BLAIR COUNTY CONSERVATION DISTRICT

What BLAIR COUNTY CONSERVATION DISTRICT does

The Blair County Conservation District is a local government entity chartered by citizen petition in 1966 and operating under Pennsylvania state law, headquartered at 1407 Blair Street in Hollidaysburg, PA. The District administers a portfolio of interconnected conservation programs including agricultural conservation (nutrient management, manure management, erosion and sediment control), farmland preservation through the Agricultural Conservation Easement Purchase Program (coordinated since 1991, preserving 8,494 acres across 56 farms with just under $9 million in cumulative landowner payments), stormwater management serving 11 MS4 municipalities, watershed programs including a volunteer stream monitoring network, riparian buffer incentives, and the Dirt, Gravel & Low Volume Road Program. It also operates NatureWorksPark, Blair County's first environmental outdoor education and recreation area, and delivers conservation education programming to schools, libraries, and community groups across the county.

The District operates with a 6-person professional staff plus a board of directors appointed by Blair County Commissioners, and serves as a clearinghouse for natural resource information as the first contact for environmental issues in the county. Its primary technology is PAOneStop, a free online tool provided by Pennsylvania State University that assists farmers with regulatory compliance planning for erosion, sedimentation, and manure management. Revenue is sourced primarily from government allocations (including a $120,000 Blair County Commissioners allocation in 2020 and approximately $182,607 in annual DGLVR administrative funding), state and federal grants (NFWF, PA DCED, DEP), and minor fee-based services ($10–$75 per workshop participant). The District holds delegated authority from the PA Department of Environmental Protection to administer Title 25 Chapter 102 and Chapter 92 NPDES programs, and hosts one of only two PA Agricultural Ombudsman positions in the state.

Name

BLAIR COUNTY CONSERVATION DISTRICT

Legal name

Blair County Conservation District

Website

https://blairconservationdistrict.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1966

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Blair County Conservation District is a local government agency in Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania, founded in 1966, delivering conservation programs, farmland preservation, stormwater management, watershed restoration, and environmental education to county residents, farmers, municipalities, and schools.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Environmental Conservation Services

NAICS

Administration of Conservation Programs (92412), Administration of Conservation Programs (924120), Administration of Environmental Quality Programs (9241)

SIC

Agricultural Services (700)

akta.pro primary industry

Wildlife, Biodiversity & Habitat Conservation Administration (BPAIAMAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Land Trusts & Protected Areas (BPAGAGAC), Conservation Easements & Land Trust Services (AFAMAMAH), Biodiversity Conservation & Habitat Banking (AFAMAMAC)

Keywords

• Conservation district services
• Agricultural conservation programs
• Farmland preservation
• Erosion sediment control
• Watershed management

Headquarters

HQ city

Hollidaysburg

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Funding: Primary funding from Blair County Commissioners allocation and state government appropriations for conservation programs and farmland preservation efforts.
2. Farmland Preservation Easement Purchase: Funding to Blair County landowners for agricultural conservation easements where development rights are purchased to restrict land to agricultural use in perpetuity. Just under $9 million has been provided to date.
3. Dirt, Gravel & Low Volume Road Program: Annual funding from the State Program (approximately $180,000) distributed to local municipalities for environmentally sensitive road maintenance projects.
4. Riparian Buffer Incentive Program: Payments to landowners on a per-acre basis (up to $6,000 per acre) for planting riparian buffers, funded through available grant programs.
5. Plan Writing Services: Fee-based services for writing Manure Management Plans and Agricultural Erosion and Sediment Control Plans for producers.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Blair County Conservation District is a local government agency that delivers conservation-based programs and technical/financial assistance to farmers, landowners, municipalities, schools, and residents of Blair County, Pennsylvania. Core offerings include agriculture conservation and regulatory compliance (manure management, nutrient management, erosion/sediment control plans), farmland preservation through agricultural conservation easement purchases, watershed and stormwater management, riparian buffer incentives, the Dirt/Gravel/Low Volume Road Program, and conservation education programs delivered at NatureWorksPark and on-site at schools and libraries.

Product overview

The Blair County Conservation District operates as a local government agency providing conservation-based programs and services rather than a traditional product company. The organization offers a portfolio of interconnected environmental programs including: Agriculture Conservation (technical/financial assistance for farmers, regulatory compliance for manure/nutrient management and erosion control); Erosion & Sediment Control and Stormwater Management (delegated by PA DEP for regulatory oversight); Watershed programs (stream monitoring, restoration projects); Riparian Buffer incentives (grants for vegetated stream buffers); Dirt/Gravel/Low Volume Road funding (environmentally sensitive road maintenance); Conservation Education (school programs, NatureWorksPark); and Farmland Preservation (easement purchases). These programs function as coordinated services under the District's umbrella, addressing natural resource protection, agricultural support, and environmental education across Blair County.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Agriculture Conservation Program Technical and financial assistance program for farmers including nutrient management plans, erosion control plans, manure management, and best management practices implementation for soil and water resource protection in Blair County.
• Agriculture Regulations & Compliance Program Regulatory oversight and compliance services for agricultural operations including Manure Management Plan requirements under PA Chapter 91, Nutrient Management Plans under Act 38, and Agricultural Erosion and Sediment Control Plans under Chapter 102.
• Erosion & Sediment Control Program Administered under delegated authority from PA DEP for Title 25 Chapter 102 Erosion and Sediment Pollution Control (E&S) and Chapter 92 NPDES programs for earth disturbance and construction activities in Blair County.
• Watershed/Drainage Basin Program Watershed restoration and enhancement efforts including stormwater management, the Volunteer Stream Monitoring Network with 20 volunteers monitoring 14 streams, and watershed assessments for the Juniata River Watershed.
• Stormwater Management Program Runoff control and property protection through stormwater management systems, post-construction stormwater management, and support for the 11 MS4 municipalities in Blair County.
• Riparian Buffer Program Financial and technical assistance program for establishing vegetated riparian buffers along streams to reduce pollution, slow runoff, prevent erosion, and provide wildlife habitat, with grants up to $15,000 for landowners and per-acre payments up to $6,000.
• Dirt, Gravel & Low Volume Road Program Environmental sensitive road maintenance funding program for municipalities to reduce sediment pollution from dirt, gravel, and low volume roads through drainage improvements, surface stabilization, and erosion control, with annual applications accepted.
• Conservation Education Educational program portfolio for schools, libraries, and community groups including hands-on learning at NatureWorksPark, covering environmental topics like water quality, wildlife, and sustainable practices, with all programs free of charge for Blair County entities.
• NatureWorksPark Blair County's environmental outdoor education and recreation area featuring walking trails, boardwalks through wetlands, riparian buffers, rain gardens, pollinator gardens, and educational program spaces, located at 108 Bedford Street, Hollidaysburg.
• Farmland Preservation Program Agricultural Conservation Easement Purchase Program coordinated with the Blair County Agricultural Land Preservation Board, purchasing development rights to preserve farmland for perpetuity, with just under $9 million and 56 farms/8,391 acres preserved to date.

