Soil and water conservation districts were established in the 1940s by state legislatures throughout the country in response to devastating soil erosion that was brought about by the great dust storms of the 1930s.  Conservation districts provide a way for landowners to set local conservation priorities for national conservation programs.   

Each Conservation District works in partnership with the U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service to deliver technical assistance to local landowners and municipalities in areas of environmental concern and natural resources management. 

The fourteen conservation districts in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts are unfunded, non-regulatory units of State Government.  District supervisors, elected to govern conservation districts, are local citizens who are concerned about the quality of their soil, water and other natural resources. 

Conservation services and technical assistance provided by the Worcester County Conservation District are funded by proceeds from our Annual Seedling Sale, which is held each spring.  The ability of the conservation district to provide these critical services is dependent upon the success of the annual seedling sale.

As pressures on our environment mount, more attention to water and soil conservation, water quality, and waste disposal issues are essential.  Protecting and enhancing the soil, water and other natural resources of Massachusetts requires the combined effort of local, state and federal partners.   

In the role of a local partner, the Worcester County Conservation District works with federal partners such as the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and the U.S. Forest Service as well as the agencies of the Massachusetts Executive Office of Environmental Affairs (EOEA) and the State Commission for the Conservation of Soil, Water and Related Resources (DCS).

Technical assistance to landowners and municipalities includes agricultural and forest management conservation planning, watershed-based assistance and conservation planning services for communities.  Technical assistance also includes helping landowners reduce the potential for non-point source pollution of surface water and groundwater, and providing soils maps and educational materials to assist private landowners determine soil characteristics and capabilities on their land.

To request assistance from the conservation district, landowners should send a request in writing to the district office describing their problem and the type of assistance they would like to receive.  

The Worcester County Conservation District holds a spring seedling sale that offers a wide range of plant materials with an emphasis on native and wetlands species.  Inventory ranges from small evergreen seedlings to fruit trees and blooming shrubs, most sold inexpensively as bare root stock.  The sale also includes perennials and groundcovers.   

The District seedling sale offers the opportunity to purchase plant types and sizes not always available at standard retail outlets.  The sale also encourages plantings for erosion and flood control, wildlife shelter and food, windbreaks, shade, beauty and cleaner air.  It is a perfect source for garden club members who wish to start with small plants or fill in large areas economically. 

For more information on the Worcester Conservation District Annual Seedling Sale check out the link to that site on our home page, or click here if you would like to link now.

Worcester County Conservation District                      
USDA Service Center                                                 
52 Boyden Road, Suite 100                                         
Holden, MA 01520   

Telephone: (508) 829-0168 ext:183
FAX: (508) 829-9508
E-mail: lisa.trotto@ma.usda.gov