Conservation News

Do you have tractor tires to recycle? Register today to drop them off at our 5th Annual Tractor Tire Drive event in partnership with Washtenaw County Materials Management Division!
This year’s collection event will be held on December 6th, and registration is required to participate. Recycling your tires helps prevent stagnant water that breeds mosquitoes and stops harmful chemicals from leaching into the soil and water.

Celebrate International Bat Week (Oct. 24–31, 2025)! 🦇 Join us in recognizing the vital role bats play in healthy ecosystems and cheering on Kim Williams-Guillén, WCCD staff and scientist, as she presents “Bats of Wayne County” at Nerd Nite Ann Arbor #103 on Oct. 9, 2025

From vending heritage produce at the Ann Arbor Farmers Market with his father to teaching at U-M, Shannon Brines’ work is rooted in connection — to land, food, and community. As Chair of the WCCD Board, he’s helping strengthen those connections across Washtenaw County and beyond.

Don’t toss your pumpkins! From now through December 15, Washtenaw County residents can drop off pumpkins, gourds, and squash at local farms for free. They’ll be composted, enrich soil, or feed animals—keeping food waste out of landfills and giving pumpkins a second life.

Despite the federal shutdown, the WCCD remains open. Thanks to diverse funding from the State of Michigan, Washtenaw County, local voters, and individual donors, we’ll continue serving our community and advancing conservation priorities without interruption.

MIFarmLink, which began in Ottawa County and was recently housed at WCCD, is moving to the Michigan Association of Conservation Districts to expand statewide. We’re proud to have hosted the program and excited to see it continue connecting farmland owners with the next generation of farmers.

Farmers are finding unique ways to diversify their operation while also protecting water quality. One practice they are exploring: Harvestable Buffers.

From studying primates in Africa to helping farmers in southeast Michigan, Paul Buzzard brings global conservation experience to local landscapes. As WCCD’s Conservation Technician and co-owner of Flight Path Farm, Paul champions regenerative, climate-smart farming.

Farmers in Washtenaw County are vital to protecting the Huron River, River Raisin, and Western Lake Erie Basin from harmful algal blooms (HABs). By adopting conservation practices like cover crops, buffers, and nutrient management, they reduce runoff and keep our waterways clean and healthy.