On February 13, 1964, out of concern for the conservation of the natural, scenic, historic, and aesthetic resources of Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, the Luzerne County Commissioners established the Luzerne Conservation District.

The Luzerne Conservation District is a local agency whose primary types of activities include: regulatory/voluntary compliance, technical assistance, and education/outreach.  We accomplish our mission through cooperation with landowners and land users; by working with other public and private organizations; and by increasing citizen awareness of their responsibility to be good stewards of natural resources.

As one of the sixty six conservation districts in Pennsylvania (one for each county except Philadelphia County), the Luzerne Conservation District is involved in developing local programs and implementing on-the-ground practices to protect the soil and water resources of Luzerne County.  The district is led by a nine-member board consisting of community volunteers and a county commissioner.  Currently, there are eight staff members including: the District Manager, the Agricultural Conservation Specialist, two Resource Conservation Specialists, the Environmental Services Specialist, the Watershed Program Coordinator, a seasonal Environmental Services Technician, and a part-time Building and Grounds Keeper. District programs are developed and carried out to best serve the specific needs of the natural resources and people of Luzerne County.

DISTRICT BOARD OF DIRECTORS:

Chairman – Timothy Ference, Public Director

Vice Chairman - John (Jay) Wilkes, Jr., Public Director

Treasurer/Secretary  – Timothy J. Connolly, Jr, Public Director

Joseph Boiwka, Farmer Director

Leonard J. Burger, Jr., Farmer Director

Rebecca Lipka, Farmer Director

Bruce Trumbower, Public Director

Carl R. Urbanski, Farmer Director

Rick Williams, County Council Member Director

Rob Andrews, Associate Director

Jack Hanish, Associate Director

DISTRICT STAFF:

Josh Longmore, District Manager

Heather Berlew, Resource Conservation Specialist II

Keith George, Resource Conservation Specialist II

Shawn Rybka, Watershed Program Coordinator

Amy Salansky, Agricultural Conservation Specialist

Aaron Stredny, Environmental Services Specialist

Ron Jesse, Building & Grounds Keeper

Amber Martin, Environmental Services Technician