Our Story and Impact
Oakland Conservation District has served Oakland County since 1945. Here is our history and what we do today.
The volunteer years
In 2009, Michigan stopped funding the day-to-day operations of conservation districts, and Oakland received no state money for more than a decade. Board members and volunteers kept the district going. They ran the tree sale, kept the books, and answered residents' questions, all unpaid. Longtime board chair Patrick Costello served through all of it, over 18 years in total.
They also saved money from the tree sale, and that reserve still helps the district today.
Since 2022
State funding came back in 2022. One employee became three, and the tree sale now runs alongside the native plug sale, backyard habitat certification, soil testing, technical assistance, and help with state and federal programs.
Where we have been
| Year | What happened |
|---|---|
| 1945 | Founded as the Oakland County Soil Conservation District. |
| 1978 | Renamed the Oakland County Soil and Water Conservation District. |
| 2009 to 2022 | No state funding. Volunteers keep the district and the tree sale going. |
| 2022 | State funding restored, and the district hires its first full-time administrator in over a decade. |
| Today | Three staff and six programs serving Oakland County. |
What Oakland County told us it needs
When we surveyed residents, five priorities led the list: wildlife and habitat, invasive species, wetlands, forests, and drinking water quality. Those priorities now anchor our programs and our five-year plan.
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