Van Buren Conservation District
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and recent uptick in cases in Michigan, the Van Buren Conservation District is primarily working from home. Email is the best way to reach us, as we are checking voicemails infrequently. Please visit the staff link to obtain the staff member's email address that is appropriate for your inquiry. We appreciate your understanding and patience as we do our part to keep our staff and the rest of the community safe!
The mission of the Van Buren Conservation District is to promote the conservation of natural resources through partnerships, providing public education, demonstrations, and technical assistance while working together for future generations.
Board Meetings are open to the public and are the fourth Wednesday of each month, unless otherwise noted. The meetings start at 10:00 AM at the VBCD office (1035 E Michigan Ave., Paw Paw, MI 49079), unless otherwise noted.
Help shape the future of waste and recycling in Southwest Michigan! Take the Materials Management Survey to share your thoughts on recycling, composting, and waste reduction. Your feedback will guide how our communities manage materials for years to come. Take the survey here: www.surveymonkey.com/r/SWMiMaterialsManagement
Planting Trees for Clean Water Nearly 300 new native trees and shrubs are taking root in southwest Michigan! It’s all part of a grant project through the Van Buren Conservation District and Michigan Lakes and Streams Association. This project offers landowners on six lakes in southwest Michigan the opportunity to have native trees and shrubs planted on their properties. These plantings will reduce runoff, improve the quality of water in our lakes and streams, and provide valuable wildlife habitat. Landowners on or near Round, Gravel,
Notice of Board Meeting Location Change To all residents and landowners of Van Buren County, notice is hereby given that the Van Buren Conservation District’s rescheduled October 22, 2025 board meeting has been relocated. The meeting will be held at Paw Paw Township Hall, 114 N Gremps St., Paw Paw, MI 49079 at 9:00 AM due to the federal government shutdown and current closure of the Paw Paw USDA Service Center. The meeting agenda can be accessed here: https://vanburencd.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/22_October_2025_VBCD_Regular_Board_Meeting_Agenda.pdf Upon request to the District Executive Director,
What’s Happening? The current federal government furlough and lapse in funding (also known as the “shutdown”) means federal buildings are closed until Congress passes a budget. Since we are co-located in the Van Buren County USDA Service Center (a federal building) we are unable to work in the building. What Does that Mean for the VBCD? Thanks to the VBCD Programs Millage and other funding sources, we’re still on the job – just remotely! Our events will still happen as planned, our staff is still