Colleen DeLong is ClearWater Conservancy’s Habitat Stewardship Biologist. For the past 30 years, she has worked with private landowners to manage wildlife habitat and natural resources on private lands.  She leads ClearWater’s Riparian Conservation Program, restoring and stewarding streamside forests and implementing farm conservation plans with many amazing landowners, partners, contractors, staff and funders.She works with remarkable volunteers and staff who help care for over 200 acres of riparian buffers, ClearWater’s Barrens to Bald Eagle Wildlife Corridor, a Native Plant Nursery, and a Native Plant Garden.

Originally from Lehigh County, PA, Colleen grew up swimming and canoeing in the Lehigh River and hiking on the Blue Mountain. She earned her B.S. in Environmental Biology from Juniata College and her M.S. from Penn State University's Ecology Program.  She found her passion for wildlife habitat work while working with Margaret Brittingham in Penn State University’s Wildlife Extension Program and there is no turning back! 

Colleen’s presentation will highlight the accomplishments, lessons learned and plans for the future for ClearWater’s Riparian Conservation Program, which began in 2004. ClearWater has planted and stewards over 200 acres of streamside forests. Our riparian restoration work includes working with partners and landowners to install Agricultural Best Management Practices, restore streambanks and in-stream habitat, plant native trees and shrubs and control invasive species to ensure success.