FAQ

A conservation district is a local unit of government established under Pennsylvania law to help protect, conserve, and wisely manage soil, water, and other natural resources within a county. Conservation districts work with landowners, municipalities, and partner agencies to provide technical assistance, education, and locally‑driven conservation programs, helping address issues such as erosion control, water quality, and natural resource protection. They are led by a volunteer Board of Directors made up of community members who understand local environmental needs and guide the District’s work.

Districts offer a range of services including technical assistance, conservation planning, education, watershed protection resources, and guidance on best management practices for land use, agriculture, and construction.

If you notice stormwater runoff that may be causing sediment, erosion, or water quality problems related to active earth disturbances or construction activities, the Pike County Conservation District can investigate and respond to your concerns. When we receive a complaint, the District may perform a site visit, complete an inspection, and work with the responsible parties to address issues and ensure compliance with Pennsylvania’s erosion and sediment control and stormwater regulations. Complaints are kept confidential, and we’ll follow up with you on our findings and any next steps.

If your concern involves general stormwater issues—such as flooding, drainage problems, illegal dumping, or pollution in storm drains or waterways that are not tied to a construction site—this falls outside the jurisdiction of the Pike County Conservation District, which focuses on regulated earth disturbance activities. In these cases, you should contact your local municipality or stormwater authority (such as your township or borough public works or stormwater department) so they can investigate and address the issue. Municipal stormwater programs are typically responsible for managing drainage systems, responding to non‑construction runoff concerns, and enforcing local stormwater ordinances.

The Pike County Conservation District provides a variety of educational programs for classrooms, community groups, scout troops, homeowners’ associations, and other audiences, covering topics such as wetlands, watersheds, groundwater, stream ecology, and pollinators. These interactive and informative programs help increase understanding of natural resource conservation and stewardship while fostering community engagement. Click here to learn more about the specific programs offered, and click here to view the District’s calendar of events for upcoming workshops and opportunities to participate.

• Earth disturbance and stormwater: Activities that disturb soil (such as clearing, grading, excavation, or development) may require a permit under Pennsylvania’s Chapter 102 Erosion and Sediment Pollution Control program. For example, projects that will disturb 1 acre or more of land (or are part of a larger plan with 1 + acre of disturbance) typically require coverage under a NPDES stormwater permit before work begins. Smaller disturbances may still require an erosion and sediment control plan depending on local ordinances.
• Work in streams, wetlands, or water bodies: Activities that obstruct, encroach upon, or alter streams, wetlands, floodways, or other water bodies generally require a Chapter 105 permit. These permits help ensure that such work does not harm water quality, increase flooding risk, or degrade aquatic habitats.

The Agriculture Conservation Assistance Program (ACAP) provides financial and technical assistance to support the installation of best management practices (BMPs) that help reduce nutrient and sediment pollution from agricultural operations in Pike County. To apply, you must first meet with District staff to discuss your project and eligibility before submitting a completed application. ACAP is a grant reimbursement program, and applications are reviewed on a rolling basis as funding is available. Contact the District office to begin the application process, get more details on eligible practices, and receive application materials and guidance. Click here to learn more about the District’s ACAP program and the application process.

No — the Pike County Conservation District does not offer engineering design services. While the District provides technical assistance and plan review to help applicants comply with regulatory requirements and best practices, detailed engineering design work (such as preparing final construction plans, drawings, or specifications) must be completed by a licensed engineer or other qualified design professional hired by the project applicant. Conservation districts focus on guidance, regulatory review, and resource conservation support rather than performing professional design work.

No — the Pike County Conservation District does not currently operate a spongy moth spray program. In the past the District provided information and support related to spongy moth management, but that work is no longer active under PCCD. The Pike County Commissioners have established a Spongy Moth Task Force and a county‑wide cost‑share program for 2025 to help landowners with aerial treatments and other suppression efforts, and residents with questions or interest in that initiative should contact the Task Force directly for the most current details.

Pennsylvania’s SPEED program (Streamlining Permits for Economic Expansion and Development) is a voluntary initiative launched by the state Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) in 2025 to accelerate and modernize the review of certain environmental permits. It allows applicants for eligible permits, such as construction stormwater (Chapter 102 NPDES), air quality approvals, earth disturbance, and Chapter 105 waterway/dam permits, to opt for an expedited process in which a DEP‑approved qualified professional conducts the initial review of their application. DEP retains final authority over permit decisions, and applicants pay any associated professional review fees in addition to regular application fees. By offering this alternative pathway, SPEED aims to reduce delays and improve predictability in permit processing while maintaining environmental safeguards.