This October, NACD will highlight how conservation districts are helping communities address wildfire risk, forest health, and resilience across working lands and forested landscapes.

A two-part webinar series will feature conservation district staff from Washington and Colorado, sharing an overview of their wildfire and forest health programs, how their districts approach this work, and lessons they have learned through implementation and partnerships.

Join the Okanogan Conservation District on Wednesday, October 14, at 3 p.m. ET for a look at the district's forest health and wildfire programming. Staff will share how the district works with landowners and partners to address wildfire risk and forest health across its service area and highlight the district’s approach to developing and implementing wildfire-related programs and projects, along with lessons learned from working in a landscape where wildfire is an ongoing conservation concern. Register for the webinar here.

On Thursday, October 15, at 3 p.m. ET, join the Jefferson Conservation District in Colorado for a look at the district’s wildfire and forest health programming. Jefferson Conservation District staff will share how the district approaches wildfire mitigation and forest health work, including the programs, partnerships, and projects that support conservation across private lands and the broader landscape. Register for the webinar here.

Learn more about both webinars on NACD's website.

DEADLINE EXTENDED FOR BREAKOUT SESSION PROPOSALS

The deadline to submit a breakout or training session proposal for the 2027 NACD Annual Meeting in Las Vegas has been extended to Friday, October 16, 2026!

The 2027 NACD Annual Meeting will be held in Las Vegas, Nevada, on February 6-10, 2027. The breakout and training sessions are some of the most popular activities among meeting attendees. Breakout sessions spotlight the work of conservation districts and partners across the country and provide a platform for districts to share their initiatives with one another. Training sessions help conservation district board members and employees build their skillsets. Sessions typically last an hour and often showcase several speakers.

Spread the word about this opportunity and consider submitting a proposal by October 16! If you have any questions or would like to discuss your proposal before submitting, please reach out to the NACD Membership Team.

Stay tuned for registration launch and announcements in the weeks ahead with more information about the great 2027 NACD Annual Meeting we're planning for you!

WHAT'S UP IN WASHINGTON?

GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS UPDATE

USDA Announces $5 Million for Wetland and Floodplain Conservation

NRCS announced a $5 million investment in partnerships to help agricultural producers and private landowners restore and steward wetlands and floodplains through conservation easements. Funding is available through the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP) and Emergency Watershed Protection (EWP) Program and may support easement restoration, stewardship activities, and assessments. Non-federal entities are eligible to apply, with applications due November 19. 

EPA Extends Glyphosate Comment Period

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a 60-day extension of the public comment period on its open-literature search supporting the agency’s ongoing registration review of glyphosate. EPA is seeking input on peer-reviewed studies that may be relevant to its forthcoming updated human health risk assessment. The agency announced that comments will be accepted through November 23, following publication of the extension in the Federal Register. 

Important Dates

September 30: Comments are due on EPA’s request for information to help shape a national innovation challenge, with up to $30 million in potential prize funding, focused on practical alternatives to conventional pesticide use for crop desiccation. EPA is seeking input from growers, producer organizations, researchers, state and local agencies, and other stakeholders.

October 1: Comments are due on NRCS’s proposed revisions to 48 national conservation practice standards in the National Handbook of Conservation Practices.

October 6: Comments are due on the U.S. Forest Service’s proposal to rescind the 2001 Roadless Area Conservation Rule. USDA extended the original comment period by 15 days.

October 9: Comments are due on EPA and the Department of the Army’s supplemental proposal concerning the definition of “waters of the United States” (WOTUS) under the Clean Water Act. The supplemental notice, published in the Federal Register on September 9, seeks additional input on regulatory alternatives to portions of the agencies’ November 2025 proposal.

November 9: Applications are due for approximately $3.5 million in competitive Clean Water Act Section 319 funding for eligible federally recognized Tribes and intertribal consortia. Applicants may request up to $175,000, and EPA expects to select approximately 20 projects.

November 23: EPA’s extended comment period is expected to close for the open-literature search supporting its ongoing glyphosate registration review.

DID YOU KNOW? FRIENDS OF NACD DELIVERS GRANTS DIRECTLY TO DISTRICTS

Since 2020, Friends of NACD has delivered over $115,000 to districts across 27 states and two U.S. territories. These grants have funded career development programs for high school students, novel native plant installations, beekeeping education programs, and everything in between! Friends of NACD grant applications will open on October 13, 2026. We invite districts with innovative and exciting ideas for conservation delivery to apply.

Selectees will receive up to $2,500 to implement their projects. This might not seem like a lot, but past recipients have proven that these small grants can have a big impact in their community.

Current recipient, the Kitsap Conservation District is using their grant to enhance operations at their district farm in Poulsbo, WA. With these extra funds, the district has started providing vegetable starts to local community gardens and food banks. So far this year, they’ve donated nearly 4,000 starter plants to 10 local organizations.

In 2025, the Gwinnett County Soil and Water Conservation District used their grant to partner with the Georgia Association of Water Professionals and hold a “Train the Trainer” workshop for addressing eroding stream banks. Within hours of registration opening, the 42 seats in the workshop filled up!

These are just a few exciting projects that have come to fruition with the help of a Friends of NACD grant. Scroll to the bottom of this page to view all of our past recipients and get ideas for your application.

Applying for a Grant

When applications open on October 13, you will be able to apply for a grant via the application link on the Friends of NACD webpage. There will also be a request for proposals available for download that will include all questions, so you can review the entire application and organize your answers to questions before submitting them.

This grant application process is designed to be simple and easy to understand. It is great for first-time grant applicants looking to gain experience with the grant application and administration process. Any district or state association that has paid membership dues during FY26 and has not received a Friends of NACD grant before is eligible to apply. Please reach out to us if you have questions about your district’s eligibility.

Become a Friend of NACD

Much of the funding for these awards comes from readers just like you!

Friends of NACD grants are supported by individual donations ranging from $35 to $1,500. Individuals who give at the $1,500 level are recognized as Lifetime Friends of NACD in our annual report and at our annual meeting each year. They will also receive a handmade, sterling silver and turquoise pin to wear proudly. Donations can be made on behalf of other individuals, and donating at the $1,500 level is a perfect way to honor state association presidents, long-time board members, and others who have dedicated their lives to locally led conservation.

In addition to donations from our community, these grants are supported by the Scotts Miracle Gro Foundation. We thank them for their continued support of NACD and conservation districts.

Read more on NACD's blog.