Upcoming Events
Rain Garden Workshop - Dowling
**Rescheduled from March**
Rain Gardens 101: Create, Manage & Enjoy!
Learn how rain gardens protect our water and enhance your landscape
Join us for an informative and hands-on session all about rain gardens—beautiful, eco-friendly solutions for managing stormwater runoff and supporting local ecosystems.
What You’ll Learn:
How rain gardens absorb and filter runoff, preventing erosion and protecting water quality
The environmental benefits for your yard and community
Step-by-step guidance on designing, planting, and maintaining your own rain garden
How to choose and source native plants locally
Future volunteer opportunities to help install a rain garden in Hastings
Don’t miss this opportunity to dig into sustainable landscaping!
Macroinvertebrate Identification Workshop
Join us at Pierce Cedar Creek Institute as we identify, and count macroinvertebrates collected through the MiCorps volunteer stream monitoring program.
Matt Bain, Aquatic Specialist & Education Coordinator from LGROW will guide us through proper identification of macroinvertebrates and related water quality ratings.
Please register before May 8th
Participants sorting and identifying macroinvertebrates in the lab with microscopes and data sheets
Ice cube tray filled with water and sorted macroinvertebrates
Thornapple River Watershed Council Meeting
Date and location subject to change
Join the Thornapple River Watershed Council (TRWC) for a board meeting.
Topics of interest include Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) watershed council support grant, annual paddle trip/cleanup, water quality, and more!
Can’t make it in person? Join us online!
Google Meet joining info:
Video call link: https://meet.google.com/iwq-bqzc-thq
Or dial: (US) +1 929-249-4837 PIN: 169 952 868#
More phone numbers: https://tel.meet/iwq-bqzc-thq?pin=7693926095318
Board of Directors Meeting (*Rescheduled)
The Barry Conservation District Board of Directors meets at 8 am on the second Tuesday of the month at the Tyden Center Conference Room, 121 S Church St, Hastings MI 49058, unless otherwise noted.
Forest Landowner Qualified Forest Program Info Session
Qualified Forest Program Public Information Session for Forest Landowners
Does your property have 20 or more acres of forest? And do you want to save a bundle on your property taxes? Then the Qualified Forest Program Information Session, hosted by the Eaton County Conservation District, is for you.
About the tax reduction program: The State of Michigan's Qualified Forest Program (QFP) provides a generous property tax reduction to non-homestead landowners who manage their forest professionally. In exchange for the property tax exemption, landowners must hire a qualified forester to create a management plan that focuses on wildlife habitat, soil & water conservation and commercial harvesting of timber.
Public access to your land is NOT required. Applications must be submitted by September 1st for the 2027 tax year.
Parcels that are 20-39 acres must be 80% forested; parcels that are 40+ acres must be 50% forested. Non-homestead structures are allowed, but they are not eligible for the tax exemption.
Visit www.michigan.gov/qfp for additional program information.
About the Public Information Session: At this public session, Ben Savoie, Barry Conservation District Forester and James Gray, Principal Consulting Forester at Natural Capital Forestry, LLC will explain the essentials of and 'direct from the trenches' insights about QFP so that you can determine if it is right for you and your land. In addition, we will discuss important topics like forest management plans and generous cost-share programs to help pay for conservation improvements like tree planting and removing invasive vegetation.
Act now so that you can join before the September 1st deadline!
Volunteer - Forest Stewardship Workday
Join us to learn about about forest health and history of the site, plus gain hands-on experience on how to ID and manage common woody invasive species while volunteering with staff from Barry Conservation District, BCK CISMA and Barry County Parks.
Photo from SWMLC Hike
MAMW Learn and Pull
Join BCK CISMA on the evening of May 27th to gain some hands-on experience dealing with the invasive mile-a-minute weed (MAMW). We will have a short introduction presentation on MAMW, and then you will be able to take a brief hike to hand-pull some patches of MAMW at the Whitehouse Nature Center, Albion College. Register to receive an MAMW t-shirt on the day of the event.
Rain Garden Installation
Join the Barry Conservation District and Thornapple River Watershed Council as we install two new rain gardens in the Thornapple River Watershed! This is a volunteer opportunity for anyone interested in native plants, native landscaping techniques, and stormwater pollution reduction. All volunteers will receive a free t-shirt if they sign up.
T-shirts are first come, first served until gone.
Rain Garden Installation
Join the Barry Conservation District and Thornapple River Watershed Council as we install two new rain gardens in the Thornapple River Watershed! This is a volunteer opportunity for anyone interested in native plants, native landscaping techniques, and stormwater pollution reduction. All volunteers will receive a free t-shirt if they sign up.
