News from the Noteworthy from the Otsego County Conservation Association
OCCA Leads the Way in Local Conservation
Since its founding in 1968, the Otsego County Conservation Association has been a regional leader in grassroots environmental action. What began as a local effort to protect trees has grown into a dynamic nonprofit addressing a wide range of conservation challenges—from invasive species and habitat loss to climate resilience and public education.
One of the most engaging ways OCCA connects with the community is through its Community Science programs. These hands-on, volunteer-powered initiatives invite residents to help monitor and restore local ecosystems. Volunteers team up with OCCA staff to assess stream health, evaluate culverts for aquatic habitat connectivity, track shoreline algae blooms, remove invasive species, and more.
Whether testing water quality in the Butternut Creek watershed, paddling lakes to remove aquatic invasives, or surveying eastern hemlock trees for signs of the destructive hemlock woolly adelgid, participants gather real data that supports science-based solutions. Open to people of all ages and experience levels, these projects include training and help foster a deeper connection to the natural world.
