for early career ag educators in the Midwest, including Extension, ag industry professionals, NRCS staff, and Conservation District staff.

This course will run Jul 27-Nov 16, 2026 and meets virtually.
This course is free, thanks to support from North Central SARE.
10.5 CCA CEUs. Space is limited! Apply by June 23, 2026 for a chance to join the 2026 cohort

Application link and more information can be found at the course webpage https://www.midwestcovercrops.org/covercrop_essentials_course/

06/08/2026

Our Michigan Envirothon program teaches a wide variety of topics, including aquatics. This program helps train the conservation professionals of tomorrow.

06/05/2026

Great feature article of some of the work going on at the Grand Traverse Conservation District!

“Nobody gets into farming for sane reasons, other than the sanity of knowing where your food comes from and just general health,” said one student at the Great Lakes Incubator Farm, which teaches people how to work in agriculture.

06/03/2026

There are so many beautiful things to protect and appreciate in our State! Conservation Districts are working every day in their communities.

🌀 Did you know Michigan has its own tiny, magical creatures hiding in plain sight?
Our Watershed Technician Hannah Lopinski recently spotted these incredible little beings at a local vernal pool, and we couldn't wait to share them with you. Say hello to fairy shrimp! 🧚
Fairy shrimp are small, translucent crustaceans that spend their short lives in vernal pools, which are seasonal pools of water that form in spring from snowmelt and rain and then dry up by summer. They are so well adapted to this temporary habitat that their eggs (called cysts) can survive in dry soil for years, even decades, just waiting for the right conditions to hatch.
Why do they matter?
Fairy shrimp are a key part of the vernal pool food web. They are an important food source for migrating birds, salamanders, wood frogs, and other wildlife that depend on these pools to breed and feed each spring. Healthy fairy shrimp populations are a sign of a healthy vernal pool ecosystem!
Vernal pools may look like just a puddle in the woods, but they are actually critical habitat that supports biodiversity across our entire region. 💚
Next time you spot a seasonal pool this spring, take a closer look. You might just find a little piece of magic swimming around! 🌿
📸 Photo credit: Hannah Lopinski, MCD Watershed Technician

06/01/2026

Enjoy nature and help keep it beautiful, while protecting native habitats and clean water! Check your local Conservation District to see what events are happening near you!

HAVE YOU SIGNED UP YET?

Join the Kalamazoo community in our Annual Kalamazoo Watershed Clean Up Event - June 20th!

05/30/2026

Serving on your local Conservation District board is one way to shape decisions that affect land, water, agriculture, forests, wildlife, and conservation education in your community.

How to get started:

1. Find your local Conservation District
Use the MACD District Directory: https://members.macd.org/member-directory

2. Contact the district office
Ask when their annual meeting is held and when nominating petitions are available

3. Get your signatures
When nominating petitions are open, get 5 signatures from county residents supporting your run and turn it in to your District by the deadline

4. Meet people and ask for their vote!
Get out in the community and share why you are running for the Conservation District board and how you will support your District through your leadership.

Local conservation decisions start with community involvement. Have you ever considered running for office?