OCD in the News!
On March 12th, 2025, our Watershed & Conservation Specialist, Sarah Bowman, was interviewed live on Wood TV8. She highlighted what Conservation Districts do and promoted our native tree and plant sales! Check out the interview and then visit our tree and plant sale event pages to place your orders before March 28th!
Tree & Plant Sale Preorders are Live!
Visit our Tree Seedling Sale and Native Plant Sale pages to learn more and place your orders. Preorders for both sales are due by March 28th, 2025.
OCD seeking new Executive Director
The Ottawa Conservation District is seeking a dynamic and experienced Executive Director to lead the organization and further it's mission. Click here to view position description for further details. To apply: Send a cover letter, resume, and three references as a single PDF to ottawacd@macd.org with the subject line “Ottawa CD Executive Director”. The application deadline is February 28th, at 4:30 pm EST. If you have questions, please contact Sarah Bowman or Ben Jordan 616-842-5852 Ext. 5.
OCD Office Closed 12/23 – 12/27
The OCD office will be closed during the week of Christmas so staff can enjoy time with family. Some staff may be available in office on a case by case basis. Please call ahead at 616-842-5852 Ext. 5 to speak to an OCD staff person before stopping into the office.
OCD is hiring!!
Conservation Technical Assistance Program (CTAP) Coordinator – This full-time grant-funded position will support the Michigan Agriculture Environmental Assurance Program (MAEAP) and the Regenerative Agricultural Program across Ottawa County. See linked position announcement for further details. To apply: Send a cover letter, resume, and three references as a single PDF to ottawacd@macd.org with the subject line "CTAP Coordinator". The application deadline is December 16th, 2024 at 5:30 pm EST. If you have questions, please contact Natalie Bekins at 616-842-5852 Ext. 5.
Septic Savvy Zoom Webinar Recording Available Online
Thank you to everyone who attended our Septic Savvy zoom webinar on October 16th! For those who missed it, you can now watch the webinar recording as a three-part series on our YouTube Channel. Check out the video's here.
*Campaign Extended 1 Week!* Help Us Purchase a New Truck!
Help us buy a new (used) truck! Thank you to everyone who has made a donation so far! We still have a few gifts leftover to give, so we've decided to extend our donation campaign for ONE MORE WEEK to help us get closer to our final goal! Gifts will be available to receive from donations until 4:30 on September 6th. Back in late June, a storm boasting 80 mph straight-line winds took out an oak tree near our parking lot which sadly landed directly onto three of our District trucks. While two of the trucks were repairable, our old Ford Ranger took the brunt of the blow and was totaled. Unfortunately the amount we received through insurance does not cover the price of a new used truck. We need your help! These trucks help our staff complete vital natural resource services throughout Ottawa County and beyond. The OCD houses two invasive species field crews totaling 8 staff who use our trucks daily to provide invasive species management services to treat Hemlock trees against invasive...
Fall Native Plant Sale Pre-Orders are now live!
Preorders for Garden Kits and Beach Grass Bundles will be open from July 19th – September 13th, 2024. Preorders will be available for pick up the week of October 1st. We will confirm pick-up dates and times with customers in September. Visit our Native Plant Sale page to learn more and order your garden kits or beach grass today!
Ottawa Conservation District presents 2023 Annual Report to Ottawa County Commissioners
On June 11th, 2024, the Ottawa Conservation District Executive Director, Natalie Bekins, gave a short annual report presentation to the Ottawa County Commissioners on work accomplished in 2023 and our goals for 2024. Check out her presentation at the link below. The OCD presentation starts at 1 hour and 4 minutes in the recording. June 11th, 2024 Ottawa County Commissioner Meeting Check out our full 2023 Annual Report, and past year's Annual Reports, here.
OTTAWA CONSERVATION DISTRICT RECEIVES OVER $1 MILLION TO SUPPORT WATER QUALITY MONITORING INITIATIVE AND HEMLOCK WOOLLY ADELGID CONTROL
In a win for West Michigan, the Ottawa Conservation District (OCD) has received a total of $1,314,213 through a variety of grants and contracts to support both Ottawa County surface water quality monitoring efforts and hemlock woolly adelgid surveys and treatments in West Michigan. On May 14th, 2024, the Ottawa County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved awarding the OCD a $995,465 contract for a Water Quality Monitoring Initiative through the Ottawa County Water Resources Commissioner’s Office. The Ottawa Conservation District, in collaboration with the ODC Network, will utilize the funding to conduct water quality sampling, habitat surveys, and land surveys to better understand the concentrations, effects, and potential sources of nonpoint source pollutants within Ottawa County watersheds and target critical areas for future pollutant reduction efforts. The initiative will help fill knowledge gaps where water quality impairments are suspected or have been observed, but no...
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