Who Are We?
In 1964, the Luzerne County Commissioners established the Luzerne Conservation District out of concern for the conservation of the natural, scenic, historic, and aesthetic resources of the county.
The district is a local agency that conducts regulatory/voluntary compliance, technical assistance, and education/outreach activities. We accomplish our mission through cooperation with landowners and land users, by working with other public and private organizations, and by increasing citizens’ awareness of their responsibility to be good stewards of natural resources.
As one of the sixty-six conservation districts in Pennsylvania, we are involved in developing local programs and implementing on-the-ground practices to protect the soil and water resources in Luzerne County. The district is led by a seven-member board of directors consisting of local volunteers and a county council member. Currently, eleven staff members implement district programs developed and carried out to best serve the specific needs of the natural resources and people of the county.
DISTRICT BOARD OF DIRECTORS:
- Chairman – John (Jay) Wilkes, Public Director
- Vice Chairman – Gary Moyer, Farmer Director
- Secretary/Treasurer – Tracey Chonko, Farmer Director
- Leonard Burger, Farmer Director
- John P. Hanish, Jr., Public Director
- Thomas Herbert, Public Director
- Greg Wolovich, County Council Member Director
ASSOCIATE BOARD MEMBERS:
- Timothy Ference, Director Emeritus
DISTRICT STAFF:
- Hunter Bednarczyk, Conservation Coordinator (E&S Program)
- Keith George, Conservation Coordinator (E&S Program & MDC Program)
- Heather Graham, Conservation Coordinator (E&S Program)
- Lauren Holder, Conservation Specialist (MDC Program & Education/Outreach)
- Debbie Josuweit, Office Administrator
- John Levitsky, Watershed Specialist
- Josh Longmore, Executive Director
- Jennifer Merryman, Conservation Specialist (Ag Conservation & Farmland Preservation Programs)
- Frank Semanski, Building & Grounds Maintenance Technician (part-time)
- Mike Schlauch, Conservation Coordinator (Ag Conservation & Roads Programs)
- Vacant, Conservation Technician (MDC Program – seasonal)