Garfield County Commissioners Report

Transcription

1 BOOKCLIFF, MOUNT SOPRIS AND SOUTH SIDE CONSERVATION DISTRICTS Garfield County Commissioners Report /4/2012 Bookcliff, Mount Sopris and South Side Conservation Districts are focused on conservation natural resources on our private working lands.

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3 Bookcliff Conservation District Mike Mello, President Charles Ryden, Vice President Larry Sweeney, Secretary / Treasurer Jim Lemon, Board Member Tony Barrie, Board Member Mount Sopris Conservation District Jeff Nieslanik, President Sandy Jackson, Vice President Robert Burry, Secretary / Treasurer Mike Wilde, Board Member Sean Martin, Board Member South Side Conservation District Brett Jolley, President Terry Porter, Vice President Sharon McLin, Secretary / Treasurer Dick Morgan, Board Member Lynn Dwyer, Board Member Staff Dennis Davidson, Irrigation Water Management Specialist Rick Brooks, Conservation Technician Sharie Prow, District Manager

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5 In 3,000 local communities across America, conservation districts work to conserve land, water, forests, wildlife, and related natural resources for the benefit of all. District officials contribute their time to serve the needs of 2.5 million landowners who manage nearly 98 percent of the private lands in America. Conservation district professionals traditionally have worked with the farmers and ranchers who manage the bulk of our working lands. Recently districts have extended their programs and services to citizens in widespread areas such as watersheds, river basins, urban areas, and economic development projects. This concept is referred to as locally led conservation. Bookcliff, Mount Sopris and South Side Conservation Districts regularly work together. This cooperation has enabled us to extend our services to farmers and ranchers, schools, small landowners and community groups. Each District has different resource and land use issues, but similar conservation goals. By pooling our resources we have been able to offer more educational programs to our changing community. As our resource needs change we will continue to work diligently to maintain the quality of service our cooperators deserve in our attempt improve the quality of life in our districts. ACCOMPLISHMENTS All three conservation districts were active in education, public meetings, noxious weed control, and mapping of infested weeds. Below are a few of our accomplishments: On the Ground Conservation South Side Conservation District has continued to work with private landowners, Garfield County and Colorado State Conservation Board to eradicate tamarisk and Russian olive along Mamm Creek. Approximately 60% of the tamarisk was removed last year. Monitoring and follow-up treatment is taking place this year. South Side Conservation applied for and received funding to begin the re-vegetation process this fall. Steve Anthony, Garfield County Vegetative Management will continue the project along the Colorado River from Rifle to Silt. Since this project has been so successful additional partners including the Tamarisk Coalition and Middle Colorado River Watershed

6 Partnership are now on board. Currently 77.5 acres along Mamm Creek have been removed and approximately 400 acres along the Colorado River from Rifle to Silt. The conservation districts have hired a full time employee to map the areas of treatment, work with other agencies to provide them mapping to eliminate duplication of services, work one on one with landowners with noxious weeds and other conservation issues. Daniel Shaw, and now Rick Brooks have been instrumental in keeping the project on schedule by providing high level of assistance that they have provided to landowners and cooperating agencies. The Conservation Districts manage the Garfield County Noxious Weed Program for the 13 th year. The conservation districts provide this service with funding through the County. The Conservation Districts ensure that the applications are completed correctly and provide mapping services as needed. The Noxious Weed Committee reviews the applications twice a year to verify that chemicals used and acres treated are in compliance

7 with the policy. There have been 1,535 acres treated so far in Garfield County using the cost share program. This reflects $26, total dollars on noxious weed treatment in Garfield County this spring. Mediterranean Sage Glenwood Canyon Bookcliff, Mount Sopris and South Side Conservation Districts implemented a Conservation Cost Share Program to Garfield County rural landowners that need assistance with irrigation, range or erosion issues. This program has been attractive to our landowners that don t qualify for the federal cost share programs, including EQIP, or want to improve their water quality / quantity or a smaller range project. This year we allocated $50,000 for this program. Recently the districts have assisted landowners with emergency projects after recent rainstorms, some of which resulted in flood damage. The Conservation Districts purchased a 6 Great Plains no till drill for landowners to rent at a nominal daily fee. Benefits of no-till include increasing soil quality, protecting the soil from erosion, evaporation of water and structural breakdown. Residues left intact can help both natural precipitation and irrigation water infiltrate the soil where it can be used. The drill has been widely used and the districts have now been able to recoup the original purchase price.

