_____?____ Soil & Water _____?____ Soil & Water Conservation District Conservation District

(SWCD)(SWCD)

*Insert District Logo if available

Start your presentation with a personal story and

a slide of pictures! Personal Story examples could include:

Why you are a commissioner Why you practice conservation on your farm or at

your home A story about how the SWCDs conservation efforts

reached youth, acknowledged someone doing great conservation work in the county, helped a landowner put conservation on land that needed it, etc.

A story about how funding could help the SWCD meet a need they are currently not meeting

The SWCD in Action

Formed across the nation

after the devastation of the Dust Bowl – a consequence of farming without conservation and drought conditions

Formed to be link between government resources and local farmers to increase the application of conservation on private land

History of SWCDs

5 elected commissioners in the county *Insert name of Commissioners

Who is the ? SWCD?

*Insert pictures of

your District Commissioners or Office

NRCS

Organization of SWCDs

5 elected Commissioners *Insert District Staff name

& title

*Insert SWCD logo

*Insert State Staff name & title

*Insert Federal Staff name & title

Represented by Conservation

Districts of Iowa on the state level. There are 500

commissioners in 100 SWCDs in

Iowa

Other Partners & Support

Represented by National

Association of Conservation

Districts on the national level.

There are 17,000 commissioners in 3,000 SWCDs in

the nation

*Insert other

staff, partners & affiliations

What do SWCDs do?Soil Loss Complaints

Enforce Iowa’s soil loss complaint-which requires conservation if soil loss exceeds acceptable limits and a complaint is filed

What do SWCDs do?Leverage Funds & Raise Funds

SWCD funding is matched by funds from the landowner

Conservation projects are installed by local contractors, supporting Iowa businesses

*Insert SWCDs fundraising, grant writing efforts

*Insert Photos/Slides From Your District

What do SWCDs do?Provide Technical Assistance & Cost

Share for Conservation

*Insert stats on the dollars spent in the county over the last year.

*Insert stats on the number of conservation practices installed in the past year by the District

*Insert Photos/Slides From Your District

Cover Crops & Rain Garden

What do SWCDs do?Outreach & Education

*Insert details on the Districts outreach & education accomplishments over the past year.

Include watershed projects, poster contest, scholarships, awards programs, field days, etc.

*Insert Photos/Slides From Your District

Who do SWCDs assist?

There is an SWCD in every county, every Iowan is served by an SWCD

Farmers Urban Residents Youth

Everyone!

IDALS-DSC

Why are SWCDs needed?

Ensure Sustainable Agriculture Iowa is a leader in

agricultural production The world depends on Iowa

for the crops we produce Anticipated increases in

world population will place additional demands on Iowa’s farmers and land Agriculture puts pressure on Iowa’s natural resources

NRCS

Why are SWCDs needed?

Ensure Clean Water Soil and polluted water

runs off crop land and urban surfaces making Iowa’s water bodies, streams, rivers & lakes dirty

Iowa’s water bodies run downstream, impacting national waters, such as the Gulf of Mexico Dead Zone

NRCS

David Thorson

Healthy soil and clean

water is vital to Iowa’s economy

Conservation practices provide habitat for native wildlife and game

Conservation provides natural areas and recreational opportunities that make Iowa a desirable place to live and visit

Why are SWCDs needed?Economy, Recreation, Wildlife, Quality of Life

NRCS

FY2016 Funding Needs

Support for staff An additional $1.77

million needed to staff the 100 soil and water conservation districts who implement all the state’s soil and water conservation programs and projects

FY2016 Funding Needs

Support for the Nutrient Reduction Strategy/Water Quality Initiative

$6.75 million for the Nutrient Reduction Strategy/Water Quality Initiative

FY2016 Funding Needs

Support for the creation of an urban conservation line item

$1 million for urban conservation

FY2016 Funding Needs

Support for projects & programs $3.84 million to close 17 Ag Drainage Wells $2 million for Conservation Reserve Enhance

Program $2 million for the Conservation Reserve

Program $6.75 million for Iowa Financial Incentive

Program/Cost Share $2 million for District Initiative/Conservation

Reserve Program $2.75 million for the Watershed Protection

Fund $850,000 for Farm Demonstration Projects

FY2016 Funding Needs

Support for projects & programs

$600,000 for Loess Hills – Hungry Canyons

$250,000 for the Southern Iowa Development & Conservation Authority

$20 million to fully fund the Resource Enhancement and Protection Fund

$5 million to the Watershed Improvement Review Board

FY2016 Funding Needs

IWILL (Iowa Water and Land Legacy)

In 2010, 63% of Iowans voted in favor of a fund dedicated to Iowa’s natural resources.

Polling currently being conducted shows Iowans are still in favor of putting the fund in place to provide consistent and reliable funding for conservation!

Save the Date

2015 Iowa Conservation Partnership Day Thursday, January 29th

10 AM – 3 PMat the Capitol Rotunda in Des Moines

Thank you!

For your past and ongoing support for soil and water

conservation!