Riparian buffers are vegetated areas intentionally planted or preserved along the shorelines of water bodies or wetlands. They play a crucial role in protecting water quality and the surrounding environment as they serve as the transition between the upland land use and the waterbody or wetland. Science has confirmed that it is much easier (less costly) to control and manage pollutants in the upland setting than to physically remove pollutants from the water. Learn more about

Permeable pavement is one of the most popular best management practices in the Colonial SWCD service area with landowners who are considering applying for the Virginia Conservation Assistance Program. Learn more about this popular option from CSWCD staff member, Robyn Woolsey.

Virginia is home to an incredible variety of native plants. Maybe it’s time to try adding some edible native species to your garden and enjoy the fruits (and leaves) of your labor for many years to come!

Several ladybug species are useful as biological control agents and you can benefit from their voracious appetites for the pests in your gar

CSWCD Spring 2025 Newsletter published

Read about a unique VCAP project that allowed us to cover the entire conservation landscaping costs for a church's parking lot.

A "rain garden in a box” is a rain garden that is installed in an above-ground container, eliminating the need for any excavation.

CSWCD Winter 2024 Newsletter published

CSWCD Strategic Plan for the 2025-2028 period is now available on our website.

The Colonial Soil and Water Conservation District Annual Report for Fiscal Year 2024 is now available for download on our website.

We invite members of the community, to review the draft of our strategic plan for 2025-2028 and provide input by November 1, 2024.

CSWCD has been educating the public on conservation and land protection efforts for years.

People worry native habitats will look too wild for their yard, so it is easier with local native habitats we can use as an a demonstration.

A summary about currently offered grants from the VA Department of Forestry from local Community Forestry Specialist, Daniel Ronald Brooks.

Hoverflies are amazing little insects and they do so much good, which is why they are the beneficial insect I will be talking about today.

A reprint of "Dave for Dirt," which was originally published in the August 2024 edition of the Williamsburg's Next Door Neighbors periodical

Over the past several years, we have developed three new partnerships with neighboring localities and soil and water conservation...

As sunny days grow nearer, so do spring's rainstorms, so it’s a good time to think about how to best manage stormwater on your property.

Many people fertilize their lawns in the spring. Is that a good idea? Generally, lawn fertilizers contain some ratio of nitrogen,...

A living shoreline at Berkeley Plantation in Charles City, Virginia.