ARIZONA ASSOCIATION OF CONSERVATION DISTRICTS STRATEGIC PLAN P age 75 Years of Locally Led Conservation

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Shon Morgan
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1 ARIZONA ASSOCIATION OF CONSERVATION DISTRICTS STRATEGIC PLAN P age 75 Years of Locally Led Conservation

2 2 P a g e 75 Years of Locally Led Conservation

3 OUR MISSION To support Conservation Districts in providing conservation leadership and education to address local conservation priorities in partnership with landowners, federal and state agencies, tribal & local governments and other partners. OUR VISION Arizona s Conservation Districts and their partners provide leadership to achieve significant measurable accomplishments in natural resource conservation. OUR PRIORITIES Work with Arizona s Conservation Districts and their partners to find and leverage funding to address Arizona s highest priority conservation needs. Work with the Arizona Conservation Partnership, comprised of natural resource experts from local, state tribal and federal agencies, to achieve common goals and objectives, and develop programmatic approaches to meet regulatory requirements. Increase the number of Conservation District Cooperators to strengthen the leadership position of Conservation Districts. Increase marketing efforts to educate elected officials and the public about natural resource issues and the accomplishments of Arizona s Conservation Districts and the Arizona Conservation Partnership. Promote conservation planning grounded in sound science (knowledge gained through the scientific method) as the foundation for all financial assistance. Improve the capacity of Conservation Districts to fulfill their statutory responsibilities by increasing training, funding, and support staff. Encourage state and tribal legislators to provide funding and administrative support for Conservation Districts that will allow them to fulfill their statutory authorities and responsibilities. WHO WE ARE The Arizona Association of Conservation Districts is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization established in 1944 by Arizona s Conservation Districts. Conservation Districts are state or tribal-authorized local units of government that have been given a broad mandate to provide for the restoration and conservation of lands and soil resources of the state, the preservation of water rights and the control and prevention of soil erosion; and thereby to conserve natural resources, conserve wildlife, protect the tax base, protect public lands and protect and restore this state's rivers, streams and associated riparian habitats, including fish and wildlife resources that are dependent on those habitats, and in such manner to protect and promote the public 3 P age 75 Years of Locally Led Conservation

4 health, safety and general welfare of the people. Arizona s 42 Conservation Districts cover the entire state of Arizona and parts of New Mexico and Utah on the Navajo Nation. Arizona s Conservation Districts are in a unique position to lead local conservation partnership efforts that achieve landscape level results across all land ownerships in Arizona. Each District has authority to enter into agreements with private landowners, state and federal agencies, tribes, and others to implement local conservation programs. The Conservation District model has proven itself over the last 75 years to be the most effective approach to achieving sound management of Arizona s natural resources. We are an organization of District Cooperators - farmers, ranchers, land owners, land managers, business owners and private individuals who have voluntarily joined their local Conservation District with a commitment to protect, conserve and practice wise use of the natural resources under their control. WHAT WE DO The Arizona Association of Conservation Districts works with Arizona s 42 Conservation Districts to provide agricultural producers and others with technical, educational and financial assistance using a voluntary, incentive based approach for natural resource conservation. Conservation Districts work with District Cooperators, land managers and partners to: Improve water conservation using high efficiency irrigation systems on irrigated cropland Implement sound grazing management with well distributed, reliable water sources Restore and protect critical wildlife habitat, riparian areas, and wetlands Improve soil health Reduce wind and water erosion Protect surface and ground water quality Control noxious weeds and invasive species Improve the health of our forest and rangeland watersheds to capture precipitation and reduce excessive runoff and flooding Reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfires Manage working landscapes so that they continue to provide food, water, wildlife habitat, recreation, and open spaces Provide classroom science education about conserving our natural resources Hold workshops and symposiums to provide training and education for conservation work based on the scientific method Encourage monitoring of natural resources to document the effects of our conservation efforts 4 P age 75 Years of Locally Led Conservation

