_____?____ Soil & Water Conservation District (SWCD) *Insert District Logo if available

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The SWCD in Action

 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

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History of SWCDs

 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

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Who is the ? SWCD?

 5 elected commissioners in the county  *Insert name of Commissioners

*Insert

pictures of your District Commissioners or Office NRCS

Organization of SWCDs

  5 elected Commissioners *Insert SWCD logo  *Insert District Staff name & title  *Insert State Staff name & title  *Insert Federal Staff name & title

Other Partners & Support

 *Insert other staff, partners & affiliations Represented by Conservation Districts of Iowa on the state level. There are 500 commissioners in 100 SWCDs in Iowa Represented by National Association of Conservation Districts on the national level. There are 17,000 commissioners in 3,000 SWCDs in the nation

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   *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 Cover Crops & Rain Garden *Insert Photos/Slides From Your District

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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

Why are SWCDs needed?

Economy, Recreation, Wildlife, Quality of Life     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 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

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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

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2015 Iowa Conservation Partnership Day Thursday, January 29 th 10 AM – 3 PM

at the Capitol Rotunda in Des Moines

Thank you!

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For your past and ongoing support for soil and water conservation!