Conservation District Watershed Specialist (CDWS) Program
Forecasted
Conservation District Watershed Specialist (CDWS) Program supports county conservation districts with specialist staffing, restoration, monitoring, and education to improve water quality.
Funder: Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection
Due Dates (Anticipated): July 2027 (Year-end executive summary and supporting materials)
Funding Amounts: $50,250 annually for the Watershed Specialist position, plus up to $5,000 per county for education and outreach
Summary: Supports county conservation districts in improving water quality through specialist staffing, watershed restoration, monitoring, and education.
Key Information: Funding is for Pennsylvania county conservation districts; Mini-Grant projects must serve adult audiences.
Description
The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) created the Conservation District Watershed Specialist Program in 2000 to help communities improve water quality. It funds county conservation districts to employ specialists who provide technical, informational, and organizational assistance for watershed protection. Their work includes watershed assessment and monitoring, restoration planning, securing and managing grants, technical assistance, and education.
Watershed Specialists collaborate with watershed associations and other non-governmental organizations to implement restoration projects and involve residents in monitoring and conservation. A separate education and outreach Mini-Grant supports workshops, field days, demonstration projects, and other water-quality and pollution-prevention education for adults. Projects may address nonpoint source pollution, climate resilience, riparian buffers, stream and wetland restoration, and ecosystem services.