8 The Basin States Parallel Program offers financial assistance of up to 75% to landowners in order to improve the efficiency of irrigation systems on their land in western Colorado. It is estimated that over 1,000,000 tons of salt were entering the Colorado River each year from designated salinity areas in Colorado prior to By implementing the program, rural landowners can help to reduce the amount of salt entering the Colorado River. The Bookcliff Conservation District Silt Salinity Project began in 2006 and is almost complete. Goals for the Salinity Program 2006 Acres to treat 2,800 Tons of Salt Saved per Year 4,000 Feet of Pipeline to Install 45,000 Accomplishments to Date 2012 Acres Treated 2,396 Tons of Salt Saved per Year 4,519 Feet of Pipeline Installed 170,758 The contract with the Colorado State Conservation Board has been renewed for next year to continue the program. We have asked for an expansion of the area to continue our work with water quality and quantity in the Bookcliff Conservation District through the State Board. As the figures demonstrate, the program has exceeded the goals. Conservation Education Conservation Education remains an important goal for Bookcliff, Mount Sopris and South Side Conservation Districts. Conservation Education 1. Scholarships - Bookcliff offers two $1000 scholarships for graduating seniors to continue their education in agriculture or in a related environmental field. Virginia Hunt donates a portion of the funds in honor of Norman Hunt, past board member. Mount Sopris Conservation District also offers $1000 scholarship to a graduating senior in the up valley schools.

9 Financial Stability 2. Mount Sopris CD has been working on a Rural Living Handbook, specific to Garfield County with the goal of having it printed by year-end. 3. Water Law Series Mount Sopris CD saw a need for this workshop and the response was overwhelming. The first two hour class filled to capacity with a wait list. Subsequently, we scheduled two additional eight hour classes with 227 landowners participating. 4. Bookcliff, Mount Sopris and South Side Conservation Districts supported our local 4-H Program by purchasing a livestock animal at the fair. This will help youth continue their education. The meat will be used for lunch at our annual Ag Day and as door prizes at the annual dinner meeting. 5. Teachers Grant from South Side is offered to teachers to develop or enhance their curriculum for agriculture or conservation th Grade Poster Contest is offered each year after Farm Week to reinforce the activities that are introduced. The students have an opportunity to produce a poster that is judged and then taken to the state competition. 7. Farm Week continues to be a success! We are pleased that this program has grown to include Carbondale, Rifle, Parachute, Silt and New Castle schools. Our partners Natural Resources Conservation Service, Colorado Division of Wildlife, Farm Bureau, and local landowners make this week a success. Because of the tight school budgets we also offer activity awards that can include the bus fee for the field trip. 8. Ag Day has become a tradition for our districts and landowners. Each year on the last Wednesday of January we offer a full day workshop to local agriculture producers with new information, technology updates and management options of different resources. January 2012 agenda included: Fire mitigation, poisonous plants in hay and pasture, certified farm and Whole Foods. 9. The Small Acreage Workshop is gaining as much popularity as Ag Day! We have filled to capacity for the last three years and will continue to offer this much needed outlet for information. We currently are building on each year s agenda to better assist our small acreage landowners. Your district supervisors are very aware of the tight budgets within our county, state, and country. We receive funding from the local county, grants for specific conservation practices and a small stipend from the State of Colorado. Each district performs an audit per the Colorado State Law and provides the documents to the State Auditor and the Colorado State Conservation Board. Recently each district conducted a visual audit by the State Conservation Board on common bookkeeping practices, record keeping, monthly minutes, financial and bank statements.