T-shirts are first come, first served until gone.
Board of Directors Meeting
The Barry Conservation District Board of Directors meets at 8 am on the second Tuesday of the month at the Tyden Center Conference Room, 121 S Church St, Hastings MI 49058, unless otherwise noted.
Rain Garden Workshop - Ada
Rain Gardens 101: Create, Manage & Enjoy!
Learn how rain gardens protect our water and enhance your landscape
Join us for an informative and hands-on session all about rain gardens—beautiful, eco-friendly solutions for managing stormwater runoff and supporting local ecosystems.
What You’ll Learn:
How rain gardens absorb and filter runoff, preventing erosion and protecting water quality
The environmental benefits for your yard and community
Step-by-step guidance on designing, planting, and maintaining your own rain garden
How to choose and source native plants locally
Future volunteer opportunities to help install a rain garden in Hastings
Don’t miss this opportunity to dig into sustainable landscaping!
Board of Directors Meeting
The Barry Conservation District Board of Directors meets at 8 am on the second Tuesday of the month at the Tyden Center Conference Room, 121 S Church St, Hastings MI 49058, unless otherwise noted.
Board of Directors Meeting
The Barry Conservation District Board of Directors meets at 8 am on the second Tuesday of the month at the Tyden Center Conference Room, 121 S Church St, Hastings MI 49058, unless otherwise noted.
Barry County Outdoor Youth Day
Save the Date! More details coming soon….
Barry County Outdoor Youth Day is a great experience for kids and their families! This event is a day filled with educational fun for the whole family at Barry County’s Historic Charlton Park.
Local experts and enthusiasts share their knowledge and know-how in hunting, fishing, camping, hiking, rock climbing, birding, animal ID, plant ID, and much more!
***Exhibitors use the button below to register your organization’s engaging exhibit or activity. Thank you for supporting youth experiences with nature and the outdoors!
This event is FREE for participants, but we always appreciate donations to help support this fun and engaging event for kids and families!
Board of Directors Meeting
The Barry Conservation District Board of Directors meets at 8 am on the second Tuesday of the month at the Tyden Center Conference Room, 121 S Church St, Hastings MI 49058, unless otherwise noted.
Household Hazardous Waste Collection
Safely dispose of unwanted household hazardous waste including:
New this year ESP foam (Sytrofoam) containers, including foam food service ware, egg cartons, coolers, food trays, and foam blocks
aqueous (containing water) acids and bases
oil-based paints
reactives
solvents
aerosol cans
automotive liquids
pesticides (liquids and solids)
light bulbs
automotive batteries
alkaline, nickel-cadmium, lithium ion, and silver oxide batteries
liquid cleaners
heavy metal solutions
mercury-containing materials
motor oil (Limit 10 gallons per person - from households only, no businesses)
electronics *$10 suggested donation for TVs and monitors - no freon-containing devices
unused or expired medications and sharps. (Medications need to be in their original containers with the name of the drug clearly labeled. Cross out any personal information on the containers)
tires (Limit 10 tires per car; only tires from households are accepted - not accepted from businesses. First come, first serve basis until trailers are full. Tires heavily caked with dirt will not be accepted.)
NOT ACCEPTED:
x asbestos
x latex paint
x large propane tanks
x commercially generated waste
x radioactive material
x explosives
x freon containing devices
x unknown wastes
x tires heavily caked with dirt
x foam packing peanuts, hard foam products
x trash
Spring Stream Sampling
The Barry Conservation District, in partnership with the Thornapple River Watershed Council (TRWC) and Lower Grand River Organization of Watersheds (LGROW), received a Michigan Clean Water Corps (MiCorps) Volunteer Stream Monitoring Implementation Grant for water quality monitoring in the Thornapple River Watershed.
Macroinvertebrate sampling is an easy and fun way to determine water quality. Macro - big enough to be seen by the naked eye | Invertebrate - animal without a backbone. Some macroinvertebrates are very sensitive and can only survive in high quality waters, others can live with high amounts of pollution present. This is a great way to get a long-term view on current water quality.
Sign up below and choose your preferred site and sampling date and time. There will be 3 sampling teams with 4-7 people per team.
BCD MiCorps Monitoring Sites
Board of Directors Meeting
The Barry Conservation District Board of Directors meets at 8 am on the second Tuesday of the month at the Tyden Center Conference Room, 121 S Church St, Hastings MI 49058, unless otherwise noted.
Thornapple River Watershed Council Meeting
Date and location subject to change
Join the Thornapple River Watershed Council (TRWC) for a board meeting.
Topics of interest include: Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) watershed council support grant, annual cleanup, water quality, and more!
