NACD invites you to join us in San Antonio, Texas, for the 2026 Annual Meeting! Hosted in partnership with the Association of Texas Soil and Water Conservation Districts, our 80th meeting will take place on February 15-19, 2026, at the San Antonio Marriott Rivercenter on the River Walk. Help us celebrate this milestone anniversary—the Oak Anniversary—and explore the theme, "Deep Roots, Bold Horizons."

Grow your conservation knowledge roots by attending our exciting selection of breakout sessions this year! From training sessions covering agroforestry and grant writing to innovative practices like virtual fencing and media strategy, don't miss your opportunity to learn from conservation districts and experts from across the country. Explore breakout sessions on the online agenda. Stay tuned as even more sessions are confirmed and added! 

Ready to join in? Registration for the meeting is open! Act now to get an early-bird discounted rate before December 19. 

Find all the details on registration, exclusive hotel and travel discounts, sponsorship opportunities, and more on NACD's website. If you have any questions, please contact events@nacdnet.org.

APPLICATION DEADLINE EXTENDED FOR TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE GRANTS

Last month, NACD, in partnership with NRCS, issued a request for proposals for Technical Assistance (TA) Grants. The grant funding will support technical positions in high-need areas, strengthening conservation delivery across the U.S. and territories.

To ensure conservation districts have adequate time to coordinate with their NRCS partners, NACD is extending the TA Grant Program application deadline to January 8, 2026. With the federal government reopened and NRCS staff returning to regular operations, this extension will help support thoughtful planning and complete submissions.

All other eligibility and submission requirements remain the same. Learn more and submit your application here.

FARMERS AND LANDOWNERS JOIN FORCES TO CONSERVE ENDANGERED SPECIES IN PR

By Wesley Torres-Pérez, Eastern SWCD

In a pioneering environmental conservation effort, farmers and private landowners in eastern Puerto Rico are partnering with the Eastern Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) to protect the habitat of two endangered species: the Plain Pigeon (Patagioenas inornata wetmorei) and the Puerto Rican Rock Frog (Eleutherodactylus cooki).

Through voluntary agreements, participants commit to implementing sustainable land management and conservation practices on their properties, directly contributing to the preservation of these unique species found only on the island of Puerto Rico.

The initiative aims to restore and conserve the habitat of these species on private lands, where scattered populations can still be found. The approach seeks to actively involve farmers and landowners as key players in natural resource protection, rather than relying solely on state reserves or natural protected areas.

“Effective conservation must include those who live and work the land. They are our allies in achieving lasting results,” said Wesley Torres-Pérez, conservation biologist with the Eastern SWCD.

The initiative aims to become a replicable model for other regions of the island. Its collaborative and community-based approach shows that conservation doesn’t have to be confined to nature reserves—it can happen on farms, private lands, and within communities.

Read the full story on NACD's blog.

WHAT'S UP IN WASHINGTON? GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS UPDATE

With the federal government shutdown ending last week, offices are opening, furloughed employees are returning, and work is ramping up across multiple agencies. The Environmental Protection Agency released a notice of a proposed rule re-defining WOTUS to remain in line with the Sackett decision and administration priorities. The Fish and Wildlife Service is expected to publish proposed changes to sections of the Endangered Species Act by the end of the week, and USDA announced the second round of disaster relief for 2023-2024 losses. 

On Capitol Hill, the House of Representatives Committee on Natural Resources is expected to markup a bill that would streamline the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process, and the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee is scheduled to hold a hearing to examine how the Bureau of Land Management land use planning process affects permitting on public lands. The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee will also be holding a hearing this week to discuss the future of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) cleanup and disposal policy. Please visit the committee websites if you are interested in viewing a hearing.

NACD CREATES EDUCATION RESOURCES FOR DISTRICTS

Did you know that NACD creates a variety of educational resources available to all districts? Did you know that most of them are completely free to use? Chances are you’ve encountered some of these resources, as they are one of the most popular services we offer. However, you may not be aware of everything we create for you!  

NACD’s education program is built around an annual conservation-focused stewardship theme that guides all K–8 materials for that year. Stewardship Week and the poster and photo contests are two events within this larger program. The full set of educational materials is designed for conservation districts to use throughout the year in classrooms, community events, field days, and other outreach events. We want to help districts understand how all the pieces fit together so they can easily access everything available to them. 

Stewardship Week  

Every year since 1955, NACD has held Stewardship Week from the last Sunday in April through the first Sunday in May. This week unites communities in celebrating and protecting our natural resources through workshops, field visits, and educational community events! Each year, NACD creates a new theme for the week, and a full K-8 educator kit centered around the chosen theme. 



Education Kits & Resources 

These kits are designed for year-round use and include an educator guide, student journals, activity sheets, coloring pages, and other hands-on lesson supplies. We launched our 2026 kits with our theme, “Soil. Where It All Begins” a couple of weeks ago at the Southeast Conservation District Employees Association's Annual Conference in Tennessee, and they were a big hit! You can order one of our starter kits or full-sized education kits here and have them shipped to any U.S. state or territory. 

In addition to these kits, we have supporting materials, including rack cards, posters, save the date postcards, and thank you cards to help districts promote their stewardship programs and offer an easy way to recognize partners and supporters. Because we are committed to making these materials available to all districts, many of them are downloadable here for no cost. 

To learn more, read the full Did You Know? post on NACD's blog!