LEWISTOWN — A cost-cutting move at Lewistown Country Club nearly a decade ago has led to a remarkable transformation, helping the venerable 165-acre facility along the Juniata River become a leading model for environmentally-friendly golf courses in the region.

Established as a private club in 1933 and opened to the public decades ago, LCC began its journey toward ecological stewardship subtly several years ago.

In 2017, the country club’s board of directors made a bold decision to convert 25 acres of the golf course’s manicured lawn into vital conservation landscaping and restored native meadows.

Considered a pioneering initiative at the time, the decision included a strategic partnership with a local Pheasants Forever chapter, working to transform some of the golf course’s roughs into thriving native pollinator and grass meadows.

Chip Brown, past president of LCC and Central PA Chapter of Pheasants Forever, recalled the genesis of the idea and the collaboration which has proved mutually beneficial, stating, “I recommended that we stop mowing 25 acres. We decided to permanently take this acreage out of our mowing program. The chapter agreed to provide the equipment and labor to plant switchgrass and pollinators. LCC purchased the seed.

“The 25 acres were planted in the spring of 2018. The acreage is now providing wildlife habitat for birds and small mammals,” Brown added. “Deer have used the switchgrass to drop and raise fawns. The switchgrass and pollinators stand up to snow and provide cover throughout the winter months. The rabbit population on the golf course is thriving. The conservation practices have been a win-win. The local wildlife has benefited, and LCC has saved significant money in labor and fuel.”

The success of the project’s initial phase sparked additional endeavors for environmental conservation as LCC struck a partnership with the Mifflin County Conservation District in 2022.

Ambition project leads to master plan

LCC Grounds Committee Chair Rick Miller oversaw this ambitious project, which led to the creation of a comprehensive conservation master plan.

“I’m proud to be part of this effort to help beautify the golf course. while incorporating projects that make our operation more environmentally friendly,” Miller said. “The cooperation among the many organizations and individuals involved has been impressive.”

LCC and local officials said the master plan has forged LCC’s widespread environmental improvement, outlining opportunities to convert more of the landscape into various types of meadows, increase tree canopy, reduce urban stormwater pollution, restore course tributaries, enhance the Juniata River’s natural beauty and even provide educational opportunities for visitors.

Trevor Weaver, who coordinates the county’s efforts, talked about the broader impact: “The conservation improvements planned at the LCC will help to achieve valuable nutrient and sediment reductions as part of the Mifflin Countywide Action Plan.

Conservation improvements are expected to have positive effects on local water quality, reduce water consumption and reduce overall maintenance at the course, Weaver added.

Irrigation system is a significant hurdle

LCC’s antiquated irrigation system, a relic from the 1970s and 80s, proved to be a significant hurdle. This inefficient setup led to substantial water waste due to leaks and a lack of precise control. Furthermore, old diesel pumps drawing water from the Juniata River and a pond added to the club’s carbon footprint.

Eventually, a new irrigation system was considered paramount to the conservation goals. A modern system also promised superior water management, reduced consumption, and the replacement of diesel pumps with efficient electric models, drastically cutting fuel use. In 2022, LCC engaged irrigation consultant Hydro Designs Inc. to plan for a new system, estimated to cost $2 to 2.5 million and reduce water consumption by approximately one million gallons annually.

Understanding the financial challenge for its members, LCC and the MCCD diligently sought grant funding. LCC proceeded with an initial phase, picking up the cost of $375,000 project and installing an electric-powered prefabricated pump station by the spring 2023.

While the MCCD expressed confidence in securing funding for land and stream conservation projects, irrigation system funding remained elusive. However, in late 2023, LCC Golf Course Superintendent Adam Houseman made a pivotal discovery: the Susquehanna River Basin Commission Consumptive Use Mitigation Grant Program. The SRBC, a tri-state commission overseeing the vast Susquehanna River watershed, offered grants for projects reducing water withdrawal from the basin, which includes the Juniata River.

Houseman said, “As the Lewistown Country Club’s superintendent, I take a lot of pride in providing the best playing conditions possible to our members and the community, while also being a good steward to the land and the environment. I am very proud to play a small role in all the positive, environmentally friendly changes being made to the property.”

Grants give invaluable support

With the invaluable support of the MCCD and Sen. Judy Ward, LCC applied for a $500,000 grant in January 2024 to initiate the replacement of irrigation piping and sprinkler heads and install a state-of-the-art computer control system. The MCCD also provided the required 10 percent match by funding the design of a wetland restoration project at the club’s entrance — aptly named The Green Gateway Project.

In April 2024, the SRBC announced LCC as a recipient of the half-million-dollar grant. The first phase of irrigation system construction began in May 2025.

Recognizing the need for additional funding, LCC applied for a second $500,000 SRBC grant in January 2025. The MCCD once again provided matching funds to support the turf-to-meadow conversion of approximately 10 acres and construction of the Green Gateway Project.

In April 2025, the SRBC approved this second request. LCC anticipates needing two more similar grants to fully complete the irrigation project.

Roughly 50 acres have already been or will be removed from irrigated and mowed turf and changed into meadows, native areas, wetlands, or forests, all providing natural habitats for wildlife and pollinators.”

Complementing the irrigation upgrades and turf-to-meadow conversions, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, in coordination with the MCCD, has initiated stream restoration and invasive species removal in LCC’s forested areas.

This vital work, funded by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection through the MCCD’s Countywide Action Plan Program, began in March 2025 and is expected to continue for two to three years.

LCC has also signed a landowner’s agreement with the MCCD, ensuring the ongoing maintenance of all restored areas for the next 20 years. Furthermore, LCC plans to offer environmental education programs for students and the public once the projects have been completed and the vegetation has matured.

LCC is immensely proud of its dedication to environmental sustainability and its aspiration to be a leading environmentally responsible golf course in Central Pennsylvania for years to come.