Can’t make it in person? Join us online!
Google Meet joining info:
Video call link: https://meet.google.com/pxr-hsjy-qxr
Or dial: (US) +1 218-461-0924 PIN: 854 134 747#
More phone numbers: https://tel.meet/pxr-hsjy-qxr?pin=5720820692510
Coldwater River Trout Unlimited Annual Fundraising Banquet
“Schrems West Michigan Trout Unlimited is excited to announce that registration for our Annual Fundraising Banquet is open! See below for ticket options.
Please join us for an evening of celebration, fellowship, and the recognition of key individuals who have contributed to the preservation of coldwater streams. This is our biggest event of the year and our primary fundraiser which helps us pursue our mission to conserve, protect, and restore our local coldwater watersheds.
Our banquet takes place on the evening of Tuesday, April 21, 2026 at Watermark Country Club in Grand Rapids, Michigan. We have an awesome lineup of prizes in our bucket raffle, silent auction, and live auction. Your ticket includes a plated dinner with parmesan chicken and salmon as entrees. Online registration will close at noon on Thursday, April 16, 2026.
A huge thank you to all the people and businesses that have donated items for the auction!
Can’t make it to the party? Donate now to support coldwater conservation.
Your support makes it possible to protect the coldwater rivers of West Michigan.”
Tree Sale Pick-up
The online store will be open January 15 - April 13, 2026
***All orders are pick-up only.
Paying with cash or check?
Stop by the office and staff will be happy to help you with your order!
Office located at 1611 S. Hanover St. Suite 105, Hastings. Open 8 AM - 4 PM Monday - Friday.
Pick-up and in-person sales at Historic Charlton Park in the red barn: Friday, April 17, 12 PM - 6 PM & Saturday, April 18, 10 AM - 3 PM
***Note April 18th is the Barry-Roubaix race…please keep rider safety top of mind and plan around the route.
Enjoy rural Barry County and take the long way to Historic Charlton Park!
VOLUNTEER! - Tree Sale Order Packing
The online store will be open January 15 - April 13, 2026
***All orders are pick-up only.
Help us get trees planted in Barry County, volunteer to help BCD pack tree orders for pick-up the following weekend!
Pick-up and in-person sales at Historic Charlton Park in the red barn: Friday, April 17, 12 PM - 6 PM & Saturday, April 18, 10 AM - 3 PM
VOLUNTEER! - Tree Sale Order Packing
The online store will be open January 15 - April 13, 2026
***All orders are pick-up only.
Help us get trees planted in Barry County, volunteer to help BCD pack tree orders for pick-up the following weekend!
Pick-up and in-person sales at Historic Charlton Park in the red barn: Friday, April 17, 12 PM - 6 PM & Saturday, April 18, 10 AM - 3 PM
Rain Garden Workshop - Delton
Rain Gardens 101: Create, Manage & Enjoy!
Learn how rain gardens protect our water and enhance your landscape
Join us for an informative and hands-on session all about rain gardens—beautiful, eco-friendly solutions for managing stormwater runoff and supporting local ecosystems.
What You’ll Learn:
How rain gardens absorb and filter runoff, preventing erosion and protecting water quality
The environmental benefits for your yard and community
Step-by-step guidance on designing, planting, and maintaining your own rain garden
How to choose and source native plants locally
Future volunteer opportunities to help install a rain garden in Hastings
Don’t miss this opportunity to dig into sustainable landscaping!
Board of Directors Meeting
The Barry Conservation District Board of Directors meets at 8 am on the second Tuesday of the month at the Tyden Center Conference Room, 121 S Church St, Hastings MI 49058, unless otherwise noted.
Thornapple River Watershed Council Meeting
Date and location subject to change
Join the Thornapple River Watershed Council (TRWC) for a board meeting.
Topics of interest include: Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) watershed council support grant, annual cleanup, water quality, and more!
Can’t make it in person? Join us online!
Google Meet joining info
Video call link: https://meet.google.com/fwo-ioto-zsp
Or dial: (US) +1 209-734-0135 PIN: 692 780 208#
More phone numbers: https://tel.meet/fwo-ioto-zsp?pin=5690555630021
Rain Garden Workshop
Rain Gardens 101: Create, Manage & Enjoy!
Learn how rain gardens protect our water and enhance your landscape
Join us for an informative and hands-on session all about rain gardens—beautiful, eco-friendly solutions for managing stormwater runoff and supporting local ecosystems.
What You’ll Learn:
How rain gardens absorb and filter runoff, preventing erosion and protecting water quality
The environmental benefits for your yard and community
Step-by-step guidance on designing, planting, and maintaining your own rain garden
How to choose and source native plants locally
Future volunteer opportunities to help install a rain garden in Hastings
Don’t miss this opportunity to dig into sustainable landscaping!