Quantifiable outcome

• 8,494 farm acres preserved through Agricultural Conservation Easement Purchase Program
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• BluAcres LLCminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 18 July 2025Consulting members providing construction oversight for the Streambank Stabilization Construction Project at Castel/Diehl Properties – Blue Knob Run.
• Trout UnlimitedcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 February 2024Collaboration on streambank stabilization project along Gillans Run in Allegheny Township, Blair County. Conservation District receives funding and coordinates project execution.
• United Mobile HomescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 February 2023Conservation District working with United Mobile Homes to complete streambank stabilization project along Spencer Run in Allegheny Township.
• Blair County Intergovernmental Stormwater Committee (ISC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 September 2021Partnership for Countywide Action Plan (CAP) development to address sediment and nutrient reductions related to Chesapeake Bay Watershed Implementation Plan. District provides support for MS4 municipal compliance.
• Southern Alleghenies Planning and Development Commission (SAPDC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 August 2021SAPDC provided grant funding to the Blair County Conservation District for NatureWorksPark improvements including trail extensions, bollard installation at entrance, and stormwater management at the large pavilion.
• USDA-NRCScoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 February 2021Conservation District works with USDA-NRCS to write Conservation Plans that may meet AG E&S Plan requirements. NRCS plans may be used by landowners for regulatory compliance.
• Penn State ExtensioncoreTechnology or Integration · 1 February 2021PAOneStop online tool provided by Penn State to help farmers meet regulatory requirements for Conservation and Nutrient Management Planning. District promotes and supports use of this platform.
• PA Agricultural Ombudsman ProgramcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 February 2021Blair County hosts one of only two Ombudsman positions in the state, promoting agricultural understanding and working with municipalities and citizens when conflicts arise related to agricultural operations.
• Capital RC&DminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2012Cooperation with Capital RC&D to conduct Transect Surveys of the County since 2012, evaluating progress in reaching sediment reduction goals and conservation tillage adoption.
• Pennsylvania Senior Environmental Corps (PA SEC)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2011Original program that evolved into the Blair County Volunteer Stream Monitoring Network, providing baseline water quality data on local streams.
• Blair County Agricultural Land Preservation BoardcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1991Partnering to coordinate purchase of Agricultural Conservation Easements since 1991. Eased lands restricted by deed to be used only for agricultural purposes from signing through perpetuity.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD): National umbrella organisation for the U.S. conservation-district network — encompasses every program Blair runs (farm bill, forestry, urban-ag, education) and is the locus for federal funding flows and policy advocacy that the District depends on.
• Chesapeake Bay Foundation: Regional nonprofit working on the same Chesapeake Bay Watershed nutrient and sediment reduction goals as Blair County's program — provides advocacy, science, and grant partnerships that intersect directly with the District's watershed restoration, riparian buffer, and MS4 work.

Direct peers

• Centre County Conservation District: Neighbouring Pennsylvania county conservation district operating under the same state Conservation District Law, delivering nearly identical DEP-delegated Chapter 102 E&S, Chapter 92 NPDES, farmland preservation, dirt-and-gravel road, and conservation education programs to a comparable-sized county.
• Lancaster County Conservation District: Pennsylvania county conservation district serving an intensively agricultural county; similar Chesapeake Bay nutrient-reduction pressures and farmland preservation programs make it a relevant size/stage comparison for Blair's programs.
• Huntingdon County Conservation District: Another central-Pennsylvania county conservation district with the same enabling statute, program portfolio (ag conservation, dirt/gravel roads, MS4 support, education), and rural-watershed geography, making it the closest structural peer to Blair.
• Chester County Conservation District: Pennsylvania county conservation district with a comparable DEP-delegated mandate but a larger, higher-growth county environment — useful as a comparand for how the Blair model could scale under development pressure and more intensive MS4 work.

Regional players

• Stroud Water Research Center: Pennsylvania-based freshwater research and education organisation with overlapping mission in stream monitoring, watershed restoration, and educator training relevant to the District's Volunteer Stream Monitoring Network and conservation education programs.

Others

• Penn State Extension: Provider of the PAOneStop tool the District uses and a co-implementer of agricultural and watershed education programming in the same central-Pennsylvania region — operates as an enabling/technology partner rather than direct competitor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights8 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/profile.php
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/blair-county-conservation-district

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about BLAIR COUNTY CONSERVATION DISTRICT