5 OUR CORE VALUES Locally led Voluntary Ecologically sound Economically viable Socially responsible Working landscapes Common sense approaches Respect for private property Respect for private businesses Strong partnerships Coordination with state and federal agencies, and tribes Science based resource management Science based conservation education A BRIEF HISTORY Arizona s Soil Conservation District Law passed on March 17, 1941, authorizing landowners to organize and operate Soil Conservation Districts as legal subdivisions of State government. Initially, Soil Conservation Districts were authorized only for cropland. In 1945 the law was amended to include other lands. There are now 32 Conservation Districts established under State Statutes (ARS Title 37, Chapter 6) The Arizona Association of Conservation Districts was organized in 1944 to assist in Arizona s overall soil and water conservation program. In 1946, the National Association of Conservation Districts was established. It supports approximately 3,000 Conservation Districts that are currently operating all 50 States and U.S Territories. In the 1970s, the Arizona State Legislature renamed the Soil Conservation Districts organized under Arizona law to Natural Resource Conservation Districts, and appropriated funding. In 1980 the Navajo Tribal Council adopted an enabling act to allow the formation of five Soil and Water Conservation Districts. In 1986 The Tohono O odham Tribal Council adopted an ordinance establishing their Soil and Water Conservation District. Ten Conservation Districts in Arizona are now authorized under Tribal law. 5 P age 75 Years of Locally Led Conservation

6 CONSERVATION LEADERSHIP The Arizona Association of Conservation Districts is managed by a Board of Directors comprised of one appointed Supervisor from each of the 42 state or tribal authorized Conservation Districts in Arizona. An Executive Committee manages the day-to-day operations of the Association. Each Conservation District is managed by a Board of Supervisors made up of elected and appointed Supervisors who have recognized expertise in the fields of land, soil, water and natural resources management. Altogether, 265 local District Supervisors in Arizona provide invaluable local knowledge and expertise in the management of land and resources within their Districts. OUR CONSERVATION STRATEGY Our strategy is to work with the Arizona Conservation Districts to help strengthen the Arizona Conservation Partnership. We will seek opportunities to partner with agencies and organizations that are willing to work together to improve the management of Arizona s natural resources. STRATEGIES Seek opportunities for cooperative conservation efforts. Communicate, cooperate, and coordinate. Share priority issues, priority landscapes, and strategic timelines. Share leadership, ownership, responsibility, and credit. Focus on measurable accomplishment. Provide technical and financial support to District Cooperators and others. Identify and address the highest priority resource needs. Achieve landscape scale results. Leverage private, state, tribal and federal funding and staffing. Seek out other organizations that are willing to help. Promote mutual respect, integrity, support, trust, and honesty. Support existing partnership efforts. Empower decisions at the lowest possible level. Use standards based on the scientific method. Support professional development, training and certification. Develop programmatic approaches for environmental compliance. Redesign the things that are not working. Strive for continuous measurable improvement. Increase public awareness of resource needs and accomplishments. Monitor resource conditions and treatment effects. Recognize people who make a difference. 6 P age 75 Years of Locally Led Conservation

7 PRIORITY A CTIONS Convene meetings with the Arizona Conservation Partnership Executives to develop a charter between the partners, and identify priority concerns and landscapes that the partnership will focus on over the next 5 years. Work with the Conservation Districts to establish local conservation partnerships that will identify and address the highest priority resource concerns. Provide technical and financial assistance to local partnerships for coordinating and contracting the needed planning, design, NEPA and monitoring work. Apply for funding through grants and agreements that Districts can use to leverage partner funds for accomplishing shared priorities. Work with the National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD), the NACD Southwest Region, and the Western Coalition of Conservation Districts to ensure that Arizona priorities in the Farm Bill and other regulatory issues are being heard in Washington D.C. Convene working groups to develop programmatic approaches for cultural resource protection, ESA consultation and other regulatory requirements to address and eliminate unnecessary cost and delay in implementing sound conservation plans. Evaluate a tiered approach to conservation planning for addressing environmental compliance requirements on a landscape level. THE ARIZONA CONSERVATION PARTNERSHIP Our purpose is to serve the conservation needs of our cooperators by collaborating with over 20 state tribal, and federal agencies and many other partners who all have authority, funding, or expertise in the management of the land, water, air, wildlife, and other natural resources. Through our support, District Cooperators are able to develop, fund and implement sound conservation plans. Conservation Districts coordinate with many state agencies that have responsibilities for lands and resources in Arizona. The Arizona State Land Department is responsible for administering the 9.3 million acres of State Trust lands about 13 percent of all land in Arizona for the benefit of Arizona s schools and other Trust beneficiaries. Most of the State Trust lands are leased for grazing. Some are leased for farming and/or commercial uses. The State Land Commissioner heads the State Land Department and also serves as the State Natural Resource Conservation Commissioner for the Conservation Districts. The Districts also work with the Arizona Game and Fish Department, Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management, Arizona Department of Water Resources, Arizona Department of Environmental Quality, Arizona Department of Agriculture, and Arizona State Parks, the latter of which also administers the State Historic Preservation Office. Conservation Districts have an historic relationship with the USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service, formerly known as the Soil Conservation Service. The Districts 7 P age 75 Years of Locally Led Conservation