2026 Faces of Conservation: Annual Meeting & Board Election
Join us for our Social Hour, Annual Meeting, Director Election, and Silent Auction!
Thornapple River Watershed Council Meeting
Join the Thornapple River Watershed Council (TRWC) for a board meeting.
Topics of interest include: Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) watershed council support grant, annual cleanup, water quality, and more!
Can’t make it in person? Join us online!
Google Meet joining info
Video call link: https://meet.google.com/vos-twwd-rzn
Or dial: (US) +1 252-330-6385 PIN: 569 032 625#
More phone numbers: https://tel.meet/vos-twwd-rzn?pin=3877045924876
Board of Directors Meeting
The Barry Conservation District Board of Directors meets at 8 am on the second Tuesday of the month at the Tyden Center Conference Room, 121 S Church St, Hastings MI 49058, unless otherwise noted.
Thornapple River Watershed Council Meeting
Join the Thornapple River Watershed Council (TRWC) for a board meeting.
Topics of interest include: Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) watershed council support grant, annual cleanup, water quality, and more!
Can’t make it in person? Join us online!
Google Meet joining info
Video call link: https://meet.google.com/rpe-bdiu-rqm
Or dial: (US) +1 813-874-9034 PIN: 434 874 167#
CANCELLED - Board of Directors Meeting
The Barry Conservation District Board of Directors meets at 8 am on the second Tuesday of the month at the Tyden Center Conference Room, 121 S Church St, Hastings MI 49058, unless otherwise noted.
2026 Online Annual Tree Sale Fundraiser
The online store will be open January 15 - April 13, 2026. ***All orders are pick-up only.
Visit Barrycd.org/trees to order online.
Have cash or check? Feel free to stop in the office and Barry CD staff will be happy to help you with your order!
Pick-up and in-person sales @ Historic Charlton Park Red Barn:
Friday, April 17, 12 pm - 6 pm
&
Saturday, April 18, 10 am - 3 pm
(***Note April 18th is Barry-Roubaix Race Day…please keep rider safety top of mind and plan around the route. Enjoy rural Barry County and take the long way to Historic Charlton Park!)
Board of Directors Meeting (*Rescheduled)
The Barry Conservation District Board of Directors meets at 8 am on the second Tuesday of the month at the Tyden Center Conference Room, 121 S Church St, Hastings MI 49058, unless otherwise noted.
Board of Directors Meeting
The Barry Conservation District Board of Directors meets at 8 am on the second Tuesday of the month at the Tyden Center Conference Room, 121 S Church St, Hastings MI 49058, unless otherwise noted.
Board of Directors Meeting
The Barry Conservation District Board of Directors meets at 8 am on the second Tuesday of the month at the Tyden Center Conference Room, 121 S Church St, Hastings MI 49058, unless otherwise noted.
MiCorps Macro Identification Workshop
We will be identifying and quantifying macroinvertebrates collected during the Fall MiCorps sampling events (September 25-27) learn more and sign up to sample at https://www.barrycd.org/events/fall-micorps-sampling
Bailey Preserve Forest Stewardship Day
Visit Barry County Parks newest gem to learn about about forest health and history of the site, plus gain hands-on experience on how to ID and manage common woody invasive species while volunteering with staff from Barry Conservation District and BCK CISMA, Southwest Michigan Land Conservancy (SWMLC), and Barry County Parks.
Please remember to dress for working outdoors (e.g., sturdy boots, long sleeves, long pants, hat) and bring:
sunscreen
bug spray
drinking water
a snack
work gloves
***And feel free to bring your own hand tools if you have tools that you prefer to use!***
Fall MiCorps Sampling
The Barry Conservation District, in partnership with the Thornapple River Watershed Council (TRWC) and Lower Grand River Organization of Watersheds (LGROW), received a Michigan Clean Water Corps (MiCorps) Volunteer Stream Monitoring Implementation Grant for water quality monitoring in the Thornapple River Watershed.
This monitoring grant provides us with the training and equipment to preform macroinvertebrate sampling throughout the watershed to monitor water quality conditions by collecting macroinvertebrates. Macro - big enough to be seen by the naked eye | Invertebrate - animal without a backbone
Macroinvertebrate sampling is an easy and fun way to determine water quality. Some macroinvertebrates are very sensitive and can only survive in high quality waters, others can live with high amounts of pollution present. This is a great way to get a long-term view on current water quality.
Want to know more? Watch this interview!
BCD MiCorps Monitoring Sites
