Soil and Water Conservation Districts

• Increase funding support for technical assistance provided by federal agencies. Technical assistance dollars are spent at the local level in every one of the 209 soil and water conservation districts. This should include funding to provide technical training for districts personnel and engineering support for districts.


• Increase funding to allow adequate levels of expenditures for equipment so SWCD personnel can efficiently carry out their functions.


• Increase funding to support cost-share incentives to landusers to install Best Management Practices to improve soil and water resources.

• Increase funding for district activities in the Great Lakes basin to meet state objectives at the local level.


• Direct a portion of funds raised from environmental bond issues for use by conservation districts. Seven Great Lakes states have already passed legislation or bonds programs designed to restore and protect water, land and air resources.

• Work with state conservation district associations to implement an internship or exchange program that would enable districts to develop the requisite technical expertise for implementing complex programs.

• Ensure that districts are adequately supported to deliver a full range of services through budgetary appropriations and administrative support.