8 and the Soil Conservation Service were established together as a nationwide model for locally led conservation during the 1930 s dust bowl era. Today, NRCS District Conservationists work with the local Conservation District Boards to convene Local Work Groups that help prioritize the use of Farm Bill funding in Arizona. The USDA Farm Services Agency and the Animal and USDA Plant Health Inspection Service also provide important programs and services to farmers and ranchers. Partnering with tribes is vital to the management of Arizona s resources. Arizona is home to 21 federally recognized tribes who manage about 27 percent of Arizona s land about 19.8 million acres. The Bureau of Indian Affairs, the Tribe, or both may administer natural resources on Tribal lands. Five Conservation Districts are established on the Navajo Nation under Tribal law. Five Tribal Soil and Water Conservation Districts are likewise established under Tribal laws on the Hualapai, Hopi, Tohono O odham, San Carlos Apache, and White Mountain Apache Reservations. The Parker Valley NRCD, authorized under State law, serves the Colorado River Indian Tribes. The remaining Arizona tribes are Cooperators with their local Conservation Districts. The Bureau of Land Management manages 12.2 million acres including 1.8 million acres in National Monuments and National Conservation Areas, and the Forest Service administers 11.3 million acres in Arizona. Many of these lands are managed together with private and state land for ranching. Some of these federal lands are used for mining, recreation, and other uses. The National Park Service oversees 22 sites in the National Park System covering more than 2.2 million acres in Arizona. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service manages 1.7 million acres in Arizona. The Department of Defense controls 3 million acres. National Wilderness and Wilderness Study Areas cover 4.6 million acres. Together, these federal agencies administer the natural resource uses on 30.7 million acres, or 42 percent of Arizona. Federal environmental laws including the National Environmental Policy Act, Endangered Species Act, and National Historic Preservation Act require that federal agencies consult with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the State Historic Preservation Officer, the Corp of Engineers, and other agencies before conservation efforts are implemented with federal funds. The Clean Water Act and Clean Air Act, administered by the Environmental Protection Agency, also affect land management decisions. Arizona Districts are authorized to cooperate with any municipality on matters related to soil conservation or land use planning. Many Conservation Districts work closely with their County Board of Supervisors and city managers. Arizona s universities and federal research agencies such as the USDA Agricultural Research Service and U.S. Forest Service Rocky Mountain Research Station work with Conservation Districts, agencies, and Tribes in Arizona to help ensure that land management decisions are based on sound science. The University of Arizona 8 P age 75 Years of Locally Led Conservation

9 Cooperative Extension Service has delivered decades of science based training and workshops, and developed handbooks for landowners, agencies, tribes and the public. Northern Arizona University is a leader in southwest forest and woodland management. Agricultural commodity groups, professional societies, environmental organizations, local watershed groups, noxious weed management groups, irrigation districts, and other organizations each play important roles in Arizona s conservation effort. They help bring new ideas and common sense approaches to address complex issues. TRAINING AND CAPACITY BUILDING Conservation District Supervisors and agency staff change over time. Conservation District Boards therefore often serve a critical role in providing continuity for local conservation efforts. The Arizona Association of Conservation Districts will work closely with our Conservation Districts and the Arizona Conservation Partnership to provide on-going training and capacity building for Conservation Districts, agency staff, and other partners, to help ensure that the Conservation Districts and the Arizona Conservation Partnership continue to work together to address Arizona s highest priority conservation needs. 9 P age 75 Years of Locally Led Conservation

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