10 Please see attached 2013 budget. Staff 1. Vegetative Management Intern position in its fourth year. This summer we hired our intern into a full time position. He plans on staying on with the districts after his Student Conservation Association commitment. 2. The Districts have partnered with Colorado State Conservation Board to hire a part-time employee to assist the District in meeting their goals with the Basin States Parallel Program. The position requires the employee to meet with landowners and discuss their irrigation needs, plan improved irrigation systems, complete paperwork required by Natural Resources Conservation Service and document irrigation water management and other practices. Dennis also serves on several local work groups and boards to ensure the agriculture community has a voice in upcoming movements. 3. The district manager s position is a full time position. The employee attends monthly meetings, arranges for workshops, educational activities and newsletters, produce agendas and minutes, completes annual budgets and audits, performs daily business activities and attends other agency meetings as required. Board members have the responsibility of attending monthly meetings, making board decisions, finalizing budgets and audits, reviewing cost share applications and dispersing funds for the cost share programs. Board members are very active in other agriculture and conservation meetings and activities and bring that knowledge back to our districts. Larry Sweeney, Bookcliff CD, serves on the Colorado State Conservation Board and Mike Wilde, Mount Sopris CD, serves on the Colorado Association of Conservation Districts. With this added commitment Garfield County Districts stay up to date on local, state and national conservation news, policies, and programs.

11 2013 Goals Complete three year long range plan for Bookcliff, Mount Sopris & South Side CDs Increase mapped areas of Garfield County s noxious weeds for treatment and followup. We currently are mapping the Russian Knapweed in the Dry Hollow area. Provide workshops for small and large landowners to keep them abreast of new technology and proper management techniques. Provide cost share for treatment of noxious weeds Provide cost share for small irrigation projects Continue an additional cost share program for other conservation practices; range seeding, stock water tanks, plantings, etc. Increase awareness to landowners of how the districts may assist them. Board members continue to be active on other boards and in their communities. Continue with youth education 1. Scholarships for Camp Rocky 1 week camp in Divide, CO 2. Riparian trailer hands on teaching on healthy riparian areas 3. Materials for grade and middle school students 4. Assist local Eagle Scout with community project 5. Partner with the local FFA chapter to heighten the awareness of agriculture in our community 6. High school senior scholarships for higher education on agriculture or conservation

12 Booklcliff, Mount Sopris South Side Conservation Districts 2013 Budget Income Gar-Pit Income (Shared by 3 districts) Donations Garfield County Assistance 175, GarCo Noxious Weed Program Income 42, Interest Income 1, Landowner Workshop Fees 2, Tree Sales Income 4, Rental Income - No Till Drill 6, Technical Assistance - Basin States 16, Total Gar-Pit Income $246, Bookcliff Income Basin States Program 0.00 Direct Assistance (State of Colorado) 6, Donations Interest Income Other Total Bookcliff Income $7, Mount Sopris Income Direct Assistance (State of Colorado) 6, Interest Income Total Mount Sopris Income $7, South Side Income Direct Assistance (State of Colorado) 7, Mamm Creek Grant (SEP Funds) 20, Interest Income $55.00 Total South Side Income $27, Total Income $ 288,636.00

13 Booklcliff, Mount Sopris South Side Conservation Districts 2013 Budget Gar-Pit Expense (Shared by 3 districts) Advertisement Awards Charges Dues Education / Information 2, Equipment Maintenance 1, Water Trailer Insurance (WorkComp/Unemp) 1, Intern 8, Irrigation Cost Share 60, Landowner Workshop Expense 6, Office Supplies Fund Balance 24, Employee paid taxes 0.00 Training Tree Sales - Cost of Goods Sold $3, Total Gar-Pit Expense $250, Bookclff Expense Awards Basin States Program 0.00 Dues 1, Landowner Workshop Expense 1, Mileage reimbursement 3, Scholarships $1, Total Bookcliff Expense $6, Mount Sopris Expense Dues 1, Education Landowner Workshop Expense 1, Mileage reimbursement 3, Scholarships $1, Total Mount Sopris Expense $6, South Side Expense Dues 1, Grant expense - Mamm Creek 20, Landowner Workshop Expense Mileage reimbursement $ Total South Side Expense $22, Total Expense $286, Net Income 2,176.00