_____?____ Soil & Water Conservation District (SWCD)

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

2. 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

3. 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

4. Who is the ? SWCD? • 5 elected commissioners in the county • *Insert name of Commissioners *Insert pictures of your District Commissioners or Office NRCS

5. Organization of SWCDs • 5 elected Commissioners • *Insert District Staff name & title *Insert SWCD logo • *Insert State Staff name & title • *Insert Federal Staff name & title

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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

9. What do SWCDs do?Provide Technical Assistance & Cost Share for Conservation Cover Crops & Rain Garden • *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

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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

13. 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

14. 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

15. FY2015 Funding Needs • Support for projects & programs • $1.55 million to close 8 Ag Drainage Wells • $2 million for Conservation Reserve Enhance Program • $2 million for the Conservation Reserve Program • $850,000 for Farm Demonstration Projects • $2.75 million for the Watershed Protection Fund • $7 million for Cost Share

16. FY2015 Funding Needs • Support for projects & programs • $525,000 for Loess Hills – Hungry Canyons • $250,000 for the Southern Iowa Development & Conservation Authority • $25 million to fully fund the Resource Enhancement and Protection Fund • $2 million to the Watershed Improvement Review Board

17. FY2015 Funding Needs • Support for staff • $4.26 million ($2.7 million for Soil & Water Conservation Account) needed to fully staff the 100 soil and water conservation districts who implement all the states soil and water conservation programs and projects

18. FY2015 Funding Needs • Support for the water quality initiative • $6.65 million for the Water Quality Initiative

19. FY2015 Funding Needs • Support for the creation of an urban conservation line item • $1.25 million for Urban Conservation

20. Save the Date 2014 Iowa Conservation Partnership Day Tuesday, January 28th 9 AM – 3 PM at the Capital Rotunda in Des Moines

21. Thank you! For your past and ongoing support for soil and water conservation!